Cell wall hydrolases for eradication of multidrug resistant bacteria

Description of the granted funding

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem, more than 1 million people die each year from infections caused by bacteria resistant to drugs. This situation is getting worse as the number of resistant bacteria outstrips the availability of effective drugs. AMR is a threat to our well-being, rendering medicare highly risky, incl. cancer treatment, organ transplants, joint replacement surgeries, premature infant care... We are exploring new means to eradicate multidrug-resistant bacteria. The molecules we are studying are enzymes capable of degrading the bacterial cell wall as well as the biofilm it forms, throughout the bacterial life cycle. The method is highly specific, the enzymes eradicate only the bacteria that are the target of the treatment, leaving beneficial bacterial populations safe. We are testing the effectiveness of the method in carefully controlled laboratory experiments as well as directly towards multidrug-resistant bacterial cells.
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Starting year

2024

End year

2028

Granted funding

Perttu Permi Orcid -palvelun logo
600 000 €

Funder

Research Council of Finland

Funding instrument

Academy projects

Decision maker

Scientific Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering
13.06.2024

Other information

Funding decision number

362535

Fields of science

Biochemistry, cell and molecular biology

Research fields

Biokemia, biofysiikka

Identified topics

microbiome, microbiology