Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat to global health. Pseudomonas is one of the multi-drug resistance pathogens causing severe infections in conditions such as cystic fibrosis. In this project, we will investigate one of the new strategies to tackle drug resistance by targeting the bacteria's ability to cause disease (virulence) rather than killing it. This is achieved by targeting a critical protein, Isocitrate lyase (ICL), responsible for the Pseudomonas survival in the lungs during chronic infections. Here, state-of-the-art computational approaches will be used to identify new inhibitors of ICL. Further, these will be evaluated for their ability to reduce the virulence of Pseudomonas. Thus, by designing compounds that block ICL, we aim to reduce the pathogenicity, paving the way for a new class of resistance-proof antibacterial treatments. This research will be conducted at University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with University of Cambridge.

2025

2029