Understanding how bacteria manage metal nutrients
Official title: Tracking, elucidation and modulation of xenometal homeostasis in bacteria
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10914124 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how bacteria gather important metal nutrients they need to grow and cause infections, and it aims to find new ways to create antibiotics by understanding these processes better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $378,760 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM142770-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914124 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with bacterial infections that are resistant to current antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with viral infections or those who do not have bacterial infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bacteria acquire and regulate essential metal ions, which are crucial for their growth and virulence. It focuses on the mechanisms bacteria use to access metal ions from their environment, particularly in the presence of competing non-essential metals. By studying the interactions between bacterial metallophores and metal ions, the research aims to explore new therapeutic strategies that could leverage these pathways to develop alternative antibiotics. The approach includes advanced techniques to analyze metal ion behavior and its impact on bacterial gene regulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of novel antibiotics that target bacterial metal ion homeostasis, potentially overcoming antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in utilizing bacterial metal homeostasis pathways for therapeutic purposes, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boros, Eszter — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Boros, Eszter
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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.