New antibiotics for treating non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections

Spectinomycin analogs for NTM infections

NIH-funded research St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-10901903

This study is working on new antibiotic treatments for tough infections caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium abscessus, which is hard to treat because it resists many medicines; the researchers are tweaking an existing antibiotic to find better options for patients who don’t have many choices right now.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Memphis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10901903 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing new antibiotic treatments for infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), particularly Mycobacterium abscessus, which is known for its high drug resistance. The researchers are modifying spectinomycin, an existing antibiotic, to create new analogs that can effectively combat these resistant infections. By testing a library of these modified compounds, they aim to identify those that are potent against M. abscessus while minimizing side effects. The goal is to provide better therapeutic options for patients who currently have limited treatment choices.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus or other non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Not a fit: Patients with infections caused by other types of bacteria or those who do not have drug-resistant infections may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients suffering from difficult-to-treat NTM infections.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in developing new antibiotics for resistant infections, indicating that this approach could yield successful outcomes.

Where this research is happening

Memphis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.