Understanding how bacterial toxins affect different species
Official title: Host range determinants of bacterial exfoliative toxins
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-10908672 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain toxins from bacteria affect different animals and aims to find out why some animals are protected from these toxins, which could help us understand diseases that can spread from animals to humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $184,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI173839-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908672 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with skin diseases caused by Staphylococcus infections, particularly those experiencing severe blistering conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-bacterial skin conditions or those not affected by Staphylococcus infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bacterial toxins, specifically exfoliative toxins from Staphylococcus, interact with different host species. By examining the genetic factors that influence these interactions, the study aims to identify barriers that prevent these toxins from affecting certain animals. The researchers will use advanced laboratory techniques to analyze the genetic compatibility between hosts and pathogens, which could lead to better animal infection models and new therapeutic strategies. This work is particularly relevant for understanding zoonotic diseases, which can jump from animals to humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for skin diseases caused by bacterial infections and better prevention strategies for zoonotic disease outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding bacterial virulence factors and their interactions with host species, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful discoveries.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barber, Matthew Frederick — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Barber, Matthew Frederick
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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.