Research Projects

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens pose a global public health challenge due to their rapid acquisition of drug resistance and slower introduction of new antibiotics. Common MDR species include Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, while Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii are gram-negative MDR species. The robustness of ESKAPE pathogens to small molecules is a major concern. The FDA has recognized only a few bacteriocins as safe, primarily due to their stability and efficacy. Bacteriocin-based nano-formulations have shown promise as alternative bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic agents in controlling MDR-mediated gastroenteritis. Preliminary investigations have reported the antagonistic efficacy of bacteriocin against E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. The proposal aims to develop novel probiotic/bacteriocin formulations, such as chitosan nanogels for enteric MDR infections and silver-capped nanoparticles for topical applications. The study will involve synthesis of postbiotic/bacteriocin-based nano-formulations, in vitro experiments to quantify bactericidal/bacteriostatic properties, dynamic predictive modeling for effective dose prediction, and validation in pathogen-induced colitis and wound mouse models. The proposed project aims to provide exploitable outcomes for clinical use in the future.