Targeting amyloid to combat bacterial biofilm

Amyloids are aggregates of proteins that become folded into a shape that allows many copies of that protein to stick together, forming fibrils. In this project we study the amyloids formed by the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and how they contribute to biofilm formation as well the resistance of biofilms to antibiotic treatment.

The aim of the project is to use our insight in bacterial amyloid formation to develop approaches to eradicate biofilm by disrupting amyloid and thus reduce biofilm stability and antibiotic resistance. A successful outcome may pave the way for new approaches that combine conventional antibiotics or biocides with novel matrix-targeting compounds to combat biofilm in food production, industrial pipelines and medical implants.

The project is funded the by Independent Research Fund Denmark, Technology and Production and is in collaboration with Århus University.