Research Projects

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a notable public health problem that is becoming increasingly severe from the continuous overuse of antibiotics for human and animal use. Multidrug-resistant bacteria, focusing on ESKAPE pathogens have progressed and made use of numerous resistance mechanisms including reduced uptake and/or non-availability of the drug, modification at the site of drug actions, activation of efflux mechanisms by developing multidrug transporters. All current methodologies used for antibiotic susceptibility testing require high volumes of resources in valuable laboratory space, operated with many personnel. Among many of the possibilities, AMR development via biofilm formation is not typically noticed until the late and complex stage which becomes difficult to counter via even modern approaches. But detection of early changes to bacterial cells during development of biofilm would require a highly sensitive technique devoid of the bottlenecks stated earlier. The recognition of early alterations in bacterial cell function could uncover keys in molecular biomarkers to identify the activation of biofilm and resistance pathways of AMR - exposing new adaptive mechanisms by bacteria. Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) adhesins are polysaccharides that bacteria secrete to transition from planktonic to surface attached biofilms, acting as a natural glue for both cell–surface and cell–cell adhesion. This could allow for strategies to re-optimize the usage of antibiotics, moving away from broad-spectrum antibiotics, leading to financial savings for healthcare systems and improving patient recovery. Given the dynamic nature of biofilms, real-time and non-invasive monitoring methods are essential. Polysaccharide adhesins—key components of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix in biofilms—can be effectively sensed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). As these high–molecular-weight polymers accumulate at the electrode interface, they form insulating, hydrated layers that significantly increase charge-transfer resistance (Rct) and alter the double-layer capacitance (Cdl) observed in impedance spectra. This phenomenon enables real-time, label-free detection of early-stage bacterial adhesion and EPS deposition on biosensor platform. Integrating EPS adhesin mediated cell attachment with impedance-based platforms offers a powerful route to observe the earliest events of biofilm initiation, which will be achieved during completion of this proposal. Such methods promise unprecedented temporal resolution for detecting triggers of biofilm development—a vital step toward early intervention strategies against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) driven by biofilm formation.