Stopping drug‑resistant Acinetobacter and Klebsiella infections
Project 1 Mechanistic Project
Using laboratory work to help antibiotics work better for people with serious drug‑resistant Acinetobacter and Klebsiella infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164504 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Florida are studying how commonly used beta‑lactam antibiotics and beta‑lactamase inhibitors interact with key bacterial targets in Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. They measure binding to penicillin‑binding proteins and run cell‑based biochemical assays across many drug and inhibitor combinations. The team aims to link those molecular findings to why some drug combinations fail against carbapenem‑resistant strains, especially in high‑burden infections like ventilator‑associated pneumonia. Results are intended to guide better antibiotic pairings and inform future clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with serious infections caused by carbapenem‑resistant Acinetobacter baumannii or Klebsiella pneumoniae, such as ventilator‑associated pneumonia or bloodstream infections, would be the main group to benefit from follow‑on clinical advances.
Not a fit: People with infections caused by other organisms, non‑bacterial illnesses, or bacteria without the specific beta‑lactamase mechanisms studied are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to improved antibiotic combinations or treatment strategies that reduce deaths and treatment failures from carbapenem‑resistant Acinetobacter and Klebsiella infections.
How similar studies have performed: Some recent beta‑lactam/beta‑lactamase inhibitor combinations have improved outcomes for resistant Klebsiella and early data support sulbactam+durlobactam for Acinetobacter, but gaps remain (especially for metallo‑β‑lactamases) so this work builds on partial successes.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bulitta, Jurgen Bernd — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Bulitta, Jurgen Bernd
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.