A New Mechanism For Transposition Of Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$501,839.00
Summary
Understanding how antibiotic resistance genes are acquired by bacteria is important if we are to understand how bacteria become resistant in so many antibiotics, limiting treatment options. This project will investigate the way a family of insertion sequences captures and then moves resistance genes. This mechanism contributes to resistance in many bacterial pathogens including ones that are resistant to many different antibiotics.
Pathways To Extensive And Pan Antibiotic Resistance In The Globally Disseminated Acinetobacter Baumannii GC2 Clone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$865,004.00
Summary
The project will study the evolution of a Acinetobacter baumannii clone that is found all around the world, and has become resistant to most or all of the currently available antibiotics. Resistance has been acquired in a series of steps, and the resistance genes present and the events involved will be used to understand the globalization process. The increased understanding of resistance development should assist in controlling untreatable infections and in preserving antibiotics.
An Ace Up Their Sleeve: Characterisation Of A Novel Family Of Drug Efflux Systems Represented By The Acinetobacter AceI Exporter
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,286.00
Summary
Chlorhexidine is widely used as an antiseptic in products such as skin washes, soaps, mouthwashes, disinfectants and preservatives. We have recently discovered a novel bacterial protein which pumps chlorhexidine out of bacterial cells to make them resistant to this antiseptic agent. This proposal aims to understand this resistance mechanism and to find inhibitors which could be applied in clinical settings to augment the activity of chlorhexidine.
Role Of IS26 In Antibiotic Resistance Gene Recruitment, Dissemination And Expression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,879.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is increasing, compromising the efficacy of front-line antibiotics. Untreatable infections due to bacteria that are resistant to all available antibiotics are being seen more often. To control the spread of resistance, an understanding of how resistance arises and is spread among bacteria is needed. This requires information about how the genetic elements that mobilize them work. This project will study one of the most important of these elements.
Multidrug Recognition And Resistance In Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,978.00
Summary
Strains of Staphylococcus aureus (Golden Staph), resistant to almost all available anti-staphylococcal agents, are responsible for serious infections among patients; in some hospitals such outbreaks reach epidemic proportions. Resistance has emerged to all classes of antimicrobial agents. We will increase our understanding of proteins that confer resistance by pumping multiple antimicrobials out of the cell to ultimately design more effective antibacterials able to bypass such drug pumps.
Once treatable infections are becoming deadly because bacteria are developing broad antibiotic resistance. New medicines are urgently needed. Microbes themselves are the richest known source of new antibiotics but finding the 'good bugs' is like finding a needle in a microbial haystack. This project will use state-of-the art science to screen a previously overlooked source of rich microbial biodiversity and find new antibiotics.
Plasmid Specialisation Modules, Microbial Husbandry And Microbiome Resilience
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,005.00
Summary
The epidemiology of plasmids is chiefly determined by small genetic modules that control their entry to cells, their stability after entry, and their capacity to exclude other related plasmids. Understanding this is important for understanding transmission of antibiotic resistance. It is also essential for our newly proven approach to remove resistance plasmids from bacteria.
Curing Antibiotic Resistance: Probiotic Plasmids And Microbial Husbandry In The Enterobacteriaceae
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,832.00
Summary
The most troublesome emerging antibiotic resistance is coming in the form of addictive and promiscuous 'pest' plasmids, carrying dangerous genes that defeat antibiotics used for the most severe infections. We currently manage this problem by isolating infected patients and trying to design new antibiotics. Our approach eradicates these plasmids and renders the host bacterium antibiotic susceptible again, thereby restoring the natural ecology in animals and potentially in humans.
Multiple Antibiotic Resistance In An Acinetobacter Baumannii Global Clone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,580.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistant bacteria that cause infections in hospitals can originate anywhere, then spread world wide. They start off resistant to a few antibiotics, then become resistant to new antibiotics that are introduced to treat them. This project will investigate how resistance to antibiotics was acquired by Acinetobacter baumannii which is now resistant to most antibiotics, and why the old resistance genes are not being lost. This will help track these bacteria moving into and around Australi ....Antibiotic resistant bacteria that cause infections in hospitals can originate anywhere, then spread world wide. They start off resistant to a few antibiotics, then become resistant to new antibiotics that are introduced to treat them. This project will investigate how resistance to antibiotics was acquired by Acinetobacter baumannii which is now resistant to most antibiotics, and why the old resistance genes are not being lost. This will help track these bacteria moving into and around Australia.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Contribution Of SRNAs To Antibiotic Resistance In Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,424.00
Summary
Golden Staph is a major problem in Australian hospitals. This project will use cutting edge technology to investigate how Golden Staph responds to and resists antibiotics used to treat human infections, leading to new strategies for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria.