Peptide antibiotic for carbapenem‑resistant Gram‑negative airway infections
Official title: Developing a novel class of peptide antibiotics targeting carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms
Funded at Florida International University · NIH-11366462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new peptide antibiotic is being developed to kill carbapenem‑resistant Gram‑negative bacteria that can cause serious airway infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $840,040 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI176537-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with confirmed carbapenem‑resistant Gram‑negative airway infections, such as ventilator‑associated or hospital‑acquired pneumonia, who have limited response to existing antibiotics.
✕Less likely to help
People with airway infections caused by Gram‑positive bacteria or viruses, or those with mild infections not needing intravenous antibiotics, are unlikely to benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
This project is creating a new class of engineered antimicrobial peptides derived from a natural human airway protein to target hard‑to‑treat Gram‑negative germs like Acinetobacter. Researchers have tested the lead peptide against more than 500 clinical bacterial samples and found strong activity and a low tendency for resistance to develop. The team has shown the peptide works better than some standard antibiotics in the lab and is tolerated when given intravenously in preclinical studies. The goal is to overcome common problems with peptide drugs and move toward a safe, effective treatment for drug‑resistant airway infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a new treatment option for people with airway infections caused by carbapenem‑resistant Gram‑negative bacteria, potentially reducing treatment failures and hospital stays.
How similar studies have gone: Antimicrobial peptides have shown promise in laboratory and animal studies but clinical success has been limited, so this approach is promising yet still early in development.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida International University
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Di, Yuanpu Peter — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Di, Yuanpu Peter
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.