Understanding and Stopping Salmonella in the Gallbladder
Mechanisms of the Development and Maintenance of Salmonella Gallbladder Carriage
This research aims to find new ways to treat and prevent long-term Salmonella infections that hide in the gallbladder, especially for people who carry typhoid fever.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11062426 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Typhoid fever is a serious illness caused by Salmonella bacteria, and some people become long-term carriers, meaning the bacteria stay in their gallbladder and can spread to others. We know that gallstones can help these bacteria attach and form a protective layer, making them hard to get rid of with regular antibiotics. Our team is looking for new medicines and antibodies that can break down these protective layers, hoping to clear the infection for good. This work uses both lab models and insights from human cases to find effective solutions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is foundational, but future studies stemming from it would ideally involve individuals who are chronic carriers of Salmonella Typhi, particularly those with gallstones.
Not a fit: Patients without chronic Salmonella gallbladder carriage or those with other types of infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that eliminate chronic typhoid carriers, preventing the spread of disease and improving health worldwide.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional antibiotic therapies often fail to clear chronic Salmonella infections, making the identification of novel biofilm-targeting therapeutics a necessary and relatively untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, United States
- Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gunn, John S — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Gunn, John S
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.