# Identification of novel MDR antimicrobials from symbioses between terrestrial and marine invertebrates and rare microbial taxa

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $955,138

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The goal of this CETR is to use a combination of innovative strategies to combat drug resistant infectious
diseases. In particular, we will use cutting edge methods in metabolomics and genomics to discover lead
small molecules targeting the most problematic multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial and
fungal pathogens. This project, Project 2 (P2), will develop and implement a metabolomics pipeline that
will also serve Project 1 and Project 3. We will integrate bioassay data from multiple pathogens exhibiting
diverse drug resistant phenotypes to supplement our metabolomics data. Essentially, we will employ
metabolomics-driven pipeline to identify novel molecules with target efficacy both in vitro and in vivo
againswhile also lacking host toxicity traits. To identify and access chemical diversities that will drive this
project, we will target symbiotic microbes associated with i) marine invertebrates, and ii) insects; in all
cases a particular focus will be placed on rare bacterial genera. Additionally, we seek answers to basic
questions underpinning these new strategies and their high success rates relative to historical discovery
approaches. To answer these questions and discover the next generation of antimicrobials, projects P1,
P2 and P3 share three identical specific aims; Aims 1-3 all focus on how symbioses provide novel bacteria
as sources for new compound discovery with in vivo efficacy against MDR pathogens. Support for this
project will be supplied by four scientific cores (Chemistry, In Vitro, In Vivo, and Mechanism of Action).
The outcome of this project will be novel antimicrobial small molecule leads with in vivo efficacy against
MDR pathogens and host safety.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10125094
- **Project number:** 5U19AI142720-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** TIMOTHY S BUGNI
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $955,138
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10125094

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10125094, Identification of novel MDR antimicrobials from symbioses between terrestrial and marine invertebrates and rare microbial taxa (5U19AI142720-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10125094. Licensed CC0.

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