Strengthening the gut's natural defenses against enterotoxigenic E. coli
Innate defenses against enterotoxigenic E. coli as potential therapeutic contributors
['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · NIH-11133028
This project looks at how the human intestine's frontline defenses detect and fight the E. coli bacteria that cause diarrheal illness to guide new prevention or treatment ideas.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11133028 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers grow human small-intestine tissue and mix it with immune cells from blood to recreate how the gut and immune system talk to each other. They expose these lab-grown gut models to enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) under conditions that mimic the intestinal environment. The team will study how tissue macrophages, neutrophils, and antimicrobial peptides respond and kill the bacteria. Findings are meant to point to molecules or strategies that could be used in future vaccines or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults willing to donate blood or intestinal tissue samples for research, including people with a history of diarrheal illness or healthy volunteer donors.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment will not directly benefit, since this is lab-based research rather than a clinical therapy trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify natural gut defenses or peptides that lead to new treatments or vaccine targets to prevent or lessen ETEC diarrhea.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and preclinical studies show innate immune cells and antimicrobial peptides can limit bacterial growth, but translating these findings into human therapies is still early.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FOULKE-ABEL, JENNIFER — UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- Study coordinator: FOULKE-ABEL, JENNIFER
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.