Understanding how a Pseudomonas protein blocks bacterial cell wall helpers in CF infections
Official title: Comparative structural and functional analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibitor of vertebrate lysozyme paralogs
Funded at Kennesaw State University · NIH-11163543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team will study a Pseudomonas protein that may help the bacteria resist antibiotics in cystic fibrosis patients, by figuring out its 3D shape and how it interferes with enzymes that break down the bacterial wall.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kennesaw State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kennesaw, United States) |
| Project start | August 26, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $135,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16AI167815-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cystic fibrosis who are infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and whose disease involves the bacteria’s cell-wall biology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not dealing with P. aeruginosa infection or not involved in cystic fibrosis would not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will map the 3D structure of IVYp2 from P. aeruginosa using NMR and compare it with its ability to slow down or alter specific peptidoglycan-processing enzymes. It will also test how IVYp2 interacts with lytic transglycosylases in living bacterial strains and use genetic tools to see how removing IVY changes the bacteria’s behavior. Graduate and undergraduate students will gain hands-on training while contributing to data collection and interpretation. The goals are to connect structural features with enzyme inhibition and to build a foundation for understanding how this regulator might influence antibiotic resistance in CF pathogens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform future strategies to counteract antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa affecting people with cystic fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests IVY proteins interact with bacterial enzymes, but in vivo relevance and structural details are still being explored, making this a novel but plausible line of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leeper, Thomas C — Kennesaw State University
- Study coordinator: Leeper, Thomas C
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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.