Understanding how Staphylococcus aureus survives on human skin
Official title: Metabolic determinants of Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11094096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria that can cause skin infections, called Staphylococcus aureus, grows on human skin, using a special lab setup that mimics our skin to help find better ways to treat these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $78,892 |
| NIH project number | 5F32AI172080-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of skin infections or those who are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have skin infections or are not carriers of Staphylococcus aureus may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause skin infections, colonizes human skin. The study uses a specially developed laboratory medium that mimics the conditions of human skin, allowing researchers to observe how the bacteria interact with skin metabolites. By analyzing the genetic responses of the bacteria in these conditions, the research aims to uncover the metabolic processes that help the bacteria thrive and potentially lead to infections. This approach addresses the limitations of current animal models and aims to provide insights that could improve treatment strategies for skin infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for skin infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on Staphylococcus aureus, this specific approach using a human skin-mimicking medium is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Costa, Flavia Gisela — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Costa, Flavia Gisela
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how alcohol and how couples talk about consent affect intimate partner sexual violence
This project studies how alcohol use and how partners communicate about consent influence intimate partner sexual violence among sexual minority and heterosexual couples.
-
How proteins change and move as heart cells develop
This grant aims to map how protein turnover changes as human iPSCs turn into cardiomyocytes and other cell types, using new labeling and mass-spectrometry methods.
-
Center for Health, Work and Environment
A national center dedicated to improving health in people who work, by studying how jobs affect well-being and safety.
-
Subtyping Core for Research on the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes (SCORE-T2D)
A new U01 grant from a university research team aims to understand why Type 2 diabetes differs so much between people and how to tailor prevention and treatment.
-
Expanded antibody-based clues to TB risk in people with HIV
A clinician-scientist seeks to understand how antibodies in people with HIV may drive the progression from latent TB to active TB, with the goal of identifying clues that could guide future care.
-
Human Trisome Project in Latin America Network
A large, multi-site study of people with Down syndrome across Latin America to better understand health and aging in DS.
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.