The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the University of Notre Dame DU Lac $434,500 under Project Grant R21AI190342 on August 5, 2026, to conduct research targeting biofilm formation as a mechanism to enhance antibiotic efficacy against Mycobacterium avium and M. abscessus.
The research aims to identify 2-aminoimidazole and related compounds that block and disrupt mycobacterial biofilm formation. Aim 1 involves screening existing and new 2-aminoimidazole compounds against M. avium and M. abscessus biofilms, evaluating their ability to block or disrupt biofilm formation, and testing active compounds for their ability to enhance antibiotic efficacy against these biofilms in vitro. Aim 2 tests existing and newly identified 2-aminoimidazoles for their ability to enhance antibiotic efficacy in vivo using M. avium and M. abscessus mouse infection models. The project is expected to identify a subset of compounds that enhance antibiotic activity against both species in vitro and in vivo, with the eventual goal of developing these as companion drugs for patients refractory to antibiotic treatment alone.
The period of performance runs from August 5, 2026 through July 31, 2028. Work is performed at Notre Dame, Indiana. This award is issued under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855).