New antibiotics that target harmful bacteria without affecting gut health
Official title: FabI Inhibitors as Potent, Gut Microbiome-Sparing Antibiotics
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11085120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new antibiotics that can fight tough infections caused by certain harmful bacteria, like Acinetobacter baumannii, while keeping your good gut bacteria safe, so it can help people with serious infections without causing more problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | June 26, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $977,797 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176523-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria or those who do not have antibiotic-resistant infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing novel antibiotics that specifically target multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, while preserving the beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. The approach involves creating FabI inhibitors, which are designed to be effective against harmful pathogens without disrupting the balance of healthy gut flora. By understanding how these antibiotics interact with bacterial enzymes, the research aims to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance and improve treatment outcomes for patients with serious infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to antibiotics that effectively treat serious infections while minimizing negative impacts on gut health.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting FabI is novel, there is a growing body of research indicating that developing antibiotics that spare the gut microbiome could be a significant advancement in treating bacterial infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hergenrother, Paul — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Hergenrother, Paul
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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.