Quorum sensing block to fight Pseudomonas infections
Official title: Quorum sensing inhibition as an antibacterial strategy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
Funded at College of William and Mary · NIH-11444636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at stopping Pseudomonas aeruginosa from talking to itself to form biofilms and resist antibiotics, using small molecules to disrupt the bacteria’s communication system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | College of William and Mary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Williamsburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $548,932 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI203523-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for or currently dealing with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, especially those where biofilm-associated resistance is a concern.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Pseudomonas infections or without risk factors for quorum-sensing–driven resistance may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses quorum sensing to coordinate harmful activities like biofilm formation and virulence. Researchers will test whether a small molecule can block the PqsE-RhlR interaction at the active site or modify it allosterically, potentially stopping the bacteria from coordinating attacks. The work combines molecular studies of protein interactions with experiments to see if disrupting this communication reduces infection-related defenses. If successful, these findings could inform new antibiotic strategies that make resistant infections easier to treat. The study is conducted at the College of William & Mary under the PI Isabelle Taylor and is funded through an NIH R15 grant through 2029.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new approaches that weaken Pseudomonas infections and make existing antibiotics more effective.
How similar studies have gone: Past research supports the concept that disrupting quorum sensing can attenuate virulence, though direct PqsE-RhlR targeting is being explored and remains innovative.
Where this research is happening
-
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, Isabelle — College of William and Mary
- Study coordinator: Taylor, Isabelle
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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.