Optogenetic control of bacterial persistence to study biomaterial infections
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11482135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant aims to use blue light to turn on a bacterial persistence mechanism in a lab model, helping us understand and fight infections on medical devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | June 6, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $152,579 |
| NIH project number | 7R21AI185651-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11482135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable for direct participation; the study is in basic research using engineered bacteria and animal models.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or immediate clinical testing is planned.
What this research studies
This project uses a specially engineered E. coli to trigger a persistence pathway with blue light, creating an in vivo model to study how persister cells survive antibiotics. The goal is to observe how persister cells form and how they can be controlled in the context of biomaterial-associated infections. By developing an animal-relevant model, researchers hope to test new antimicrobials and biomaterials that could reduce chronic infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat infections on medical devices by targeting persister cells.
How similar studies have gone: Other persister cell studies have shown the importance of understanding persistence, but an in vivo optogenetic model for persuasion is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ren, Dacheng — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Ren, Dacheng
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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.