Oral probiotic therapy to prevent and treat Klebsiella infections
Official title: A Novel Preventative and Treatment for Klebsiella Pneumoniae Infection
Funded at Virtici, LLC · NIH-11181079 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new oral probiotic medicine is being developed to prevent and treat gut colonization and infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, a dangerous hospital-associated bacterium.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $306,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AI188659-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181079 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for Klebsiella infections or with GI colonization in healthcare or community settings.
✕Less likely to help
People without Klebsiella colonization or infection risk may not benefit from this probiotic.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a first-in-class probiotic taken by mouth to reduce Klebsiella in the gut and prevent transmission and infection, especially in healthcare settings. Researchers will explore how the probiotic works in the GI tract, how it can outcompete Klebsiella, and how it could lower infection risk. The plan includes developing and testing the product in ways that translate to patient benefit, with attention to safety and practicality for real-world use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have a new oral option to lower their risk of Klebsiella infections.
How similar studies have gone: Probiotic approaches to modulate the gut microbiome have shown promise in reducing harmful bacteria in humans, though this exact strategy is novel for Klebsiella.
Where this research is happening
-
Virtici, LLC
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Neil a — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Neil a
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.