Understanding Tiny Viruses in Your Gut
From cells to communities: The multi-scale impacts of bacteriophages in the gut microbiome
This project aims to learn more about tiny viruses called phages that live in our gut to help fight infections that are resistant to antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098647 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our gut contains many tiny viruses called bacteriophages, or phages, which are the most common but least understood members of our microbiome. This project seeks to understand how these phages interact with bacteria in our gut and with our bodies. By gaining a deeper understanding of these interactions, we hope to improve treatments for infections that no longer respond to traditional antibiotics. This foundational knowledge is crucial for making phage therapy, a promising treatment using phages to target specific harmful bacteria, more effective and reliable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to anyone who might someday need new treatments for bacterial infections, especially those resistant to current antibiotics.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments will not directly benefit from this foundational research, as it focuses on understanding basic mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective and consistent phage therapies for people suffering from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: While phage therapy has shown some success, its effectiveness is inconsistent, highlighting the need for this foundational understanding.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hryckowian, Andrew John — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Hryckowian, Andrew John
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.