Understanding how bacteria resist antibiotics through efflux pumps
Official title: Molecular Assembly of Bacterial Tripartite Multidrug Efflux Pumps
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11096041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how some bacteria, like E. coli, can push out antibiotics, making them harder to treat, and aims to find new ways to stop this so we can improve treatments for infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $642,890 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179879-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11096041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly E. coli.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria that do not utilize efflux pumps for drug resistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which certain bacteria expel antibiotics, contributing to drug resistance. By studying the assembly of a specific efflux pump in bacteria, researchers aim to understand how these pumps function and how they can be inhibited. The approach combines genetic, biochemical, and structural experiments with computational methods to analyze the behavior of these pumps in clinical isolates of E. coli. The goal is to uncover new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment options for bacterial infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for overcoming antibiotic resistance in bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting efflux pumps to combat antibiotic resistance, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhao — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhao
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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.