Understanding Why Antibiotics Sometimes Fail to Treat Infections
Drug resistance enablers and their role in antibiotic treatment failure
This project explores why some bacterial infections become hard to treat with antibiotics, even when the bacteria don't seem fully resistant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11117110 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many serious infections, like pneumonia caught in hospitals, can be very difficult to treat with antibiotics, even when standard tests suggest the antibiotics should work. Our team is looking into "enabler mutations" in bacteria that might allow them to survive antibiotic treatment and eventually become fully resistant. We believe these mutations make bacteria more adaptable and can cause treatment failure on their own. By understanding these mechanisms, we hope to find new ways to overcome antibiotic resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have experienced or are at risk for antibiotic treatment failure, particularly those with healthcare-associated infections like pneumonia, could benefit from future applications of this research.
Not a fit: Patients without bacterial infections or those whose infections respond well to current antibiotic treatments may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to new ways to predict and prevent antibiotic treatment failure, improving outcomes for patients with serious bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of "enabler mutations" is a newer area of focus, research into the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance has a long history of uncovering critical insights.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Vaughn — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Vaughn
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.