Metabolic changes in eye fluid from bacterial and fungal eye infections
Vitreous metabolic perturbations during bacterial and fungal endophthalmitis
Researchers are comparing tiny chemical signals in the eye fluid of bacterial and fungal eye infections to find markers that could help doctors diagnose the cause and pick the right treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189725 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses metabolomics to measure hundreds to thousands of small chemicals in the vitreous (the gel-like fluid inside the eye) from animal models and from patients with suspected endophthalmitis. If you take part, researchers may use leftover vitreous samples collected during clinical procedures to look for chemical patterns that differ between bacterial, fungal, and noninfectious inflammation. They will use both untargeted and targeted analytic methods and compare human results with mouse models to find reproducible biomarkers and pathways such as the itaconate/Irg-1 signaling previously seen in animals. The work aims to identify chemical fingerprints that could point to the type of infection and possible treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with suspected bacterial or fungal endophthalmitis who are undergoing vitreous tap or vitrectomy at participating clinical sites.
Not a fit: People without eye infection, those whose care does not involve vitreous sampling, or those with clearly noninfectious eye inflammation may not gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors diagnose eye infections faster and choose the most effective antimicrobial treatment, potentially preserving vision.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier animal studies and pilot human vitreous analyses have shown distinct metabolic profiles and identified a therapeutic pathway (itaconate/Irg-1), so the approach is promising but still emerging for routine clinical use.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Ashok — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Ashok
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.