Repairing damaged ribosomes in bacteria

Rescue and repair of stalled ribosome damaged by ribosome-specific ribotoxins

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11074541

This study is looking at how certain bacteria can fix their ribosomes when they get damaged by harmful proteins, which could help us understand how these bacteria survive tough conditions.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Champaign, United States)
Project IDNIH-11074541 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how certain bacteria can repair ribosomes that have been damaged by specific toxins. By using advanced techniques in bioinformatics, biochemistry, and microbiology, the team aims to understand the mechanisms that allow bacteria to survive attacks from ribotoxins, which are harmful proteins that can stall ribosomes and lead to cell death. The study focuses on a two-component system in bacteria that can recognize and fix these damaged ribosomes, potentially leading to new insights into bacterial resilience and survival.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals with bacterial infections that are resistant to current treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with viral infections or those not affected by bacterial pathogens may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for combating bacterial infections by targeting their ability to repair ribosomal damage.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of this research is novel, similar studies have shown success in understanding bacterial resistance mechanisms.

Where this research is happening

Champaign, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.