Targeting the bacterial thymidylate synthase enzyme to fight infections
Official title: Investigation of the Flavin Dependent Thymidylate Synthase enzyme as a potential antimicrobial target
Funded at San Francisco State University · NIH-11382887 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to block a bacterial enzyme needed to make DNA, potentially stopping infections like tuberculosis and C. difficile with fewer side effects for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Francisco State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $193,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154731-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382887 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with bacterial infections caused by pathogens like M. tuberculosis or C. difficile, or those at risk for such infections.
✕Less likely to help
People whose infections are caused by bacteria not dependent on the FDTS pathway or those who cannot participate in early-stage drug discovery work may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on understanding how a bacterial enzyme called FDTS works in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Clostridioides difficile, and how to block it with new antibiotics. By studying the enzyme’s chemistry and structure, researchers hope to identify compounds that inhibit it without affecting human cells. The work combines basic biochemistry with efforts to find molecules that could become safe, effective drugs for resistant bacteria. If successful, this could lead to a new class of antibiotics that bacteria can’t easily bypass. The study is conducted at San Francisco State University under a 4-year timeline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new antibiotics that are effective against resistant bacteria with potentially fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that targeting bacterial thymidylate biosynthesis is a plausible strategy, with ongoing research in FDTS enzymes.
Where this research is happening
-
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koehn, Eric Michael — San Francisco State University
- Study coordinator: Koehn, Eric Michael
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.