Understanding how bacteria adapt to antibiotics at a single-cell level

Deciphering the genetic regulation of bacterial heterogeneity in response to antibiotic stress using single-cell transcriptomics

NIH-funded research St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11020186

This study looks at how different types of bacteria react to antibiotics, hoping to find out why some bacteria can resist treatment, which could help doctors create better ways to fight infections and improve patient care.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Memphis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11020186 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how individual bacteria respond to antibiotic stress, revealing that not all bacteria react the same way. By using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology, the study aims to identify different subpopulations of bacteria that may be resistant to antibiotics. The goal is to uncover the genetic factors that contribute to this diversity, which could lead to new strategies for preventing antibiotic resistance. Patients may benefit from insights that could improve antibiotic treatments and reduce treatment failures.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from bacterial infections that are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance.

Not a fit: Patients with viral infections or those not affected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for preventing antibiotic resistance, improving treatment outcomes for patients with bacterial infections.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in understanding bacterial responses to antibiotics, but this approach using single-cell transcriptomics is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Memphis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions bacterial disease treatmentbacterial infectious disease treatmentCandidate Disease Gene
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.