Descripción del proyecto
Innovador equipo de diagnóstico de resistencia a los antimicrobianos
La resistencia a los antimicrobianos (RAM) es una epidemia mundial que provoca más de 700 000 muertes al año. La RAM no solo aumenta la morbilidad y prolonga los ingresos hospitalarios, sino que también genera gastos médicos considerables. Los cultivos bacterianos son el método de diagnóstico convencional de la RAM, pero tienen importantes limitaciones. Existen sistemas alternativos como la secuenciación del ADN, aunque se requieren equipos caros y personal especializado. Para afrontar estos retos, el equipo del proyecto ResisTEST, financiado con fondos europeos, pretende aprovechar los conocimientos técnicos de la biología molecular para crear un método de detección de RAM rápido y muy sensible. Cuando se desarrolle como equipo de diagnóstico, este método permitirá aislar y controlar en tiempo real la expresión de diversos genes de resistencia sin necesidad de conocer previamente el patógeno.
Objetivo
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a worldwide epidemic, causing more than for 700.000 deaths per year globally, expected to rise to 10 million deaths annually, by 2050. AMR is associated with an increase in morbidity, longer hospitalization time and a marked increase in the associated medical costs. While several attempts are being enforced to reduce the misuse and abuse of antibiotics, we are in dire needs of methods to rationalize the use of antibiotics. Currently, bacterial cultures are the staple diagnostic method of AMR. However, this method presents important drawbacks, such as a long turnaround time, which can be up to two weeks for some bacterial strains, low sensitivity, and the requirement to have, at least to a certain degree, prior information on the putative causative bacteria. All in all, these factors lead to the administration of wide-spectrum antibiotics in the meantime, leading to inefficient treatments, antibiotic changes and AMR occurrences. Hence, it is critical developing novel diagnostic methods offering a faster, high-sensitive alternative to bacterial cultures, the staple in AMR diagnostics. While several systems, such as DNA sequencing, are currently being developed, they require costly equipment and specialized training, limiting its use. In this regard, in ResisTEST we take advantage of our expertise in molecular biology and the knowledge and technology developed in an ERC StG to propose a fast, high-sensitive AMR detection approach that, once further developed into a diagnostic kit, will allow the isolation and real-time monitoring of the expression of different resistance gene without the need of prior knowledge on the pathogen. Therefore, this disruptive approach could represent a significant breakthrough in the fight against AMR, allowing to define, with unprecedented precision, the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of infections where AMR is suspected.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNA
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantInstitución de acogida
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
España