| Project Detail |
In recent years, Acinetobacter baumannii has been recognized as a serious threat to human health due to its high rates of infection and resistance to various antibiotics. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced A. baumannii as an urgent threat with a priority to find novel antimicrobials against it. Various diseases have been attributed to biofilms of A. baumannii, and since biofilms are inherently tolerant to antibiotics the treatment procedures are challenged. The nucleotide signaling molecule c-di-GMP has been shown to regulate biofilm formation in a variety of bacterial species. Previous studies have shown a role of c-di-GMP signaling in biofilm formation by A. baumannii, but the underlying mechanisms still remain unclear. Understanding the mechanisms of c-di-GMP signaling systems potentially contribute to identification of new drug targets. Therefore, this research proposal intends to obtain knowledge on how c-di-GMP signaling regulates key components involved in biofilm formation by A. baumannii through a multidisciplinary approach by employing biochemical, molecular and microbiological techniques. The project is in line with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) request and EU Action on antibacterial resistance. The proposed project will establish a research platform based on A. baumannii in the host institute. The candidate will gain knowledge about c-di-GMP signaling system and the methods needed to elucidate the function of proteins which are associated with specific microbial traits. The acquired techniques along with the transferable skills obtained during the implementation of this project will greatly increase the candidate’s competency to find a job in positions related to molecular and pharmaceutical microbiology. |
