Why some TB bacteria survive treatment and cause relapse
Drug tolerance, bacterial heterogeneity and adverse TB treatment outcomes
Researchers are using new lab tools to find bacterial reasons why people with active TB sometimes need longer treatment or get sick again after finishing medicine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have tuberculosis, this project looks at tiny groups of TB bacteria that survive drugs and can lead to treatment failure or relapse. Scientists will use single-cell and robotic lab systems, special bacterial strain libraries, and tolerant mutant strains to watch how individual bacteria respond to TB medicines. They will study low-level genetic changes and non-growing tolerant cells that can hide from therapy and later regrow. The goal is to link these bacterial behaviors to why some patients need longer treatment or experience relapse so better ways to cure TB can be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active tuberculosis, especially those with slow treatment responses, treatment failure, or relapse, or who can provide sputum samples, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without active TB (for example those with latent TB infection) or those already cured are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests or treatments that shorten therapy, reduce relapses, and improve cure rates for people with TB.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that drug-tolerant TB subpopulations and low-level resistance exist, but these single-cell and robotic approaches are relatively new and aim to provide more detailed insight.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sherman, David R — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Sherman, David R
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.