Understanding how bacteria fight off viruses and how those viruses fight back
Discovery of bacterial defense and phage counter-defense strategies
This project explores how bacteria protect themselves from viruses and how those viruses overcome these defenses, which could help us find new ways to treat bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131265 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Bacteria have many ways to defend against viruses called phages, and in turn, phages have developed strategies to get around these defenses. We believe many of these bacterial defense and phage counter-defense systems are still unknown. Understanding these interactions is important because they influence how infectious diseases develop and how we might treat them. For example, some bacteria become harmful because of viruses they carry, and phages themselves are being explored as new treatments for infections, especially those resistant to current antibiotics. This project aims to discover these new defense and counter-defense systems using advanced laboratory techniques.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future clinical applications could benefit individuals with severe or antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options for bacterial infections would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the discovery of new targets for antibiotics or the development of more effective phage therapies for bacterial infections, particularly those that are drug-resistant.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of bacterial defense and phage counter-defense is known, this project uses novel high-throughput methods to discover previously unidentified systems, making its specific approach innovative.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forsberg, Kevin J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Forsberg, Kevin J
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.