New ways to fight tough skin infections using natural body defenses
Synergistic killing of bacterial pathogens by histones
This project looks for new ways to treat serious skin infections, especially those resistant to current antibiotics, by understanding how our own bodies fight bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129726 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people, especially those with chronic conditions like diabetes, struggle with skin, soft tissue, and wound infections that are hard to treat because bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have become resistant to antibiotics. This project aims to create new infection-fighting medicines by learning from how our immune system naturally kills bacteria. Researchers are focusing on how certain proteins called histones, found in our immune cells, work with other natural compounds to destroy bacteria. By understanding this natural process, they hope to design powerful new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals suffering from chronic, antibiotic-resistant bacterial skin, soft tissue, and wound infections, particularly those with diabetes.
Not a fit: Patients with non-bacterial skin conditions or those whose infections respond well to existing antibiotics may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more effective treatments for antibiotic-resistant skin and wound infections, offering hope to patients for whom current antibiotics are no longer working.
How similar studies have performed: The discovery that histones and antimicrobial peptides work together to kill bacteria is a recent finding that this project aims to build upon, suggesting a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Siryaporn, Albert — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Siryaporn, Albert
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.