CAPTURE - Combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections with antimicrobial peptide carriers

Abstract

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis. This pathogen exacerbates the condition of already compromised patients and exhibits high resistance to antibiotics, posing a significant challenge in healthcare settings. Our project aims to combat P. aeruginosa through a novel approach involving carriers for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).

The aim is to ensure the effective delivery of AMPs directly into the bacterial cells, thereby maximizing their antimicrobial activity. By encapsulating plasmid encoding a potent AMP within specialized carriers, we strive to create a targeted therapeutic system capable of eradicating P. aeruginosa infections. The carriers will be administered via an aerosol delivery system, enabling targeting of bacterial infections in the lungs. To validate our approach we will initially test the system using the strain Pseudomonas fluorescens as a model organism. This cutting-edge research holds promise for developing effective treatments against P. aeruginosa infections, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Wiki

https://2024.igem.wiki/freiburg/

Meet The Team

Primary PI

• Dr. Nicole Gensch

Student Members

• Alexej Wolosski
• Emil Kozma
• Isabelle Tipp
• Ivana Rozić
• Jan Zielinski
• Laura Pasman
• Leonie Mungenast
• Liv Neumann
• Lucille Gutzmer
• Marina Hammerl
• Mathilda Bertges
• Nafis Madappalli
• Nicole Kucera
• Niels Geipel

Instructors 

• Jonas Pleyer

Advisors 

• Amelie Stange
• Anna Indricane
• Kevin Postol
• Konstantin Jäschke

• Leon-Samuel Icking

• Melita Dyla

• Michael Spädt

• Yara Jenin Jamal