Male hormones and Staph skin infections
Androgens modulate Staphylococcus aureus signaling and pathogenesis
['FUNDING_R01'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11241096
Finding out whether testosterone on the skin makes Staphylococcus aureus more likely to cause skin infections, which may help explain higher infection rates in men.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11241096 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are looking at why Staphylococcus aureus causes more skin infections in men by measuring testosterone on the skin and studying how that hormone affects the bacteria. In the lab they will expose Staph to testosterone and use genetic and biochemical tests to see whether the hormone turns on the bacteria's agr quorum-sensing system that controls virulence. The team will compare bacterial responses across strains, including antibiotic-resistant types, to understand if testosterone makes infections worse. This work combines human skin hormone measurements with molecular experiments to link human biology to bacterial behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with current or recurrent Staphylococcus aureus skin infections, especially men, or volunteers willing to provide skin swabs or secretions would be most likely to take part.
Not a fit: People needing immediate treatment for an active infection or those with non-bacterial skin conditions are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could explain sex differences in Staph skin infections and point to new ways to prevent or treat them.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows men have higher skin testosterone and preliminary lab data suggest testosterone can boost Staph virulence, but directly linking hormone-driven agr activation to human infection is a novel direction.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HARRIS-TRYON, TAMIA ALISHA — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: HARRIS-TRYON, TAMIA ALISHA
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.
Conditions: Bacterial Skin Diseases, Bacterial skin infections