Understanding how bacteria use and move fats like cholesterol
Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of sterol lipid trafficking in bacteria
This research explores how different types of bacteria interact with cholesterol and other fats, which could help us find new ways to fight infections and improve health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115851 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cholesterol and other fats are vital for human cells, helping maintain cell membranes and signaling. While we know a lot about how human cells handle these fats, less is understood about bacteria. Some bacteria, including those that cause diseases like Lyme disease, acquire cholesterol from their human hosts to survive and grow. Other bacteria in our gut can influence how our bodies process cholesterol, potentially affecting heart health. This project aims to uncover the exact ways these bacteria interact with fats, which is a missing piece of knowledge.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to patients with bacterial infections, such as Lyme disease, or those with cardiometabolic conditions influenced by gut microbes.
Not a fit: Patients without bacterial infections or conditions related to microbial interactions with host lipids may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for developing medicines to stop harmful bacteria from colonizing our bodies or to manage health issues related to gut bacteria and cholesterol.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific molecular mechanisms of bacterial sterol interaction are not fully understood, previous research has highlighted the importance of host-microbe lipid interactions in health and disease.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dassama, Laura — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Dassama, Laura
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.