Investigating the effect of nanoscale vibration cues on material surfaces for preventing bacterial adhesion

研究纳米级振动信号对材料表面防止细菌粘附的影响

• 批准号: 2266964
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Birmingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2266964
• 关键词: Investigating; effect; nanoscale; vibration; cues

Bacterial biofilms are a major cause of nosocomial infection and increase drug resistance of medical device and implant-associated infections. Hence, there is an urgent need to prevent bacterial attachment to such devices. Recent studies demonstrated that bacteria respond to mechanical stimuli, including the unique dynamic regimes induced by vibration, by modelling phenotypes such as surface adhesion, proliferation, and virulence. However, little is known about the mechanisms underpinning these responses. We aim to understand this phenomenon, so that vibration protocols can be exploited to modulate/prevent bacterial attachment. We will construct and characterise dynamic solid biointerfaces that act as resonators. These surfaces will possess features from the micrometre to the nanometre scale-such structured surfaces are known to influence bacterial adhesion. The effect of different structures and vibrational regimes on bacterial adhesion will be tested.Next, we will combine these well-defined surfaces with known mechanoresponsive promoter-reporter gene fusions, advanced high-resolution imaging, and genetic and biochemical approaches, to investigate and identify regulatory pathways by which vibration is sensed and translated to phenotypic or behavioural changes.

细菌生物膜是医院感染的主要原因，增加了医疗器械和植入物相关感染的耐药性。因此，迫切需要防止细菌附着在这种装置上。最近的研究表明，细菌通过模拟表面粘附、增殖和毒力等表型，对机械刺激做出反应，包括由振动引起的独特动态机制。然而，人们对这些反应背后的机制知之甚少。我们的目标是理解这种现象，因此振动协议可以用来调节/防止细菌附着。我们将构建和表征作为谐振器的动态固体生物界面。这些表面将具有从微米到纳米尺度的特征——这种结构的表面已知会影响细菌的粘附。将测试不同结构和振动方式对细菌粘附的影响。接下来，我们将把这些定义明确的表面与已知的机械反应性启动子报告基因融合、先进的高分辨率成像以及遗传和生化方法结合起来，研究和确定振动被感知并转化为表型或行为变化的调节途径。