Understanding how bacteria adapt to survive antibiotic treatment
Official title: Rapid Stress Response in Bacterial Pathogens: the Role of Extant Porins in Antibiotic Tolerance
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11168200 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how certain harmful bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics by changing their outer layer, focusing on special proteins that help antibiotics get inside the bacteria, with the goal of finding new ways to fight infections that don't respond to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | May 28, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $637,275 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI188941-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168200 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by non-Gram-negative bacteria or those not affected by antibiotic resistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how Gram-negative bacterial pathogens develop tolerance to antibiotics through rapid changes in their outer membrane. It focuses on the role of porins, which are proteins that control the entry of antibiotics into bacterial cells. By studying how these bacteria can quickly inhibit the function of existing porins when exposed to antibiotics, the research aims to uncover new mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. This could lead to better strategies for combating antibiotic-resistant infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that effectively overcome antibiotic resistance in bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding bacterial resistance mechanisms, but this specific approach focusing on extant porins is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lele, Pushkar Prakash — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Lele, Pushkar Prakash
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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.