Stopping antibiotic treatment failure
Attacking failure of antibiotic treatment by targeting antimicrobial resistance enabler cell-states
This research explores why antibiotics sometimes don't work, even against seemingly treatable infections, to find new ways to make them more effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11117103 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Sometimes, antibiotics don't fully clear an infection, even when lab tests show the bacteria should be susceptible. This happens because bacteria can temporarily change into 'enabler cell-states' that help them survive treatment, making the infection harder to get rid of. These temporary states, like tolerance or persistence, are currently difficult to detect and understand. Our project aims to uncover the genetic and mechanical reasons why bacteria adopt these survival strategies. By understanding these 'enabler cell-states,' we hope to develop new ways to identify and overcome them, making antibiotic treatments more successful for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients experiencing infections, particularly those caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, where antibiotic treatments are not fully effective, might benefit from future applications of this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose infections are successfully treated by current antibiotics or those without bacterial infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new diagnostic tools and treatments that prevent antibiotic failure, making infections easier to cure.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of bacterial persistence and tolerance is recognized, this specific approach to targeting 'enabler cell-states' for Acinetobacter baumannii represents a novel and less explored strategy.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Opijnen, Tim — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Van Opijnen, Tim
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.