An estimated 1 in every 2500 births in the UK, is known to be affected with cystic fibrosis. Children experience a range of symptoms including a persistent cough, shortness of breath and frequent chest infections. A major cause of illness and death linked to this disease is persistent chest infections arising from a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa.P. aeruginosa form structures called biofilms, which help them escape destruction by antibiotics and the immune system.
To date, the only available modes of treatment involve medications and physiotherapy,which only work to ease a child’s symptoms without actually providing a cure. Even though life expectancy associated with this disease is on the rise, many deaths still occur owing to bacterial infections that are hard to treat.
“If we could identify novel means to wipe out these bacteria by breaking down biofilms, it would help children with cystic fibrosis live longer, better lives,” says Tanmay Bharat. This grant, headed by Tanmay Bharat, is a collaborative effort involving Christoph Tang, Rachel Exley and Abul Tarafder.
The aim of this grant is to primarily investigate substances released by the bacteria that aid in the formation of biofilms, which in turn trap antibiotics, making them less effective. Efforts will also be directed towards testing specific small biological molecules, that could either disrupt or prevent biofilm formation.
Head of the department, Matthew Freeman believes that this is a “hugely important project” aimed at understanding the biofilm formation in an infectious setting. “It’s great to see Tanmay Bharat’s team pooling their expertise with Chris Tang’s lab to tackle a problem of biological and clinical significance. It is a good example of what the Dunn School does best: addressing the basic biology underlying human disease,” says Freeman.
Ongoing work from the Bharat lab uses state of the art structural biology techniques, combined with high resolution imaging, to capture an unprecedented view of bacterial biofilms, which might help better understand their behavior.
For more information visit the Tanmay Bharat research group
Sonia Muliyil (@Muliyilsonia)