Investigating how Proteus mirabilis proteins contribute to urinary tract infections
Official title: Proteus mirabilis RTX proteins: Role in polymicrobial biofilm formation and pathogenesis of catheter associated urinary tract infection
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11118659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a common bacteria that causes urinary infections in hospital patients interacts with another bacteria to form sticky groups that can make infections worse, and it hopes to find new ways to break up these groups and help patients feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $76,756 |
| NIH project number | 5F32AI183755-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who have catheters and are at risk for catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without catheters or those who do not experience urinary tract infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), which are common hospital-acquired infections often caused by the bacteria Proteus mirabilis. The study aims to understand how Proteus mirabilis interacts with other bacteria, particularly Enterococcus faecalis, to form biofilms that can lead to more severe infections and treatment failures. By examining the role of specific proteins produced by Proteus mirabilis, the research seeks to identify potential new therapeutic strategies to disrupt these harmful bacterial interactions and improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that effectively prevent or manage severe urinary tract infections in patients with catheters.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding bacterial interactions in biofilms, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights and advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunt, Benjamin Carter — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Hunt, Benjamin Carter
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.