Glycomimetic probes for antimicrobial detection

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem threatening the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments worldwide. The combination of the overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics and the slow development of new antibiotics contributes to the rapid emergence of resistance. It is estimated that antibiotic resistance could result in 10 million deaths a year by 2050 with significant associated costs. To address this global challenge, it is key to develop methods to rapidly identify the type of infection affecting a patient. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect over 150 million people every year, and so uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the pathogen that causes the majority of UTIs, is an important target. The adhesion mechanism of UPEC is well understood and mediated through fimbriae which are highly specific for certain carbohydrate structures present on the host cell. This project aims to develop glycan-based probes to target E. coli strains with diverse specificities towards their host. Once optimal multivalent probes have been identified and tested for target specific binding affinity, they will be used to develop a diagnostic test for efficient detection of urinary tract infections.