Megaplasmids and gut microbes in babies and adults
Official title: Megaplasmids in Gut Microbial Colonization of Premature Infants
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11450672 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying unusually large plasmids found in the gut bacteria of babies and adults to understand how these big DNA pieces might affect health and antibiotic resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2011 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,963 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI092531-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450672 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants (including both term and preterm) and adults whose gut bacteria may carry megaplasmids, identified via clinical samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without gut bacterial samples or those outside the study settings may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at giant plasmids that live inside gut bacteria and how they might change bacterial behavior, survival, and responses to antibiotics. Researchers will screen 400 infants (half preterm, half full-term) to see how common these megaplasmids are and which bacteria carry them, using a targeted genetic test. The study also aims to understand how these plasmids persist over time and across different clinical contexts, with data collected from infants at a major hospital. The work combines genomics and clinical samples to uncover potential links between megaplasmid presence and health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could improve understanding of gut microbiome dynamics and antibiotic resistance, potentially guiding safer antibiotic use in newborns and adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified large plasmids in gut bacteria, but this project investigates their prevalence and clinical significance in humans, which is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banfield, Jillian — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Banfield, Jillian
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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.