Rifabutin-based antibiotic combinations for Acinetobacter baumannii infections
Identifying Synergistic Rifabutin-Containing Combinations Against A. baumannii
This project looks for rifabutin-containing antibiotic combinations that can better treat infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, especially drug-resistant strains.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11053618 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers discovered rifabutin can enter A. baumannii cells using an iron transport protein and can be unusually potent under low-iron conditions. They will test a large collection of patient-derived bacterial samples to find drug combinations that work well with rifabutin. The team will build a mouse model that mimics human rifabutin drug levels to guide dosing and resistance breakpoints. They will also create a low-iron lab test that clinical microbiology labs could use to identify rifabutin-susceptible infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with confirmed or suspected Acinetobacter baumannii infections—particularly drug-resistant cases—would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical testing or future trials.
Not a fit: People with infections caused by organisms other than A. baumannii or by strains that lack the rifabutin entry pathway are unlikely to benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could expand treatment options for people with hard-to-treat A. baumannii infections and help hospitals identify which infections will respond to rifabutin-based therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory work has already shown rifabutin can be highly active against A. baumannii and IV rifabutin formulations are in early human trials, but combining rifabutin with other drugs and standardizing susceptibility testing is a newer effort.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luna, Brian Michael — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Luna, Brian Michael
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.