The project entitled “Zwalczanie superbakterii opornych na antybiotyki nakierowane na odpowiedź ścisłą za pomocą związków ‘anty-persister’ ’’ (“Fighting antibiotic-resistant superbugs with anti-persister compounds targeting the stringent response”) has received funding as part of the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance.

A rise in antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria poses one of the most serious threats to public health. More and more data points to the fact that one of the main causes of recurrent infections are so-called persisters. Despite the fact that, unlike typical antimicrobial resistance, the persistent state is temporary, reversible and usually concerns only a minor subpopulation of pathogens, combatting persisters is very difficult. Recent studies suggest that the main role in creating persisters may be played by the guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) alarmone. The objective of the project is to discover the physiology of persisters, and in particular the structure and mechanism of action of RSH enzymes responsible for the synthesis of ppGpp. The primary objective is the design of new antibiotics (RSH inhibitors) targeting persisters.

Head of the project on behalf of the University of Gdańsk is Dr hab. Ewa Laskowska, associate professor from the Faculty of Biology. UG budget is 167,000 EUR.