WashU Gets $11 Million to Study Gut Bacteria
A federal grant will fund research into why some C. diff and E. coli gut bacteria cause infections while others remain harmless.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Life Sciences
Washington University School of Medicine has received a federal grant of nearly $11 million to study C. diff and E. coli bacteria in the gut. Researchers will investigate why some gut bacteria cause infections while others remain harmless.
Why it matters
Antibiotics that treat an infection can also wipe out helpful gut bacteria, allowing harmful bacteria to multiply. The research aims to identify approaches that protect patients without further disrupting beneficial microbes.
The grant is supported by a collection of more than 30,000 stool samples gathered over 15 years, and a 2023 PLOS Biology study analyzed 2,756 samples from 729 children. Whether these existing samples will translate into new screening tools or treatments has not yet been determined.
The players
Washington University School of Medicine
A leading medical school in St. Louis that is conducting the federally funded research into gut bacteria.
Dr. Gautam Dantas
A professor of laboratory and genomic medicine at WashU who leads the project studying gut bacteria.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
A division of the National Institutes of Health that funds research into infectious diseases and allergies.
The details
Researchers will compare samples from patients with infections, people carrying C. diff without detectable toxins, and other hospital patients. The project is led by Dr. Gautam Dantas, a WashU professor of laboratory and genomic medicine, with partner institution Northwestern University and funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Timeline
Stool and urine samples will be collected over the next six months from patients with recurring infections.
A 2023 PLOS Biology study analyzed 2,756 samples from 729 children.
A University of Pennsylvania study interviewing 12 Black women with recurring UTIs was published in March 2026.
Health Landscape
The CDC's Emerging Infections Program tracked C. diff incidence in 2024 and found it highest among White people. The new federally funded research extends that surveillance toward understanding why certain gut bacteria become harmful.
The research could eventually lead to screening tools and treatments that protect patients without further disrupting beneficial bacteria. Patients who experience recurring infections may benefit if the findings translate into clinical practice.
The takeaway
Antibiotics can cure an infection while disrupting the gut microbes that help keep harmful bacteria in check. Understanding why some gut bacteria turn harmful may help doctors avoid that trade-off in the future.
Further reading
For more on this area, explore Life Sciences coverage from St. Louis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Louis American.
