Rapid test to show which TB drugs will work
A Rapid Phenotypic Drug Susceptibility Testing System for Tuberculosis
This project is making a fast, affordable lab test to tell people with tuberculosis which antibiotics are likely to work for their infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| 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-11371324 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is developing a trehalose-based phenotypic drug susceptibility test (Tre-DST) that uses novel probes to flag living TB bacteria and their response to antibiotics. Instead of looking for specific genetic mutations, this approach watches the bacteria’s behavior when exposed to drugs so resistance can be detected directly. Researchers will refine the test in the lab and then compare results on clinical samples to standard culture and molecular methods. The aim is a rapid, low-cost test that can be used in clinics, including resource-limited, TB-endemic settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active pulmonary tuberculosis (or suspected TB) who need drug-susceptibility information from sputum or other clinical samples are the best candidates.
Not a fit: People with latent TB infection, those without obtainable clinical samples, or patients already treated based on comprehensive molecular resistance testing may not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could give patients faster, more accurate information about which TB drugs will work, allowing quicker, better-targeted treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Phenotypic drug-susceptibility testing is an established concept, but trehalose-probe rapid formats are relatively new and still need broader clinical validation.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kamariza, Mireille — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Kamariza, Mireille
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.