Protecting preemies' gut to prevent late-onset sepsis
Targeting the Intestinal Mucosa and Microbiome to Prevent Neonatal Late-onset Sepsis
This project tests whether giving specific helpful gut bacteria to premature infants can keep their intestines healthy and prevent late-onset sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127648 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby was born early and is in the NICU, this work looks at how the developing gut and its microbes might lead to dangerous late-onset sepsis and whether targeting the gut can stop it. The team used a new mouse model that showed certain strains of Ligilactobacillus murinus can prevent gut imbalance and block sepsis, while other closely related strains, including some in commercial probiotics, did not help. Researchers are studying how protective strains change the intestinal lining's oxygen/redox state and will identify which bacterial strains and mechanisms are needed to protect infants. The hope is to translate those findings into safe, targeted probiotic approaches for premature babies at risk of sepsis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be very preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units who are at high risk for late-onset sepsis.
Not a fit: Full-term infants, older children, or babies whose infections arise from non-gut sources or who have certain immune disorders may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce infections, serious illness, and deaths in premature infants by preventing dysbiosis-driven late-onset sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior probiotic trials in preterm infants have had mixed results, and this work builds on animal data showing that protective effects are highly strain-specific.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Casey T — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Casey T
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.