Small molecules to break stubborn wound bacteria by blocking their iron storage
Official title: Small molecules for perturbing iron homeostasis in bacterial biofilms
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11285415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing new small molecules that block a bacterial iron-storage system to weaken biofilms and help people with chronic infected wounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $736,587 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI169344-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285415 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic, non-healing wound infections (for example diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, or chronic surgical wound infections) where biofilms are suspected or antibiotics have failed.
✕Less likely to help
People with acute simple infections, viral infections, or wounds without biofilm involvement—or infections caused by bacteria that do not use the targeted iron-storage system—may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing small drug-like molecules that block a bacterial iron-storage protein (BfrB) and its partner (Bfd), which bacteria use to store and release iron. In the lab they will test these compounds on biofilms formed by common wound bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus to see if biofilms are disrupted. Promising compounds will be tested in animal wound models to check for reduced infection and improved healing. If successful, the work aims to move these molecules toward clinical testing as new treatments for chronic wound infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new therapies that break down biofilms in chronic wounds, making infections easier to clear and improving healing.
How similar studies have gone: Early lab studies and proof-of-concept inhibitors from this group have shown that blocking the BfrB–Bfd interaction can perturb bacterial iron balance and weaken biofilms, but human treatments remain novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rivera, Mario — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Rivera, Mario
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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.