Killing intracellular pathogens with antibiotic nanocapsules

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Many bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, and so new treatments and strategies are required. These might enhance the delivery of antibiotics to specific cells or intracellular locations, or increase the amount of available antibiotic at the site of infection. We think that encapsulation of antibiotics using nanoparticles in combination with compounds that trigger intracellular killing processes, may be an effective approach in targeting intracellular pathogens that cause sepsis.The student undertaking this project will work closely between Dstl Porton Down, and the University of Southampton to measure therapeutic targeting of treatments to bacteria within human and animal cells. They will develop a variety of polymeric nanoparticles comprised of polyethylene glycol and polycaprolactone by nanoprecipitation. The antimicrobial efficacy of these novel antibiotic therapies will be assessed using models of appropriate human pathogens such as B. pseudomallei, F. tularensis and B. anthracis in vitro.This project will give the student a range of skills at the interface of biology and engineering, and between an academic institution and a government research lab.