Multivalent glycopeptide dendrimers as biofilm inhibitors to control Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C12.0037

Key words (English)

carbohydrates; peptides; dendrimers; biofilms; pseudomonas aeruginosa; lectins

Research programs (English)

COST-Action CM1102 - Multivalent Glycosystems for Nanoscience - MultiGlycoNano

Short description (English)

The COST Action CM 1102 - MultiGlycoNano- focuses onthe synthesis and use of multivalent glycoconjugates in the following areas: 1) gene and drug delivery, 2) diagnostics, 3) immune modulations, and 4) antiinfective agents. The present project concerns point 4) and focuses on a series of glycopeptide dendrimers recently developed in human pathogen which is the primary cause of death cystic fibrosis patients. Our glycopeptide dendrimers act by inhibiting two specific lectins, LecA and LecB, which mediate tissue adhesion and biofilm formation. Taking advantage of the collaborative network, we will optimize the activity of our inhibitors by structural variations and study the biochemical basis of the biofilm inhibition and its use to control bacterial infections.

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: Universität Bern Departement für Chemie und Biochemie

Partners and International Organizations (English)

AT; FI; IT; RS; TR; BE; FR; NL; SK; UK; CZ; DE; NO; ES; DK; IE; PT; CH

Abstract (English)

The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is one of the most pressing problems in human health today. Antibiotic resistance occurs whenever an antibiotic exerts its effects by directly interfering with a key step in the life cycle of the bacterium, because selection pressure for survival automatically leads to the occurrence of resistance. This has been the case for all major classes of antibiotics, starting from the ?-lactams all the way up to vancomycin. Alternative strategies to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria are urgently needed. The present project focuses on a series of glycopeptide dendrimers recently developed in our group as inhibitors of biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an antibiotic resistant opportunistic human pathogen which is the primary cause of death cystic fibrosis patients. Our glycopeptide dendrimers act by inhibiting two specific lectins, LecA and LecB, which mediate tissue adhesion and biofilm formation. Taking advantage of the collaborative network, we are optimizing the activity of our inhibitors by structural variations and study the biochemical basis of the biofilm inhibition and its use to control bacterial infections.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C12.0037