New antibiotic combinations to fight dangerous Acinetobacter and Klebsiella infections
Official title: Translational development of new agents alone and in combination to combat Gram-negative pathogens important in Ventilator- Associated Bacterial Pneumonia: Leveraging the Gram-negative toolbox that is
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11413415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-year program tests new antibiotic mixes to more effectively treat serious drug-resistant lung infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,309,666 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI179409-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413415 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) or Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections, especially those in or at risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, could benefit.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by non-resistant organisms or those unable to tolerate study treatments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This program aims to uncover how bacteria resist our strongest antibiotics and use that knowledge to design combination therapies that work better together. Researchers will study how bacterial defenses like efflux pumps and β-lactamases affect killing, and how non-replicating persister states influence treatment. The team will test dosing strategies in a way that is meant to stop resistance from emerging and to eradicate difficult-to-kill bacteria. The work will be carried out at the University of Florida, focusing on clinically relevant strains and conditions encountered in ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with these tough infections could receive more effective antibiotic regimens that clear the bacteria faster and with less chance of resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that rationally designed antibiotic combinations can improve bacterial killing and delay resistance compared to single-drug therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Louie, Arnold — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Louie, Arnold
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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.