No Own Goal: reducing biofouling using surface engineering

关键词：生物膜细菌可以附着在表面并形成称为生物膜的大量聚集体。这种集合可以在体内的自然表面、导尿管或其他植入设备上积聚，并导致难以治疗的感染。目前迫切需要抗附着的材料，因为超过80%接受导尿管的人会发生尿路感染，需要抗生素治疗。这些感染花费了NHS 10 - 25亿英镑，每年造成约2100人死亡（Feneley et al., 2015）。此外，与此类感染有关的细菌正在产生广泛的耐药性，因此预计问题会变得更糟。在这个多学科项目中，我们将如何在纳米尺度上操纵材料的地形的知识与细菌如何附着在给定表面的详细了解结合起来。我们将使用与导管感染相关的临床相关大肠杆菌菌株作为模型生物。我们将结合显微镜（活细胞成像）和转录组学，结合粘附和分泌途径的突变，将表面结构的变化如何影响细菌的基因表达和附着联系起来。这将有助于我们建立一个地图，了解我们如何从表面图案和现有抗生素治疗的协同效应中获益。EPSRC致力于培养和支持科学领域的创新和领导能力，我们相信这个项目与这些目标是完美一致的。研究细菌基因表达对工程表面的响应是一个新的、尚未开发的领域，具有巨大的潜在利益和广泛的可能的实际应用。从医学植入物和实验室表面的无菌控制到改进的测定和培养技术，对这一领域的进一步了解将对英国和国外的患者护理和生物控制产生积极影响。EPSRC旨在促进平衡和协作的方法来解决现代科学问题，我们的方法符合这一目标，结合两个不同但高度互补的科学学科，创造性地解决高度相关的生物医学问题。EPSRC还致力于培养下一代研究人员和创新者。这个项目也将使学生获得宝贵的多学科训练和经验。他们将在以微生物学为基础的实验室工作，获得基因工程、转录组学、高通量测定开发和生物信息学分析方面的技能。作为纳米工程团队的一部分，他们将获得纳米制造、微流体和基于计算机的建模方面的经验和培训。这些不同的环境将使他们有机会获得独特的、非常有价值的技能，这不仅将使他们能够完成这个项目，而且将为他们的研究生涯的下一步做好准备。

Keyword:BiofilmsBacteria can attach to surfaces and form massive aggregates called biofilms. Such collections can build up on natural surfaces within the body, or on urinary catheters or other implanted devices, and lead to hard-to-treat infections. There is an urgent need for materials that resist attachment as over 80% of people receiving a catheter develop a urinary tract infection that requires antibiotic treatment. These infections cost the NHS between £1.0-2.5 billion and accounts for around 2100 deaths per year (Feneley et al., 2015). Moreover, the bacteria associated with such infections are developing widespread resistance, so the problem is predicted to get worse.In this multidisciplinary project, we combine knowledge of how to manipulate the topography of a material at the nanoscale with the detailed understanding of how bacteria attach to a given surface. We will use a clinically-relevant E. coli strain associated with catheter infections as a model organism. We will correlate how changes in the surface texture can affect gene expression and attachment of bacteria using a combination of microscopy (live cell imaging) and transcriptomics in conjunction with mutations in adhesion and secretory pathways. This will assist us in building a map of how we potentially can benefit from synergistic effects of surface patterning and existing antibiotic therapies.The EPSRC strives to foster and support innovation and leadership within the scientific field and we believe this project aligns impeccably with these objectives. The study of bacterial gene expression in response to engineered surfaces is a new and underexplored field with huge potential benefits and a vast array of possible practical application. From medical implants and sterility control of laboratory surfaces to improved assays and culturing techniques, improved understanding of this area would positively impact patient care and organism control in the UK and abroad. The EPSRC aims to promote a balanced and collaborative approach to solving modern scientific issues and our approach matches this goal, combining two distinct but highly complementary scientific disciplines to creatively solve a highly relevant biomedical problem.The EPSRC also aims to nurture the next generation of researchers and innovators. This project will also the student to gain invaluable multidisciplinary training and experience. Their work in a microbiology based laboratory they will gain skills in genetic engineering, transcriptomics, high-throughput assay development and bioinformatic analysis. Their work as part of a nanoengineering team will grant them experience and training in nanofabrication, microfluidics and computer based modelling. These different environments will give them the opportunity to gain a unique and highly valuable skillset that will not only allow them to complete this project but will prepare them for the next steps in their research career.