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Advanced nanomaterials to target genomic and Z-DNA for bacterial biofilm eradication

Project description

Sustainable solution for antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is a major health threat worldwide, affecting the lives of millions of people and threatening routine clinical procedures and standard treatments. Bacteria living in communities known as biofilms, embedded in a protective matrix, exhibit higher levels of antimicrobial resistance. To address this issue, the EIC-funded BactEradiX project will focus on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa to destabilise biofilms. Using lipid-based nanocarrier technologies, the research team aims to prevent bacterial replication by targeting all DNA forms including biofilm Z-DNA and bacterial genomic DNA. This promises to serve as a sustainable alternative to antibiotics and address the growing antimicrobial resistance problem.

Objective

BactEradiX aims to develop the first-in-class advanced antimicrobial nanomaterial to target biofilm Z-DNA and genomic DNA, to eradicate biofilm and resolve chronic/recalcitrant infections. Infective diseases and antimicrobial resistance are a threat to global health and development. Biofilm formation is a major cause of treatment failure, infection recurrence and acquired resistance development. WHO has declared antimicrobial resistance one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. Infective diseases are an increasingly dramatic problem because the development of new antimicrobials is being slowed down dramatically and drug-resistant bacteria are growing.
BactEradiX addresses this urgent global threat by leveraging breakthrough discoveries and advanced lipid-based nanocarrier technologies to target Z-DNA to destabilize the biofilm and to cleave bacterial genomic DNA to kill bacteria. The project seeks to overcome the challenges posed by bacteria in biofilms and the slow pace of development of new antimicrobial strategies. BactEradiX aims at developing a modular and tunable antimicrobial nanoplatform by focusing on two WHO priority bacterial strains: methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa. Our specific goals include: (1) characterization of structural Z-DNA in biofilms, (2) design of Z-DNA targeting PNAs for (3) lipid nanoparticles decoration to target and destabilize the biofilm, (4) design and develop antimicrobial anti-gene PNAs able to cleave genomic DNA and block bacterial replication (leading to bacterial death), and (5) validation of tailorable advanced nanomaterial for biofilm eradication: functionality and biocompatibility. The long-term vision of BactEradiX project is to develop the first-in-class modular nanoplatfom for the tailored design of advanced antimicrobial nanomaterials that can ensure a long-term solution for the treatment of chronic and recalcitrant infections.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01

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Coordinator

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 552 500,00
Address
VIA ZAMBONI 33
40126 Bologna
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 552 500,00

Participants (7)

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