Dendritic nanoparticles as an agent enhancing the antimicrobial properties of phage-derived endolysins against gram-negative bacteria

Task name:

Dendritic nanoparticles as an agent enhancing the antimicrobial properties of phage-derived endolysins against gram-negative bacteria Assessment of antimicrobial properties

Co-funding:

PLN 731 719.00

Total value:

PLN 731 719.00

Task description:

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is currently one of the biggest challenges facing researchers. Years of uncontrolled use of antibiotics in medicine and animal husbandry have contributed to the emergence of so-called bacterial drug resistance. This problem often occurs in gram negative bacteria including an additional impermeable lipid membrane for many potentially bactericidal components. The negative charge of the outer bacterial membrane often constitutes an impossible to penetrate barrier for new antibacterial agents. Currently, new alternatives to antibiotics are being sought. One of these could be nanomaterials linked to proteins that degrade peptidoglycan found in the bacterial wall, e.g.

phage endolysins. Cationic nanoparticles can form pores in the bacterial cell membrane and thus create a pathway for endolysins to destroy peptidoglycan (the bacterial cell wall) resulting in destroying bacterial cells.

In this project, I intend to verify whether complexing dendritic nanoparticles with phage-derived endolysin can improve their antibacterial properties against gram-negative bacteria. A number of biophysical and biochemical methods will allow to answer the ultimate question of whether using the previously mentioned method can contribute to a new effective alternative for destroying drug-resistant bacteria.