# Novel Phage Display Platforms to Overcome Colistin Resistance

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON COLLEGE · 2020 · $297,350

## Abstract

Novel Phage Display Platforms to Overcome Colistin Resistance
Project Summary
Antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens poses a serious threat to our society. According to a recent CDC
report, in the United States alone, there are over 2 million cases of infection and over 23,000 deaths every year
that are caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Among these, colistin resistance of gram-negative
bacteria demands urgent attention. Colistin is an old antibiotic first approved for clinical use several decades
ago. It had been recently revived as the last hope antibiotic to treat carbapenem-resistant gram-negative
infections. Colistin resistance are known to arise from cell envelope remodeling, ranging from subtle
derivatizations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to total replacement of LPS with lipoproteins. Our recent work has
shown that the remodeled cell envelope underlying colistin resistance can be targeted by screening novel
peptide libraries on phage. Building on these preliminary studies, we propose to develop additional novel
phage libraries that incorporate non-proteinogenic functional groups. Screening of these libraries against
colistin-resistant bacteria is expected to reveal highly potent and specific binders for these deadly pathogens.
We will further develop peptide-antibiotic conjugates for effective eradication of these colistin-resistant bacterial
pathogens. The efficacy of the peptide-antibiotic conjugates will be assessed in vitro and in animal models.
Research Strategy Page 1

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985124
- **Project number:** 5R01GM124231-02
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Jianmin Gao
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $297,350
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985124

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985124, Novel Phage Display Platforms to Overcome Colistin Resistance (5R01GM124231-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985124. Licensed CC0.

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