Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 1R21AI196663-01
Identifying drug targets in M. abscessus through the application of fluorescent probes
Recipient
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
Award Amount
$442,758.00
Ceiling
$442,758.00
Awarded
February 09, 2026
Identifier
1R21AI196663-01
NIH funded research project to identify drug targets in Mycobacterium abscessus using fluorescent probes to study enzyme targets and β-lactam antibiotic mechanisms, aiming to inform clinical treatment strategies.
Description
This project aims to identify drug targets in Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) using fluorescent probes to understand the mechanism of action of dual β-lactam antibiotics against this highly drug-resistant NTM. The research will focus on enzyme targets such as penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and L,D-transpeptidases (LDTs), which are involved in cell wall biosynthesis. The study will utilize activity-based probes (ABPs) to irreversibly label enzyme targets and will complete two main aims: 1. To identify β-lactam enzyme targets associated with Mab. 2. To identify Mab enzymes inhibited by dual β-lactam treatment. Successful outcomes will provide insights into effective β-lactam combinations, informing clinical trials and treatment guidelines for NTM infections.