Thursday, May 22, 2025
5/22/2025
Rapid Immunodiagnosis of Drug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Bacterial resistance to ¿-lactam antibiotics is threatening to limit the effectiveness of this most- used class of antibiotics. A major contributin factor to this problem is the lack of rapid testing methods for medical practitioners to identify ¿ lactam-resistant pathogens before prescribing specific antibiotics. For urinary tract infections (UTIs), the most common bacterial infections in the world, older ¿-lactam antibiotics are not used despite the fact that >60% of uropathogens are sensitive to these drugs. Resistance to ¿-lactam antibiotics is conferred by the expression of ¿-lactamases, enzymes that deactivate the antibiotics. We propose the development of a rapid immunoassay test kit for detection of any of a wide range of ¿-lactamases. In Phase I of this project, we aim to develop cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) targeting the homologous regions of the most clinically problematic classes of ¿-lactamases - extended- spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases - and then to develop a sandwich ELISA capable of distinguishing -lactam-resistant clinical bacterial isolates from ¿-lactam-sensitive isolates. In Phase II, we will aim to convert this laboratory ELISA into a robust, 10-minute lateral flow immunoassay test kit (similar to the home pregnancy test), capable of detecting ¿-lactamases, and therefore ¿-lactam resistance, directly in patient samples. This capability promises to revolutionize current clinical practice for treatment of (UTIs), allowing the effective use of even the earliest ¿-lactams and preventing the selection of resistance to current first-line treatments.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).