Unlocking new vaccine ideas by studying ETEC biofilms
Official title: Elucidating the role of biofilms in ETEC pathogenesis
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11563777 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A medical research project at Tulane aims to learn how ETEC bacteria form biofilms and how this could lead to a better vaccine for children in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $382,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AI189922-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11563777 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in areas with high rates of ETEC-related diarrhea who may benefit from a vaccine in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Current patients would not benefit from an immediate treatment; this is early-stage vaccine research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on the bacteria that cause severe diarrhea in children and explores how they build protective biofilms. By studying biofilms at body temperature, researchers hope to identify new antigens that could be used in vaccines. The team will test ideas using immunization with heat-killed, biofilm-grown ETEC in a dam/pup model to see if protection can be achieved. The work could guide future vaccine designs to provide broader protection against diverse ETEC strains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform the development of a more universally protective ETEC vaccine for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows biofilms can influence vaccine antigen choices; this study adds the novel angle of biofilm-derived antigens.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bitoun, Jacob P. — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Bitoun, Jacob P.
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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.