Understanding how bacteria respond to toxic levels of copper
Elucidating the Orchestrated Bacterial Response to Copper Toxicity
This study looks at how a type of bacteria called Diplococcus pneumoniae handles the tricky balance of using copper and zinc to survive while avoiding their toxic effects when it infects a person.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10763910 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how pathogenic bacteria, particularly Diplococcus pneumoniae, manage the toxic effects of copper and zinc when invading a host. It explores the mechanisms bacteria use to acquire essential metals while avoiding toxicity, focusing on the balance between beneficial and harmful metal concentrations. By examining the bacterial response to varying levels of these metals, the research aims to uncover new insights into bacterial survival strategies in the human body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with infections caused by Diplococcus pneumoniae or similar pathogenic bacteria.
Not a fit: Patients with non-bacterial infections or those not affected by metal dysbiosis may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for treating bacterial infections by targeting their metal acquisition processes.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been research on metal toxicity in bacteria, this specific approach to understanding the orchestrated response to copper toxicity is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Michael David Leslie — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Michael David Leslie
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.