Understanding how defensins affect urinary tract infections
Official title: Genetic dissection of defensin signaling in urinary tract infections
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-10936336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain natural proteins in the body, called defensins, help fight off urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by specific bacteria, with the hope of finding better treatments for people who struggle with these infections and don’t respond well to antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $632,600 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK140039-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10936336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals, particularly elderly women, who experience recurrent urinary tract infections and have not found relief with standard antibiotic treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with UTIs caused by non-uropathogenic bacteria or those who do not have recurrent infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of defensins, which are antimicrobial peptides, in urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by specific bacteria. By using genetically modified mouse models, the study aims to explore how these defensins interact with the urinary system and their impact on both infection resistance and pelvic pain. The goal is to uncover new insights that could lead to more effective treatments for UTIs, especially for patients who do not respond well to current antibiotic therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new immune therapies that significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the role of antimicrobial peptides in other infections, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights, although the specific focus on urinary tract infections is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Xintong — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Dong, Xintong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New ways to stop urinary tract infections by blocking bacterial adhesion
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-
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-
Enterococcal Proteases and CAUTI: How the body’s environment activates bacteria to cause infections
A small grant is exploring how two enzymes from Enterococcus faecalis interact with the urine environment to drive catheter-associated urinary tract infections and why these infections are hard to treat.
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Daily nitrofurantoin with or without bladder cauterization to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women
This study tests two approaches to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women: taking a low-dose antibiotic every day versus adding a bladder cauterization procedure plus the same daily antibiotic.
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New bacterial pathway that helps cause bladder infections
Researchers are exploring how bacteria steal nutrients in the bladder and how the body fights them to help people with urinary tract infections.
-
New oral antifungal for tough Candida UTIs
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new oral antifungal medicine called fungerps to treat urinary tract infections caused by azole-resistant Candida fungi.
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.