Description du projet
Des stratégies antimicrobiennes innovantes
Les maladies infectieuses devraient augmenter dans les prochaines années en raison de la résistance aux antibiotiques. Par conséquent, il existe un besoin urgent de technologies de rupture pour répondre à ce défi médical. Le projet PEST-BIN, financé par l’UE, fait le lien entre le monde universitaire et l’industrie pour fournir de nouveaux outils de diagnostic capables de détecter une infection avec la précision et la rapidité requises dans un cadre clinique. L’analyse protéomique, avec l’aide de l’intelligence artificielle, permettra de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de l’infection bactérienne et de dévoiler de nouvelles cibles pour le développement des antibiotiques. De plus, les partenaires utiliseront des nanotechnologies chargées d’antibiotiques pour s’attaquer aux biofilms bactériens, une structure intrinsèquement difficile à pénétrer avec des médicaments.
Objectif
The World Health Organisation named antibiotic resistance as one of the greatest threats to global health, predicting the advent of infections not responding to antibiotics. The humanity needs to pioneer disruptive technologies to re-gain the upper hand. To do so, PEST-BIN mobilized 5 universities, 3 institutes, a hospital and 5 private companies. We will fight infections with very diverse tools: from nano-engineering, antibiotic production, via proteomics-based diagnostics to big data analysis using artificial intelligence (AI). PEST-BIN will train ESRs in an interdisciplinary and intersectoral environment in these impact areas:
1) Diagnostics: Current diagnostic tools fail to meet the clinical requirements for high speed, throughput, accuracy, cost and simplicity of use. PEST-BIN will develop infection diagnostic kits based on graphene, that will be functionalized by receptors capturing infection biomarkers. Our chips will contain only pure carbon and biodegradable polymers – zero environmental footprint. They will be used as “plug-and-play” disposable chips with a micro-SD jack.
2) Infection mechanisms: MS proteomics has been extensively used to analyse infectious bacteria, but our understanding of infection mechanisms has not advanced much. PEST-BIN is taking two new directions: i) generate proteomics datasets more relevant, comprehensive and time-resolved and ii) use novel computational tools (based on AI) to analyse proteomics datasets. This will lead to new drug targets for development of antibiotics.
3) Killing biofilms: Dense extracellular matrix prevents drugs from reaching bacteria inside biofilms. This limited exposure enhances development of antibiotic tolerance. PEST-BIN will engineer magnetic nanoparticles (directed by magnetic field), spiked with antibacterial graphene coating which will be loaded with antibiotics. Such molecular “nano-weapons” will physically penetrate biofilms and ensure sustained delivery of antibiotics inside biofilms.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomics
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinateur
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Danemark