Identification and functional optimization of antimicrobial peptides with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (A01)

• Subject Area: Biophysics ; Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316249678

Tuberculosis remains a global health burden with approximately 1.4 million fatalities per year. In the absence of an effective vaccine and an increasing number of drug-resistant strains novel concepts for combating tuberculosis are desperately needed. Therefore, the aim of this project is the identification and mechanistic analysis of novel peptides with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis from endogenous peptide libraries. To achieve this goal two groups with complementary expertise in infectious immunology (Stenger) and molecular imaging (Michaelis) joined forces. Their vision is to advance peptides with potent activity against intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis into preclinical studies.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1279: Exploiting the Human Peptidome for Novel Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Jens Michaelis; Professor Dr. Steffen Stenger