Understanding how Bacteroides fragilis changes affect phage therapy
Official title: Impact of bacterial phenotypic variation on phage resistance
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11450793 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how a common gut bacterium changes its surface and defense features to evade phages, with the goal of improving phage-based treatments for infections and related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $874,085 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI192998-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450793 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Bacteroides fragilis infections or related gut health issues may benefit from improved phage therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without B. fragilis-related infections are unlikely to benefit currently.
What this research studies
This project looks at Bacteroides fragilis, a gut bacterium linked to abscesses, bacteremia, and diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. It will examine how the bacterium’s genes can flip on and off to alter surfaces and anti-phage defenses, leading to diversity within a single population. The study will test how these variations influence susceptibility to bacteriophages in the bacterium’s natural host, using high-throughput and genome-wide approaches. Findings could guide the development of phage therapies that stay effective against diverse bacterial states.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design phage treatments that stay effective against adaptable B. fragilis infections and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that bacterial phase variation can impact phage susceptibility, though translating this to therapies remains an active area.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuchina, Anna — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Kuchina, Anna
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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.