New treatment for drug-resistant bacterial infections
Official title: Host Directed Orynotide for MDR Gram Negative Bacterial Infections
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10892236 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment called Orynotide™ MTD12813 to help people with tough bacterial infections that don't respond to regular antibiotics, especially those caused by certain resistant germs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 21, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $996,458 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176543-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10892236 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with infections caused by multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, particularly those resistant to carbapenems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not multidrug resistant or those who do not have Gram-negative bacterial infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel peptide called Orynotide™ MTD12813 to treat multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, particularly those caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The approach involves leveraging the unique properties of θ-defensins, which are naturally occurring peptides found in certain primates, to create effective antimicrobial agents. The research aims to advance these peptides through preclinical development, assessing their effectiveness in models of severe bacterial infections. Patients with these infections may benefit from new treatment options that could be more effective than current antibiotics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for patients suffering from severe infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing similar host-directed antimicrobial therapies, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schaal, Justin Blaine — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Schaal, Justin Blaine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Host-Directed Orynotide for MDR Gram-Negative Infections
A new drug candidate called Orynotide MTD12813 is being developed to treat serious drug-resistant infections caused by bacteria like Acinetobacter and Enterobacteriaceae.
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Genomic-informed, low-cost, portable test to rapidly identify drug-resistant bacterial infections
A portable, affordable test called BADLOCK could quickly identify bacteria and resistance genes from blood samples to help treat drug-resistant infections.
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Novel BMX antibiotics for tough Gram-negative infections
A new class of BMX antibiotics is being developed to fight hard-to-treat Gram-negative infections like Acinetobacter baumannii in patients.
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Center to speed up antibacterial drugs for hard-to-treat infections
A national center at Hackensack University Medical Center aims to speed up the development of new antibiotics to fight high-threat, drug-resistant bacterial infections.
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Center accelerating antibiotic development for high-threat bacterial infections
A research center in academia–industry collaboration is speeding up the development of new antibiotics to fight highly resistant bacteria so patients have better treatment options.
-
PACC1 in the body’s defense against bacterial infections and sepsis
A study exploring how a protein called PACC1 helps immune cells fight bacteria and prevent sepsis, with potential benefits for people at risk of severe infections.
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.