Targeted antibiotic combinations for carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella infections
Precise Combination Strategies Targeting Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae
This project tests whether pairing a strain‑matched aminoglycoside with a β‑lactam/β‑lactamase inhibitor can more effectively kill and prevent resistance in people with carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285216 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or someone you care for has a life‑threatening carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella infection, researchers are working to pick the best aminoglycoside for each bacterial strain by reading the bug’s resistance enzymes. They plan to give short, carefully dosed aminoglycosides together with newer β‑lactam/β‑lactamase inhibitor drugs to try to kill the bacteria and stop resistance from emerging. The team uses lab tests and predictive models on bacterial isolates and runs combination experiments in controlled models to find regimens that maximize killing and suppress resistance. Successful approaches would be advanced toward options that could be offered to patients facing these resistant infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with confirmed carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections whose bacterial isolates can be submitted for laboratory testing.
Not a fit: People without carbapenem‑resistant Klebsiella infections or those whose infections respond to standard antibiotics are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce antibiotic combinations that clear hard‑to‑treat Klebsiella infections more reliably and reduce the chance of resistance developing.
How similar studies have performed: Some antibiotic combination approaches have helped treat resistant gram‑negative infections before, but tailoring aminoglycosides to each strain’s resistance enzymes is a newer strategy supported so far mainly by laboratory data.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bulman, Zackery P. — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Bulman, Zackery P.
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.