Microbial biofilms
Bacterial biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms that grow on surfaces such as teeth, implants, or medical devices, as well as in basic utility systems such as water pipes. A protective layer of slime can shield them from antibiotics and the immune system. Research into bacterial biofilms is highly important for developing strategies to prevent and combat infections caused by these microbes. Elisabeth Grohmann’s laboratory has many years of experience in biofilm research. To develop specific biofilm inhibitors, genomic libraries will be screened for new targets for biofilm inhibitors. The targets will be cloned into expression vectors, and their expression in different bacteria will be investigated. The targets will be purified using chromatographic methods. An activity screening will be conducted to identify specific inhibitors for the targets. The most promising inhibitors will be tested against strong bacterial biofilm producers (Vaishampayan et al. 2018, Wischer et al. 2020). For this purpose, biofilms will be produced in pure and mixed cultures, and a high-throughput inhibition assay will be developed. The most effective substances will be produced and characterised under controlled conditions on a pilot scale.
Principal Investigators:
Prof. Dr. habil. Elisabeth Grohmann and Florian Martin
Contact:
Publications:
