Descripción del proyecto
Hidrogeles que contienen vesículas antimicrobianas para el tratamiento de infecciones
La resistencia bacteriana a los antibióticos se está convirtiendo rápidamente en la primera causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en todo el mundo. Se necesitan unos tratamientos efectivos y concretos para las infecciones bacterianas a fin de evitar la aparición de nuevas resistencias. Los investigadores del proyecto Gels4Bac, financiado con fondos europeos, pretenden desarrollar un tratamiento antibacteriano novedoso basado en su descubrimiento anterior: que, en contacto con medios de cultivo de patógenos, las bacterias producen vesículas antimicrobianas potentes. El objetivo es incorporar estas vesículas a los hidrogeles que reaccionan frente a factores patogénicos para la liberación local y selectiva en presencia de patógenos específicos. Este tratamiento novedoso limitará los efectos secundarios y creará opciones nuevas para tratar las infecciones de manera selectiva.
Objetivo
The rise of bacterial resistance against antibiotic drugs is becoming the leading cause for morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Europe alone, up to 33,000 people die each year from infections with resistant bacteria. Current antibiotic therapy often suffers from low selectivity, adverse side effects in other organs and impaired ability to overcome bacterial barriers. These problems limit the efficacy of our antibiotic arsenal. Local and effective eradication of bacterial infections is of utmost importance to avert the formation of new resistances.
My research centres on naturally derived vesicles. All living cells and microorganisms produce these nanoparticles and equip them with unique features for transport and targeted delivery of molecules. I have previously discovered a new group of bacteria-derived vesicles with low cytotoxicity and inherent antibiotic activity. Upon contact with culture supernatant from pathogens, bacteria produce higher potent antimicrobial vesicles. Now, I would like to incorporate these vesicles into hydrogels – Gels4Bac – that respond to pathogenic factors in the infection environment. Once the hydrogel encounters these factors, antimicrobial vesicles are selectively and locally released in the presence of specific pathogens. The local application reduces time until treatment, adverse side effects and unspecific killing of beneficial microbiota.
Gels4Bac will create new options for selectively treating infectious dispositions. Stimulation of vesicle producing bacteria with pathogen-derived components may open an on-demand customisable, quick and cost-effective approach for treatment. In addition, it creates new avenues for the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents besides current screening and medicinal chemistry. Such platform technology is imperative to equip Europe in its fight against the rise of infections with resistant bacteria, and will boost Europe's scientific competitiveness in infection therapy.
Ámbito científico
- social sciencessociologydemographymortality
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinemedicinal chemistry
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
91054 Erlangen
Alemania