Nature-derived solutions: Development of a West African herb-derived compound for tackling infections

More than 25 million Africans and 800,000 Canadians suffer from chronic wounds. Wound infections are a leading cause of hospitalization and disability in immunocompromised people and vulnerable populations. This is compounded by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, leading to antimicrobial resistance and failure of treatments. Therefore, antibiotic alternatives are needed. Inspired by traditional wisdom, phytotherapy (plant-derived compounds) may unlock the potential to develop therapies that can simultaneously eradicate infection and promote wound healing. Supported by the MITACS Globalink Research Award, the intern will investigate an alkaloid commonly used by the Indigenous peoples of Africa for treating infectious diseases. The intern will receive hands-on experience in characterizing the effects of this alkaloid against complex biofilms in wound microenvironments. He will gain expertise to apply confocal microscopy to interrogate the spatiotemporal architecture and composition of biofilms. He will also develop mechanistic assays to identify the potential antibiofilm mechanisms of this alkaloid. This project will capitalize on the expertise of the two teams in natural products research and microbiology to propel the development of a novel agent for treating wound infections.

Faculty Supervisor:

Prasanna Neelakantan

Student:

Partner:

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Natural Resources; Pharmaceuticals

University:

University of Alberta

Program: