Using viruses that target bacteria to treat urinary tract infections
Official title: Investigating phage therapy for the treatment of urinary tract infections
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10817688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how special viruses called bacteriophages can help treat urinary tract infections caused by tough bacteria that don't respond to regular antibiotics, and it aims to find a new way to help people feel better and reduce the chances of getting UTIs again.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2023 |
| Project end | August 8, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DK136201-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10817688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include women and older adults who frequently experience urinary tract infections, particularly those with antibiotic-resistant infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with UTIs caused by non-E. coli bacteria or those who do not experience recurrent infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of bacteriophages, which are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, as a potential treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli. The study focuses on understanding how these phages can effectively target and eliminate bacteria that are hidden within the bladder and resistant to traditional antibiotics. By exploring the interactions between phages and bacteria, the research aims to develop a novel therapeutic approach that could reduce the recurrence of UTIs and improve patient outcomes. Patients may be involved in trials assessing the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections, especially those resistant to antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using phage therapy for bacterial infections, indicating potential for success in this novel application for urinary tract infections.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zulk, Jacob Jeffrey — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Zulk, Jacob Jeffrey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New ways to stop urinary tract infections by blocking bacterial adhesion
A study to test new methods that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract tissues and devices, potentially stopping infections before they start.
-
Hybridization capture sequencing to quickly identify canine urinary pathogens and resistance genes
A new sequencing approach directly from dog urine aims to rapidly identify bacteria causing urinary infections and their drug-resistance profiles to guide treatment.
-
Enterococcal Proteases and CAUTI: How the body’s environment activates bacteria to cause infections
A small grant is exploring how two enzymes from Enterococcus faecalis interact with the urine environment to drive catheter-associated urinary tract infections and why these infections are hard to treat.
-
Daily nitrofurantoin with or without bladder cauterization to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women
This study tests two approaches to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women: taking a low-dose antibiotic every day versus adding a bladder cauterization procedure plus the same daily antibiotic.
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New bacterial pathway that helps cause bladder infections
Researchers are exploring how bacteria steal nutrients in the bladder and how the body fights them to help people with urinary tract infections.
-
New oral antifungal for tough Candida UTIs
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new oral antifungal medicine called fungerps to treat urinary tract infections caused by azole-resistant Candida fungi.
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.