This project aims to combat (global) antimicrobial resistance by building better understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing bacterial cell growth, and biofilm formation and disruption by small molecular antimicrobial agents and/or biofilm-degrading enzymes. For this purpose, we will develop and utilize a complementary set of noninvasive physico-chemical biofilm characterization techniques, capable of sensing both the surface and bulk properties of the biofilms. In addition, we apply state-of-the-art chemoproteomics techniques to unveil the mechanisms of the mode of action of selected antibacterial agents against free-living and biofilm protected cells, including investigational small molecules and peptidoglycan hydrolyzing enzymes. The molecular level mechanistic information to be obtained within this project, as well as the characterization tools to be developed, are foreseen to pave the way for the development of novel, safe and sustainable antimicrobial agents.

2025

2029