# Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance development in bacterial pathogens

> **NIH NIH R01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $392,500

## Abstract

Project Summary:
 Microorganisms evolve quickly under selective conditions and can rapidly adapt to environmental
changes. We recently discovered that transcription-coupled repair (TCR), and, encounters between the DNA
replication and transcription machineries (conflicts) increase mutagenesis significantly in specific genes. We
subsequently identified the factors required for these mutagenesis mechanisms. We now find that these factors
promote antibiotic resistance development in bacteria. Here, using various experimental techniques, we plan to
investigate the impact of TCR and conflicts on evolution of antibiotic resistance in important human pathogens,
as well as deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms promoting this adaptive process. We are
putting forth a research program with a novel approach to circumvent a global health crisis: a study tailored
towards characterization of potential drug targets that promote evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacterial
pathogens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10212906
- **Project number:** 5R01AI127422-05
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Houra Merrikh
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $392,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-13 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10212906

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10212906, Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance development in bacterial pathogens (5R01AI127422-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10212906. Licensed CC0.

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