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HEIndividual fellowship2023–2025

AB-Biofilm · Regulation of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation by c-di-GMP signaling

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2023-03-01 → 2025-02-28
EU contribution
€230,774
Participants
1
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Regulation of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation by c-di-GMP signaling

Drug-resistant bacterial infections pose a major and growing threat to global public health, with estimates suggesting that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 without effective action. One particularly challenging pathogen is Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterium known for its ability to survive in harsh environments, rapidly develop antibiotic resistance, and form persistent biofilms. Biofilms are protective bacterial communities that shield cells from antibiotics and host defenses, making infections difficult to eradicate and leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. This project aimed to investigate the internal signaling systems that regulate biofilm formation and stress adaptation in A. baumannii, focusing on cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP), a key bacterial second messenger. By systematically studying how changes in c-di-GMP levels affect bacterial behaviors, the project sought to identify new molecular targets that could be exploited to prevent biofilm formation and combat persistent infections. The knowledge gained is expected to contribute to developing novel therapeutic strategies, improving patient outcomes, and addressing the urgent societal need to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Given the projected scale of the AMR crisis, these findings are timely and of high strategic importance for public health.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

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 candidates competency to find a job in positions related to molecular and pharmaceutical microbiology.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNCoordinatorDenmark

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union