Understanding why antibiotics sometimes fail to work
Collateral Consequences of Enabler Genotypes in Antibiotic Treatment Failure.
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · NIH-11117120
This work aims to discover why some bacteria survive antibiotic treatment, even without being fully resistant, to help improve how we treat infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11117120 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
When antibiotics don't work, it can lead to longer illness and worse outcomes for patients. While some bacteria are truly resistant, others temporarily change to survive treatment, making antibiotics less effective. We call these temporary changes 'enablers' because they can lead to full resistance later on. Our goal is to find the specific genetic changes that allow bacteria to become 'enablers' and understand how these changes affect the bacteria. By identifying these 'enabler' traits, we hope to find new ways to target them and make antibiotic treatments more successful.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is for patients experiencing bacterial infections where antibiotic treatments are failing or are at risk of failing due to bacterial tolerance or persistence.
Not a fit: Patients whose infections are easily cleared by current antibiotic treatments may not directly benefit from this specific research, as it focuses on treatment failure mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for overcoming antibiotic treatment failure, improving patient outcomes for bacterial infections, and preventing the development of full antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have performed: While the concept of antibiotic resistance is well-established, the specific mechanisms of 'enabler' states and their collateral consequences are a newer area of focus, building on prior understanding of bacterial survival strategies.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ROSCH, JASON W. — BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: ROSCH, JASON W.
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.
Conditions: Bacterial Infections