„BaKillus“ – Engineering a pathogen-hunting microbe

WOW

Doge

Increasing bacterial resistance to classical antibiotics remains a serious threat and urges the development of novel pathogen-killing strategies. Exploiting bacterial communication mechanisms such as quorum sensing is a promising strategy to specifically target certain pathogens. The major aim of this project is the introduction of a genetic circuit enabling </i>Bacillus subtilis</i> to actively detect, attach to, and eventually kill </i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and </i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>. Initially, we will introduce the autoinducer-sensing two-component systems of </i>S. aureus</i> and </i>S. pneumoniae</i> into B. subtilis. to create a pathogen-detecting strain. By utilizing quorum sensing-dependent promoters, we will then trigger pathogen-killing strategies like the production of antimicrobial peptides or biofilm degradation. As a safety measure a delayed suicide-switch guarantees non-persistence of genetically modified </i>B. subtilis</i> in the absence of pathogens. We envision the use of BaKillus as a smart, cheap and simple-to-use medical device for diagnostics and targeted treatment of multiresistant superbugs.

panel discussion

FOOTER