Single-cell gene activity in mixed bacterial communities
Official title: Single-cell transcriptomics of complex bacterial communities
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11353969 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist will use a new method to map how individual bacteria in complex communities express genes, helping us understand how these tiny ecosystems work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $470,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150994-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353969 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose health is affected by bacterial infections or microbiome-related conditions may indirectly benefit from advancements in this area.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without relevant infections or microbiome-related concerns may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project applies a high-throughput single-cell transcriptomics method, microSPLiT, to bacteria living in real, mixed communities rather than in simple lab cultures. By measuring gene activity in tens of thousands of individual cells at once, it aims to reveal how heterogeneity and microenvironment shape bacterial behavior and interactions. The work builds on prior microSPLiT development to study complex biofilms and polymicrobial ecosystems, with results that could illuminate how communities adapt, transfer genes, and respond to their surroundings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit later from advances in microbiome-targeted therapies and diagnostics informed by how bacterial communities regulate their genes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous single-cell bacterial transcriptomics work has shown promise, suggesting this approach can reveal meaningful biological patterns in complex communities.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuchina, Anna — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Kuchina, Anna
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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.