From genome-guided discovery to production of novel glycopeptide antibiotics by an integrative technological platform
Why
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health crisis, causing over 1 million deaths annually and placing significant pressure on healthcare and economic systems.
- The discovery and development of novel antimicrobial drugs are becoming increasingly challenging, widening the gap between clinical needs and drug innovation.
- Different Gram-positive bacteria, as vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, have been indicated by the World Health Organization among priority pathogens.
What
The main aim is to produce and characterize new glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs), natural antibacterial compounds produced by filamentous actinomycetes, which are vital in the battle against MDR Gram-positive pathogens.
Immacolata Serra is leading the work package dedicated to the fermentation of actinomycetes and GPA purification.
Additionally, efforts will be made to elucidate the structure of the GPAs.
This project is a collaboration with Dr. Francesca Berini from Università degli Studi INSUBRIA Varese-Como and Adelfia Talà from Università del SALENTO.
How
Our task is to produce sufficient amounts of GPA antibiotics during 2-L or 10-L fermentation processes that may to be optimized using actinomycetes strains enhanced through metabolic engineering approaches.
Also, upon GPA purification with affinity columns, LC-MS and NMR analyses would be performed to reconstruct of GPAs’ structure.
Who
Researchers involved in the project
This project has received funding from PRIN: PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE (PRIN, Decreto Direttoriale n. 104 del 2 febbraio 2022) – Bando 2022
MUR CODE: 2022J7W7LW