Phage-based tools to target bacterial infections
Phage-inspired engineering and evolution
Building virus-based nanomaterials and delivery systems that aim to find and kill bacteria for people with bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will engineer bacteriophages (viruses that only infect bacteria) to carry tiny gold particles that heat up when exposed to light to kill targeted bacteria. They will map how peptides on phage surfaces change and evolve so the phages can better recognize and bind specific bacterial strains. To reduce immune reactions and improve delivery, the team will also test lipid nanoparticle coatings to carry phage-based materials to infection sites. Work combines lab evolution experiments, metagenomic databases, and synthetic nanotechnology to design and refine these antibacterial approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with bacterial infections that are hard to treat—especially localized infections such as wounds, skin infections, or implant-associated infections—would be most likely to benefit in the future.
Not a fit: People without bacterial infections, those with viral illnesses, or patients needing immediate lifesaving care for severe sepsis are unlikely to benefit directly from this early-stage lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new targeted treatments that kill bacteria, including drug-resistant strains, while limiting damage to healthy tissue.
How similar studies have performed: Phage therapy and nanoparticle delivery have shown promise in laboratory studies and some clinical cases, but using phages to carry heat-generating gold particles and fully mapping phage peptide evolvability is largely experimental and novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Irene Ann — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chen, Irene Ann
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.