Understanding how bacteria adapt to antibiotics at a single-cell level
Official title: Deciphering the genetic regulation of bacterial heterogeneity in response to antibiotic stress using single-cell transcriptomics
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11020186 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $462,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM157243-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11020186 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from bacterial infections that are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with viral infections or those not affected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Peijun — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ma, Peijun
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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.