Understanding how bacteria respond to stress from antibiotics
Official title: Exploring envelope stress response toxicity and regulation in gram-negative bacteria
Funded at University of Nevada Las Vegas · NIH-10909810 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how certain bacteria, like E. coli, handle stress from antibiotics and focuses on a protein called DnaJ that helps them repair themselves; by learning more about this process, researchers hope to find better ways to make antibiotics work even better against these tough germs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Las Vegas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Las Vegas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $146,790 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149513-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909810 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, particularly those resistant to standard antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by gram-positive bacteria or those not affected by antibiotic resistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how gram-negative bacteria, like E. coli, manage stress caused by antibiotics. It focuses on the envelope stress response (ESR), which helps bacteria repair damage to their cell envelope. The study aims to uncover the mechanisms by which a specific protein, DnaJ, regulates this response and how its overactivation can be toxic to bacteria. By understanding these processes, researchers hope to find new ways to manipulate bacterial responses to enhance antibiotic effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for making antibiotics more effective against resistant bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in manipulating bacterial stress responses, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights and advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tseng, Boo Shan — University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Study coordinator: Tseng, Boo Shan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neural signals that control energy and reproduction in fruit flies
Researchers are studying how the brain in fruit flies decides when to use energy and when to pause reproduction, with potential relevance to human metabolic and reproductive health.
-
How epithelial cells coordinate polarity to build tissues and understand cancer spread
A research project is studying how cells in tissues organize themselves and communicate to form healthy tissues and how these same processes can go wrong in cancer to drive invasion and spread.
-
Plasmonic nanoantenna boosts ultra-sensitive fluorescence for cancer biomarkers
A new technique uses plasmonic nanoantennas combined with super-hydrophobic surfaces to dramatically increase the detection of cancer-related proteins in very tiny samples.
-
Bile salt tweaks to prevent C. difficile infections
This project tests new bile-salt–based compounds to stop C. difficile spores from germinating and causing infection, aiming to protect people who are at risk in hospital settings.
-
Time-of-day exercise and social jetlag: protecting the heart and metabolic health
A study to see if misaligned daily schedules (social jetlag) reduce the benefits of exercise on heart and metabolic health in adults.
-
Engineered lipid nanoparticles to deliver genetic medicines more precisely
A research team will improve lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver genetic medicines to specific body parts beyond the liver, aiming to help people with genetic diseases.
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.