Generation of Synthetic -Specific Nanobodies.

The bacterial pathogen is a leading cause of drug-resistant infections. Here, we investigated the potential of developing nanobodies that can recognize over other Gram-negative bacteria. Through generation and panning of a synthetic nanobody library, we identified several potential lead candidates.

Acinetobactin-Mediated Inhibition of Commensal Bacteria by Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important hospital-associated pathogen that causes antibiotic resistant infections and reoccurring hospital outbreaks. A. baumannii's ability to asymptomatically colonize patients is a risk factor for infection and exacerbates its spread.

Exploring the Antimicrobial Action of Quaternary Amines against .

Quaternary amine compounds (QAC) are potent antimicrobials used to prevent the spread of pathogenic bacteria. While they are known for their membrane-damaging properties, QAC action has been suggested to extend beyond the surface to intracellular targets. Here we characterize the range of action of the QAC biocide benzalkonium chloride (BZK) against the bacterial pathogen At high concentrations, BZK acts through membrane disruption, but at low concentrations we show that wide-spread protein aggregation is associated with BZK-induced cell death.

Discovery of Next-Generation Antimicrobials through Bacterial Self-Screening of Surface-Displayed Peptide Libraries.

Peptides have great potential to combat antibiotic resistance. While many platforms can screen peptides for their ability to bind to target cells, there are virtually no platforms that directly assess the functionality of peptides. This limitation is exacerbated when identifying antimicrobial peptides because the phenotype, death, selects against itself and has caused a scientific bottleneck that confines research to a few naturally occurring classes of antimicrobial peptides.

Defining gene-phenotype relationships in Acinetobacter baumannii through one-step chromosomal gene inactivation.

Rates of infection with hospital-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii have exploded over the past decade due to our inability to limit persistence and effectively treat disease. A. baumannii quickly acquires antibiotic resistance, and its genome encodes mechanisms to tolerate biocides and desiccation, which enhance its persistence in hospital settings.