Research Projects

Abstract

In today's interconnected world, infectious diseases can spread farther and faster than ever before. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to health and development. It requires urgent intersectoral action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Campylobacter jejuni is a medically important pathogen with negative consequences for food industry. The adaptive lifestyle of these bacteria to currently used antibiotics and their incredible ability to adapt to environmental changes and form resistant forms, such as biofilms and persister cells, contribute significantly to their survival. They continue to spread in the farm environment and through contaminated meat also in the food chain, making C. jejuni the main cause of the most common bacterial gastroenteritis, namely campylobacteriosis, which is becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to increasing antibiotic resistance. By using a strategy of reducing or removing C. jejuni from the chicken gut, we could reduce or eliminate transmission to humans and prevent the disease. We have recently patented the use of the potential probiotic B. subtilis PS-216, which significantly reduces C. jejuni in the chicken gut and also destroys robust C. jejuni biofilms, providing a potential solution to the problem. Probiotics are gaining in popularity and the demand for probiotics as feed supplements in animal’s husbandry is increasing as they are considered a green sustainable solution to the problem of foodborne pathogens. Despite increased usage of probiotics the understanding and knowledge of mechanisms driving probiotic-pathogen interactions are limited. Only with clear and in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms driving these interactions can we propose an efficient improved use of probiotics.

The phases of the project and their realization 

The aim of the proposed project is to investigate the mechanisms driving interactions between C. jejuni and B. subtilis within three task driven work packages: in WP1. by utilizing the novel omics approach – transcriptomics and proteomics; combined in (WP2) with recombinant technology and well thought out biofilm experimental design; and in WP3 by using adaptive experimental evolution approach evaluate the consequences of the C. jejuni - B. subtilis interactions. With the successful completion of this project we will have deep knowledge on i) mechanisms driving the C. jejuni – B. subtilis interaction influenced by environment namely oxygen concentrations), ii) mechanisms behind B. subtilis destruction of C. jejuni biofilm, and iii) evolutionary outcomes for both pathogen and probiotic shaped by their interactions and adaptive mechanisms. Based on the accumulated knowledge on mechanisms driving interactions between probiotics and pathogens, we will propose innovative strategies for combating pathogens with probiotics.

Within the proposed project, the young project leader, Dr. Katarina Šimunovič,  with wide knowledge on C. jejuni and B. subtilis interactions, will coordinate the project tasks performed by three research groups, i) the prof. dr. Ines Mandić Mulec group at the Department of Microbiology (BF),  with expertise on B. subtilis ecology and physiology, genetic  engineering of bacteria,  confocal laser scanning microscopy, biofilm structure/function development, bacterial interactions and comparative bacterial genomics, the group of prof. Sonja Smole Možina and assoc. prof. Anja Klančnik from the Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana, who will complement the consortium with their expertise in Campylobacter, biofilm development, protein profile analysis and transcriptomic analysis., and the group of prof. dr. Kristina Gruden (NIB), who will add their expertise in quantitative molecular and cell biology, biostatistics, bioinformatics including transcriptomicsand mathematical modelling. This consortium and collaboration will provide multidisciplinary approaches to successfully achieve all project goals in three years.

Project partners

• NIB - National institute Of Biology