Antibiotic Resistance
causes
deaths annually
estimated annual deaths by 2050
Main cause are the
ESKAPE Pathogens
Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs)
are small, cationic proteins representing a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics.
Pore formation
Biofilm disruption
AMPs combat bacteria through various mechanisms, such as disrupting bacterial cell membranes to form pores and breaking down protective biofilms.
These diverse modes of action make AMPs a powerful tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
A system that delivers AMPs directly and safely to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The Plasmid
contains a Pseudomonas-specific promoter, ensuring AMPs are expressed only in target bacteria.
Two Delivery Systems
Two lipid vesicle delivery systems are engineered to encapsulate plasmids and to specifically target Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Lipid nanoparticles
Outer membrane vesicle
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is classified by the WHO as a high-priority pathogen that primarily targets the lungs and urgently requires new therapeutics due to its advanced antibiotic resistance.
we plan to transport the specific AMP plasmid with a nebulizer to the lung of the patient where the produced AMPs kill the bacteria from within.
Encapsulated plasmids are delivered to the lung via a nebulizer, creating an aerosol for deep respiratory penetration
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is killed from within
In infected areas, engineered lipid vesicles selectively target and fuse with P. aeruginosa's outer membrane.
The plasmid, carrying the AMP gene, enters the bacterium and integrates it into its genetic machinery
AMPs are produced constitutively from a Pseudomonas-specific promoter, ensuring targeted and continuous expression
The produced AMPs disrupt the bacterial membrane by creating pores or destabilizing its structure
