Investigating new antibiotics to fight drug-resistant bacteria
Official title: Structural determinants of activity and mechanism of cationic peptide antibiotic activity against colistin-resistant bacteria
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11103334 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating new treatments that can fight tough bacteria that don't respond to regular antibiotics, which could help patients with infections that are hard to treat.
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 start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $626,415 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI172861-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103334 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not resistant to current antibiotics may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antimicrobial peptides that can effectively target and kill bacteria resistant to traditional antibiotics, such as colistin. The approach involves designing and testing a series of engineered cationic peptides that disrupt bacterial membranes, even in cases where bacteria have adapted to resist existing treatments. By optimizing these peptides, the researchers aim to enhance their effectiveness while minimizing toxicity to human cells. Patients may benefit from new treatment options for infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new antibiotics that effectively treat infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing antimicrobial peptides, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in treating antibiotic-resistant infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deslouches, Berthony — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Deslouches, Berthony
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.