Understanding how bacterial communication drives infections and how a new anti-virulence compound could help
Official title: A comprehensive investigation of Pseudomonas quorum sensing regulatory relationships and the consequences on quorum sensing inhibitors in complex communities
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11578730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at a major hospital is studying how bacteria talk to each other to cause infections and whether a promising anti-virulence compound can disrupt that communication to reduce disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $389,004 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI177555-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11578730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa or other related pathogens, particularly in hospital settings, could benefit from future applications of this work.
✕Less likely to help
If the infection is not driven by quorum sensing or if the anti-QS compound is not effective in humans, direct patient benefit may be limited.
What this research studies
This project focuses on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its quorum sensing networks, exploring how interlinked signaling systems affect infection in real-world, complex microbial communities. The team will use 16S sequencing to profile bacterial communities and link them with quorum sensing behavior and response to an anti-QS lead compound. The goal is to understand whether disrupting bacterial communication can limit virulence and support microbial balance in infections, potentially leading to new non-traditional therapies. The work aims to translate laboratory findings into strategies that could improve outcomes for patients with tough, drug-resistant infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could support new anti-virulence therapies that weaken bacteria and reduce harmful infections in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown quorum sensing can influence virulence and community interactions, with some anti-virulence strategies showing promise in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rahme, Laurence G — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rahme, Laurence G
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.