Combating gram-negative-infectious diseases. Controlling virulence factors through quorum quenching acylases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PhD ceremony: Ms. M. Wahjudi, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Dissertation: Combating gram-negative-infectious diseases. Controlling virulence factors through quorum quenching acylases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Promotor(s): prof. W.J. Quax
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Infectious diseases cause a serious problem worldwide. The antibiotic resistance of Gram-negative strains has increased over the last decades. The emergence is so faster than the development of new antibiotics to address those that it is important to find an alternative treatment for the anti-infective against Gram-negative pathogens. Most of the Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have the ability of accommodating a variety of social behaviours, including acyl-homoserine-lactones quorum sensing (AHLs-QS) system. The pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa has been shown to be regulated by the AHLs-QS system. Prevention of the AHLs-mediated QS, called as quorum quenching (QQ), may be useful to stop the modulated-virulence products and will lead to increasing the susceptibility of the pathogens to normal host immune systems.
The alternative presented by Mariana Wahjudi in her thesis deals with bacterial pathogens and circumvention of drugs resistance by disturbing the pathways mediating the virulence without affecting the bacterial survival, growth, or the host’s metabolism. The function of P. aeruginosa AHL-acylases as QQ acylases was studied by her in controlling the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa in in vitro study and in in vivo C. elegans model. In conclusion, she can states that both PvdQ and HacB, the Ntn-hydrolase proteins from P. aeruginosa PAO1, function as quorum quenching AHL-acylases which might be strong candidates for antibacterial therapy against Pseudomonas infections. Wahjudi also demonstrated that the spray-freeze-dried-PvdQ trehalose and inulin based formulations are suitable for pulmonary delivery.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.02 a.m. |
More news
-
29 April 2024
Tactile sensors
Every two weeks, UG Makers puts the spotlight on a researcher who has created something tangible, ranging from homemade measuring equipment for academic research to small or larger products that can change our daily lives. That is how UG...
-
29 April 2024
Behind the scenes: how UG and Hanze UAS students are jointly developing a Mars rover
This year the students of the Makercie team are participating in the physical edition of the European Rover Challenge in Poland. Read more about the team and the collaboration between the RUG and Hanze UAS here.
-
23 April 2024
Nine MSCA Doctoral Network grants for FSE researchers
Nine researchers of the Faculty of Science and Engineering have received a Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Network grant.