Understanding how Mycobacterium abscessus survives antibiotic treatment
Official title: Regulation of antibiotic tolerance in Mycobacterium abscessus by proteolytic signaling
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11097298 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium abscessus can survive antibiotics, especially in older people and those with weakened immune systems, to help find new ways to treat infections more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $201,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI185949-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097298 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults and immunocompromised individuals who are at risk for Mycobacterium abscessus infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by other types of bacteria that do not involve Mycobacterium abscessus may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms that allow the bacteria Mycobacterium abscessus to tolerate antibiotics, which is particularly important for older and immunocompromised patients who are at higher risk for these infections. The study aims to identify specific proteins involved in this tolerance by using advanced techniques in proteomics. By understanding how these bacteria respond to antibiotic stress, the research seeks to uncover potential targets for new treatments that could improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients suffering from difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding antibiotic resistance mechanisms in other bacterial infections, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Penn, Bennett — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Penn, Bennett
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
UC Davis IGA Innovation Center
A research center at UC Davis will study gene-edited livestock to improve animal health, safety, and policy through sharing genetic data and findings about genome edits in cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.
-
Administrative Core of an equitable breast cancer screening program
A national program headed from UC Davis is coordinating several research efforts to improve how breast cancer screening is done in community settings.
-
The role of novelty and surprise in learning for people with Alzheimer’s disease
A study explores how surprising events affect memory and learning in people related to Alzheimer’s disease, using everyday tasks to see how the brain remembers new information.
-
Understanding how distraction affects students and how to measure it better
This grant studies why distracted students, including those with ADHD, struggle in real-life learning and tests a clearer way to measure distraction in everyday settings.
-
California Partnership for Personalized Nutrition
A California clinical center is testing personalized dietary approaches to improve blood sugar and health for adults with diabetes by using big data and AI to tailor meals.
-
Advancing gastric cancer care for Latinos through patient-derived tumor models
Aimed at Latinos with gastric cancer, this project uses patient-derived tumor models to study how cancer biology and treatments work in real tumors.
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.