Investigating how RNA viruses infect bacteria.
Official title: RNA penetrations into bacteria.
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11116155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain viruses that infect bacteria, specifically ones that target Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter, get inside the bacteria and deliver their genetic material, which could help us understand more about bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $83,891 |
| NIH project number | 3R01GM141659-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, particularly those involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter species.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not targeted by the specific bacteriophages being studied may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how single-stranded RNA bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, penetrate bacterial cells. The project aims to uncover the mechanisms by which these viruses recognize their bacterial hosts and deliver their RNA into the bacterial cytosol. By studying specific bacteriophages that infect Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species, the researchers will explore the roles of bacterial structures called Type IV pili in the infection process. This work could lead to new insights into bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to novel strategies for combating bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: While the mechanisms of infection for some model bacteriophages have been studied, this research explores novel aspects of ssRNA phage interactions with bacteria, making it a potentially groundbreaking investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Junjie — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Junjie
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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.