Understanding how cholera bacteria change and spread
Vibrio cholerae c-diGMP signaling: Motile to biofilm transition and transmission
This research helps us understand how the bacteria that cause cholera switch between moving freely and forming sticky communities, which is important for how they cause infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11228213 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We want to learn more about how the cholera bacteria use a special signal, called c-diGMP, to decide whether to swim around or to stick together and form a protective film. This switch is crucial for how the bacteria infect people and spread the disease. By studying the tiny parts of the bacteria involved in this signaling, we hope to uncover how they sense their environment and respond. Our goal is to see how these changes in bacterial behavior affect the entire infection process.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who suffer from or are at risk of cholera infections could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this foundational understanding.
Not a fit: Patients without cholera or other bacterial infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat cholera by targeting how the bacteria cause infection.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific mechanisms are still being uncovered, other studies have shown that understanding bacterial signaling pathways can lead to new strategies against infections.
Where this research is happening
Santa Cruz, United States
- University of California Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yildiz, Havva Fitnat — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Yildiz, Havva Fitnat
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.