Exploiting a novel chelant database to probe cellular metal-handling.

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This project encompasses aspects of the Industrial Strategy related to 'Bioscience and Biotechnology' and 'Leading-edge Healthcare and Medicine'. P&G use chelants as antibacterials in personal hygiene and cleaning products, for which they hold substantive market shares. Specific challenges arise from: a) regulatory changes due to the environmental impact of persistent chelants, b) tighter restrictions on use of preservatives to avoid antimicrobial resistance, and c) the need to retain antimicrobial efficacy while meeting enforced changes in formulation. This project will develop a mechanistic understanding of the antimicrobial action of chelants to enhance microbial hostility of consumer products. The approach will enable a reduction in preservative and chelant levels whilst developing products compliant with Safety Regulations thus underpinning the use of novel alternatives to antimicrobials. In collaboration with P&G we have amassed an extensive database of effects of chelants on bacterial elemental composition and on bacterial proliferation. We will further our understanding of the antimicrobial mechanisms of action of chelants and reciprocally exploit these compounds to further knowledge of how bacterial cells handle metals. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been selected as a target organism that presents eradication problems in existing formulations. The work is also of broader utility in combatting the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in targeting woundinfections.