Investigating how bacteria interact with the human body to influence health and disease.
Examining a Unique Contractile Injection System Mediating Host-Microbe Interactions
This study is looking at how certain bacteria in our gut can impact our health, especially for people dealing with obesity or inflammatory bowel disease, and aims to find ways to use these bacteria to create better treatments for these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088175 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how certain bacteria in the human gut microbiome can affect health, particularly in relation to conditions like obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers aim to identify specific products produced by these bacteria that can either promote health or lead to disease. By studying a unique system used by bacteria to inject proteins into host cells, they hope to uncover mechanisms that could inform new therapies for microbiome-related conditions. This work is particularly relevant for patients who may benefit from improved microbiome modulation therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are experiencing issues related to gut health, such as obesity or inflammatory bowel disease.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to gut microbiome imbalances or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that help restore a healthy balance in the gut microbiome, potentially alleviating conditions like obesity and inflammatory bowel disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in understanding gut microbiome interactions, but this specific approach using Contractile Injection Systems is novel and has not been extensively tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego State University — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shikuma, Nicholas J — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Shikuma, Nicholas J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.