Research Projects

The increased use of disinfectants, which are antimicrobial products, has raised concerns about the spread of antibiotic resistance. Disinfectants can trigger stress in bacteria, leading to adaptive changes through gene mutations, potentially causing cross-resistance towards antibiotics, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity. Indoor surfaces and hospitals harbor EsKAPE pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumonia. The potential for these pathogens to become disinfectant-tolerant, with decreased susceptibility to antibiotics and enhanced pathogenicity, is a concern. There is a gap in literature on the exact genetic link between disinfectant exposure and antibiotic resistance. This project aims to develop disinfectant-tolerant pathogens in the lab, check their susceptibility to common antibiotics used for infection, and examine changes in phenotypes like biofilm formation and virulence factors. Genetic-based studies will be conducted using an integrated approach of evolution experiments, sequencing, and in-vitro experiments. The study will develop disinfectant-tolerant (DT) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on the rise in MIC values for disinfectants, determine resistance for commonly used antibiotics, and sequence resistant strains for mutations in genes and transcriptomic for differential gene expression. The results of this study are critical for protecting public health risks by slowing down the spread of antibiotic resistance by controlling disinfection practices.