New Research Explores Treatment Strategies for Tuberculosis and Antibiotic Resistance
CARe researcher Michaela Wenzel, Associate Professor of Chemical Biology at Chalmers University of Technology, has been awarded the Swedish Research Council's prestigious Consolidator Grant to lead a research project that could transform the treatment of tuberculosis while also addressing the fight against antibiotic resistance..
Tuberculosis is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. One of the major challenges in combating it is the unique cell envelope of mycobacteria. The outer layer of this cell envelope consists of an impermeable layer of mycolic acids, which shield the bacteria from many types of antibiotics, making effective treatment particularly difficult.
Tailored peptides for more effective antibiotic treatments
In her project, Michaela Wenzel and her research group will explore the potential of so-called MAPPs (Mycolic Acid Permeabilizing Peptides), a group of peptides recently discovered in the genomes of mycobacteria. These peptides have shown the ability to render the bacterial mycolic acid layer] more permeable, significantly enhancing the efficacy of antibiotics that would otherwise be ineffective.
The project will focus on identifying new MAPPs, understanding their selectivity and toxicity, and analysing their synergies with antibiotics and other antimicrobial peptides. By tailoring MAPPs to be species-specific, the researchers aim to develop treatments that specifically target tuberculosis bacteria without harming the patient’s broader microbiome.
More effective and safer treatment
"With this support from the Swedish Research Council, we now have the opportunity to develop a novel strategy that could not only significantly broaden the range of antibiotics available for treating tuberculosis but could also considerably reduce drug doses and thus minimise side effects for patients. This is a crucial consideration for tuberculosis as treatment typically consists of taking a cocktail of drugs for many months. This puts a lot of strain on the patient’s body and severely impacts their microbiome. Furthermore, MAPPs could possibly act as immune boosters, further increasing their potential as a treatment. Our work has the potential to improve tuberculosis therapy and tackle one of the greatest medical challenges of our time – antibiotic-resistant bacteria", says Michaela Wenzel.