Indiana University Scientists Harness Coral’s Resilience to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
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A groundbreaking collaboration between biologists and chemists at Indiana University is leveraging the unique sensitivity of coral to develop novel strategies for fighting antibiotic-resistant infections, with early successes in aquaculture and potential applications for human health.
In a basement laboratory on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University, a team of scientists is undertaking a unique fight against a growing global threat: antibiotic resistance. Utilizing small corals grown in saltwater tanks, researchers are studying the mechanisms behind bacterial infections, hoping to unlock new therapeutic approaches. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic resistance causes an estimated 2.8 million treatment-resistant infections and 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
The project, spearheaded by associate professor of biology Julia van Kessel, began in 2022 with funding from the National Science Foundation. “A bunch of the corals died last week, which is why we only have three today,” van Kessel noted, highlighting the delicate nature of the research. Maintaining a stable ecosystem for the coral is paramount, requiring meticulous monitoring of water pH and other environmental factors.
This very sensitivity, however, is what makes coral an attractive subject for study. Van Kessel focuses on coral pathogens amidst a global mass coral reef die-off, recognizing the vital role reefs play in marine ecosystems – from water filtration to providing habitat for seafood and yielding important medicinal compounds. The scale of the problem also presents a compelling research opportunity for undergraduate students.
Unlocking the Secrets of Bacterial Communication
Central to the team’s approach is the study of quorum sensing, the process by which bacteria communicate. Van Kessel cofounded Quornix in 2023 with teaching professor of Chemistry Laura Brown to translate this research into marketable solutions. Quornix is specifically investigating quorum sensing in Vibrio, a marine pathogen that impacts coral, fish, shrimp, oysters, and even humans.
Bacteria emit small molecules to sense their population density. When enough molecules are present, they initiate an infection. As van Kessel explains, “Disease is a nutritional strategy; Vibrio are trying to get nutrients from cells they’re infecting. If you were a bacterium and your goal was to cause disease, would you do it by yourself or wait until you had a bunch of friends around to help you? You wouldn’t want to do it alone, because that requires too much energy.”
The team hypothesizes that disrupting quorum sensing can prevent infection without resorting to antibiotics. Leveraging research from Brown’s undergraduate research course, they are experimenting with chemical compounds to inhibit Vibrio’s communication. If successful, the bacteria would remain harmless, simply perceiving a lack of sufficient numbers to launch an attack.
“We’re teaching students how to do chemistry, how to do research, how to do biology, so we’re taking the slow approach,” van Kessel said. “But by doing that, we’re getting a lot of value out of the basic scientific research. We’re asking important questions without necessarily knowing what the application will be. But that basic scientific inquiry is important because it sets the stage for major breakthroughs.”
From Coral to Shrimp: Early Successes in Aquaculture
While progress with coral is deliberate, Quornix has already demonstrated promising results in combating Vibrio infections in shrimp. Shrimp aquaculture is a vital source of protein globally, yet farmers lose approximately 40% of their crop annually to disease, costing the industry around $4 billion per year.
“Infected shrimp cost the aquaculture industry around $4 billion a year,” explained Chelsea Simpson, a IU alumna and Quornix’s general manager and principal investigator. “Farmers aren’t just losing out on profit from the devastated crop of shrimp; they’re also losing out on the resources they put toward setting up the ponds where the shrimp hatch.”
Quornix’s work on quorum-sensing disruption has shown significant promise in protecting shrimp populations. This success led to the company winning both the environmental award and Grand Prize at the 2025 Cade Prize for Inventivity, which includes cash prizes, product development consulting, and legal services from the Cade Museum.
Bridging the Gap Between Science and Business
Quornix is also benefiting from a collaboration with the Kelley School of Business at IU. Students in a “The Life Sciences Industry from Research to Patient” course are currently working with the startup to address business and marketing challenges. Simpson, who completed the course herself in 2024, believes this partnership is mutually beneficial.
“We’re getting some much-needed guidance and fresh perspective, while the students are getting their hands dirty with a real-world company tackling real-world problems,” she said.
The collaborative spirit extends to undergraduate research opportunities across IU. Van Kessel and Brown emphasize the importance of involving students in their work. “Research was a formative experience for me when I was an undergrad, and that’s why I made it a priority to bring it to more students here,” Brown stated. “It’s fun working with students because you tell them that their experiments might save the world, and they get so fired up about tackling research problems.”
The team’s long-term vision extends beyond aquaculture, with hopes of applying their therapeutic technologies to other marine species and, ultimately, to human health. This innovative approach, born from the study of a fragile ecosystem, offers a beacon of hope in the ongoing battle against antibiotic resistance.
