Can nanosensors identify antimicrobial release to inform the design of novel biofilm dispersion technology for washing machines to reduce biofouling a
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Microbes surrounding us form highly adherent biofilms. Dispersal of these biofilms would reduce potential reservoirs of life-threatening infections. Biofilms are complex bacterial communities encased within a matrix. Environmental microniches within biofilms are predicted e.g. anoxic pockets, pH variation, but have not been fully characterized. Monitoring chemical fluctuations in microniches could potentially detect biocide penetration.
People are exposed daily to bacteria on their clothing that can be killed by washing at high temperatures. Most washing machines do not reach programmed temperatures, so biofilms can form in the washing machine. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a predominant bacterium within washing machine biofilms and causes human infections. Biofilm formation is important to the persistence and ubiquity of P. aeruginosa. Understanding biofilms to identify antimicrobial strategies that can disrupt them is thus key to removing this potential reservoir of infection. The development of nanosensors in the Aylott Lab provides a novel way to monitor molecules in contact with individual bacterial cells. Nanosensors penetrate P. aeruginosa biofilms and emit fluorescence in response to variation in pH. CBS Labs have a large collection of P. aeruginosa biofilm characterization tools. Unilever has in situ biofilm material plus lead biocides with relevant delivery vehicles. Engineering biocides for on-demand delivery should reduce the likelihood that resistance mechanisms will be selected in the bacteria.
The student will benefit from training in research and business at Unilever. The student will generate novel and fundamental knowledge about complex microbial communities as well as an innovative commercial product. To inform the design of vehicles that can deliver biocides on-demand, the student will obtain in situ biofilms plus lead biocides with relevant delivery vehicles from Unilever. At UoN the student will analyse microbial components of washing machine biofilms alongside characterizing the microenvironments in the presence of 'free' or 'encapsulated' biocides. The production of biofilm effectors including extracellular polysaccharides within microniches will also be characterized.
People are exposed daily to bacteria on their clothing that can be killed by washing at high temperatures. Most washing machines do not reach programmed temperatures, so biofilms can form in the washing machine. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a predominant bacterium within washing machine biofilms and causes human infections. Biofilm formation is important to the persistence and ubiquity of P. aeruginosa. Understanding biofilms to identify antimicrobial strategies that can disrupt them is thus key to removing this potential reservoir of infection. The development of nanosensors in the Aylott Lab provides a novel way to monitor molecules in contact with individual bacterial cells. Nanosensors penetrate P. aeruginosa biofilms and emit fluorescence in response to variation in pH. CBS Labs have a large collection of P. aeruginosa biofilm characterization tools. Unilever has in situ biofilm material plus lead biocides with relevant delivery vehicles. Engineering biocides for on-demand delivery should reduce the likelihood that resistance mechanisms will be selected in the bacteria.
The student will benefit from training in research and business at Unilever. The student will generate novel and fundamental knowledge about complex microbial communities as well as an innovative commercial product. To inform the design of vehicles that can deliver biocides on-demand, the student will obtain in situ biofilms plus lead biocides with relevant delivery vehicles from Unilever. At UoN the student will analyse microbial components of washing machine biofilms alongside characterizing the microenvironments in the presence of 'free' or 'encapsulated' biocides. The production of biofilm effectors including extracellular polysaccharides within microniches will also be characterized.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Kim Hardie (Primary Supervisor) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1804169 | Studentship | BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/12/2020 |
| Description | Biocides are used widely in both healthcare (medical soaps, medical devices/implants) and household products (soaps, toothpastes, laundry products, mouthwash, cosmetics). This widespread use of biocides has led to the accumulation of small amounts of these chemicals within the human body. Our research has shown that biocides, at these low concentrations, are actually able to change bacterial behaviour in a way that allows bacteria, including MRSA to tolerate high levels of antibiotic treatment. The molecular mechanisms behind this behavioural change has been investigated and elucidated in this study, and appears to be due to the induction of starvation responses by low concentrations of biocides. This study has also found that this effect is induced by multiple widely used bacteria, against multiple clinically relevant bacteria. Moreover, we have also been able to show that low concentrations of biocide can alter the way bacteria form communities known as biofilms. Biofilms are inherently very difficult to treat, but behavioural changes induced by biofilms make them even more difficult to treat. Biofilms exposed to biocides produce more biofilm matrix, giving them a thick protective layer that makes them harder to physically remove from a surface they have attached to, as well as impeding the activity of antibiotics. |
| Exploitation Route | These findings should be taken forward by future PhD students/postgraduate researchers to further understand the effects we have seen, as well as determining how widespread they are and how they can be prevented. Likewise, this can be taken forward in both clinical and industry settings, allowing these sectors to reevaluate how biocides are applied and manufactured, respectively. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | optical nano sensors reporting on biofilm microniches |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have contributed prior knowledge on the production and development of optical nanosensors as well as protocols and bacterial strains to grow and analyse biofilms |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have contributed funding to match BBSRC and university of Nottingham funding to underpin 3 PhD Studentships (1 BBSRC iCASE, one BBSRC DTP) Regular meetings to direct the projects plus hosting of the students for placements and data generation |
| Impact | The collaboration is multi-disciplinary as it involves microbiology and also polymer chemistry Brown, J.M., Blunk, B., Williams, P., and Hardie, K.R. (2019) Microfluidic-based growth and imaging of bacterial biofilms. Bio-101. https://bio-protocol.org/bio101/about.aspx. https://en.bio-protocol.org/bio101/e3460 Awarded Lectures: • 2019: Royal Society of Biology Annual Charter Lecture. 'Bacteria unite to resist antibiotics: ways we can fight back.' May 15th, Law Society, London. https://www.rsb.org.uk/news/14-news/2151-more-than-100-members-attend-this-year-s-agm • 2019: Royal Society of Biology East Midlands Branch Annual Colin Leakey Memorial Lecture. 'The race between bacterial biofilm communities and us in fight against antimicrobial resistance' November 13th, University of Nottingham Outreach Event • July 2019: Royal Society Summer Exhibition Super Biomaterials to fight Super Bugs. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/biomaterials-discovery/royal-society-summer-science-exhibition-2019/index.aspx |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | university open day (wonder) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 5000 people attend this public engagement, previously called May Fest. Media attends and reports on it, and our activities have been captured in this. Feedback has been sought from participants who report behavioural change in hand hygiene. as part of this an educational intervention was licensed and research on its effectiveness conducted in schools and the NHS. The research has been published in relevant scientific journals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2017,2019 |