Investigating how sugar modifications on bacteria affect phage therapy for joint infections.
The Role of Teichoic Acid Glycosylation in Phage Activity and Selection in an Ongoing FDA Phase II/III Clinical Study of Bacteriophage Therapy in Chronic Periprosthetic Joint Infection
This study is looking at a new way to treat infections that can happen after knee replacement surgery by using special viruses that target and kill the bacteria causing the infection, and it’s for patients who are dealing with these tough infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10889191 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) that can occur after knee replacement surgeries. It explores the use of bacteriophage therapy, which employs viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria, as a treatment option. Patients will undergo preoperative bacterial cultures to identify the specific bacteria causing their infection, and then a tailored phage will be selected from a library to effectively combat that bacteria. The study aims to understand how variations in bacterial surface structures, specifically glycosylation of wall teichoic acid, influence the effectiveness of phage therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with chronic periprosthetic joint infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have chronic bacterial infections or those whose infections are not caused by the targeted bacteria may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and effective treatment option for patients suffering from chronic bacterial infections associated with joint replacements.
How similar studies have performed: Previous compassionate use cases of phage therapy for chronic PJI have shown promising results, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Urish, Kenneth L — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Urish, Kenneth L
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.