M. tuberculosis phenylalanine production as a new drug target
Official title: Myobacterium tuberculosis Phenylalanine Synthesis as a Novel Drug Target
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11571605 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant explores whether blocking how tuberculosis bacteria make the amino acid phenylalanine could weaken the bacteria and help existing TB drugs work better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $7,100 |
| NIH project number | 3R21AI193559-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11571605 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to a specific patient group; the research is preclinical.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not yet established; findings could inform future therapies.
What this research studies
This project looks at a specific way TB bacteria make phenylalanine and tests whether stopping this pathway can kill the bacteria or make antibiotics more effective. Researchers will create Mtb strains with controllable enzymes in the phenylalanine biosynthesis step and study them in lab, macrophage, and mouse infection models. They will also examine how stopping phenylalanine production changes the bacteria’s metabolism and stress responses using advanced molecular analyses. The goal is to identify whether phenylalanine biosynthesis is a viable drug target for improving TB treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to treat TB by weakening the bacteria and boosting the power of current antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest that phenylalanine limitation can kill Mtb and reduce infection in mice, supporting a potential new drug target.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tischler, Anna Degraff — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Tischler, Anna Degraff
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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.