Understanding the protective and susceptible immune pieces of Staphylococcus aureus bone infection
Official title: Defining the Protective vs. Susceptible Immune Proteome of S. aureus Osteomyelitis
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11384676 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the immune system responds to Staphylococcus aureus bone infections to find ways to improve prevention and treatment for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $264,277 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AR072000-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384676 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with a history of Staphylococcus aureus bone infection or those at risk due to orthopedic procedures may benefit from future translational advances emerging from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage findings may not directly benefit patients in the short term; the work is primarily mechanistic and uses animal models and existing patient data.
What this research studies
This project is part of a wider effort to map how antibodies and immune cells react to bone infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. By using animal models, immune assays, and patient data from a bone infection registry, scientists aim to identify which antibody-producing cells correlate with protection or susceptibility. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could be targeted by vaccines or therapies to reduce reinfection after orthopedic surgery. If successful, these insights could lead to new strategies that help patients recover faster and avoid recurrent infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could guide development of vaccines or therapies that reduce infection risk and improve outcomes after bone surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous findings identified anti-Gmd antibodies as protective and anti-IsdB antibodies as susceptibility determinants, suggesting a promising direction for therapeutic development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarz, Edward M. — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Schwarz, Edward M.
Related research
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This work uses a new PET tracer called fluoromannitol to help doctors tell whether bone pain in people with sickle cell disease is caused by infection or by a pain crisis.
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This grant studies why Staphylococcus aureus sticks around in bone after implants and how the body’s immune cells respond, with the goal of guiding better treatments.
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Immune proteins that protect or raise risk in Staph bone infections
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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.