Discovery of potent beta-lactamase inhibitor peptides to overcome beta-lactamase-mediated antibiotic resistance

The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major threat to our ability to treat bacterial infections. The beta-lactams, a group that includes the penicillins, are a widely used group of antibiotics. However, bacteria can become resistant to beta-lactams by producing beta-lactamases, enzymes that inactivate these antibiotics. There has been great success in treating infections caused by beta-lactam antibiotics by administering these antibiotics alongside a beta-lactamase inhibitor (BLI). Due to the continuing evolution of resistance, new BLIs are urgently needed. The intern will work in a collaborative research environment to test and apply a new biosensor-based screening platform for BLI discovery developed in the lab of the host supervisor. Peptides derived from natural beta-lactamase inhibitor proteins will be screened and optimized, testing for activity against a panel of beta-lactamases. Hits will be validated against clinical strains of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria to test their efficacy. This strategy could yield new BLIs that can rescue the use of beta-lactam antibiotics as therapeutics. Furthermore, this project will promote further collaboration between the labs of the host and home supervisors towards the development of other new BLIs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Christopher Lohans

Student:

Partner:

University of Oxford

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

Queen's University

Program: