Tuberculosis has re-emerged as the leading infectious killer globally. Current treatments struggle to eliminate bacteria in difficult-to-reach granulomas, where they form persistent biofilms. This project proposes a shift from conventional antimicrobial drugs to therapies that disrupt bacterial survival strategies. New drugs will be developed to target persistent biofilms and to make the bacteria vulnerable to drugs and immune responses. Specific binder molecules will be developed for enriching the drugs in the biofilms, and nanoparticle-based aerosol formulations will be developed for effective delivery of the drugs into the granulomas. The final goal of the project is a proof-of-concept for an antibiotic-free tuberculosis treatment by combining the new biofilm-targeting therapies with existing drugs that trigger protective immune responses.

2026

2030