Tuberculosis bacteria proteins that control cell division and how they interact
Membrane Protein Complexes in the M. Tuberculosis Divisome: Structures and Interactions
['FUNDING_R01'] · FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11293421
This project looks at the proteins M. tuberculosis uses to divide so researchers can find new drug targets to help people with tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (TALLAHASSEE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11293421 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will map the shapes and interactions of key M. tuberculosis cell-division proteins (including FtsQ, FtsB, and FtsL) using structural and biophysical methods. They will compare these mycobacterial proteins to better-known bacterial systems to understand how the tuberculosis divisome works differently. The team will test how these proteins bind to each other and to the membrane to identify weak points that drugs could target. Findings are intended to guide the design of new antitubercular therapies, especially for drug-resistant or latent infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although the work is laboratory-based, people with active, drug-resistant, or latent tuberculosis would be the most likely candidates to benefit from therapies developed from these findings.
Not a fit: Patients without tuberculosis or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets that lead to treatments able to overcome drug-resistant and latent tuberculosis.
How similar studies have performed: Structural studies of bacterial division proteins have informed antibiotic discovery for other bacteria, but applying these methods specifically to M. tuberculosis divisome proteins is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
TALLAHASSEE, UNITED STATES
- FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY — TALLAHASSEE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HU, YAN-YAN — FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: HU, YAN-YAN
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.