Grant advances bacteria research while training future scientists
Dr. Benjamin Koestler, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University, has been awarded funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to advance studies on Shigella, the bacterium responsible for dysentery. The three-year award totals $533,000, including $375,000 in direct research costs.
Searching for new ways to stop a growing global threat
The project builds on work Koestler has conducted since joining WMU in 2019, focusing on how Shigella survives in harsh environments within the human body. The bacterium infects hundreds of millions of people globally each year, and currently there is no available vaccine. Compounding the problem, Shigella has shown a growing resistance to antibiotics, raising concerns among public health experts about diminishing treatment options.
The newly funded research aims to uncover how Shigella withstands acidic conditions, such as those found in the stomach—an essential step in its ability to cause infection. Recent findings from the lab revealed that the bacterium uses a signaling molecule known as cyclic diguanylate to regulate amino acid metabolism, a process that appears to enhance its acid resistance.
By investigating this mechanism further, Koestler and his team hope to identify new biological targets for drug development, potentially opening the door to more effective treatments for dysentery.
Focus on student training
A significant component of the grant is its focus on student training, particularly at the undergraduate level. The project will fund one graduate student and three undergraduate researchers, providing them with hands-on experience in bacterial genetics and biochemistry. According to Koestler, “engaging undergraduate students directly in laboratory research is essential to their development as scientists. Through this work, students gain experience with modern techniques and methods while building practical skills they can carry into future careers.”
Equally important, these research opportunities teach students how to apply the scientific method to real-world problems—an essential foundation of scientific inquiry. By contributing to ongoing investigations into Shigella, undergraduate researchers will not only support efforts to better understand a global health threat but also develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that define the next generation of scientists. “I was able to mentor incoming students in the lab. I discovered that I loved seeing students gain an understanding of the project and share a passion for science,” says Gurleen Kaur, a previous undergraduate research student in Koestler’s lab.
Koestler says, “The work represents a critical step toward addressing both the immediate and long-term challenges posed by Shigella, particularly as antibiotic resistance continues to rise.”