Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R21AI182916-02
Novel Bacteroides fragilis Competition Factor in Carbapenem-Resistant Strains
Recipient
Washington University, Saint Louis, MO
Award Amount
$194,375.00
Ceiling
$194,375.00
Awarded
January 08, 2025
Identifier
5R21AI182916-02
The award funds research on a novel toxin in Bacteroides fragilis that may explain how antibiotic-resistant strains dominate the gut microbiome, with the goal of informing strategies to combat drug resistance.
Description
This project aims to examine the molecular mechanisms by which the novel Bacteroides fragilis toxin Bcf1 facilitates interbacterial competition, particularly in carbapenem-resistant strains. The study involves in vitro and in vivo experiments, including mouse models, to understand how Bcf1 enables dominance of resistant strains and to identify potential targets for reducing their prevalence.