Predicting evolutionary pathways to β-lactam resistance (A02)

• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 325931972

The project aims to build fitness models that predict how bacteria evolve resistance to -lactams, a class of antibiotics in clinical use. Previously, we identified common resistance mutations in laboratory strains of Escherichia coli and assessed their growth at varying drug doses. Now, we will build fitness models relevant to real-world infections by focusing on uropathogenic E. coli strains expressing common β-lactamases. The ability to infect epithelial cells in the bladder will be included as a critical fitness component. We will test our predictions of lactam resistance by comparing them with evolutionary trajectories inferred from clinical data.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1310: Predictability in Evolution
• International Connection: Netherlands
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christoph Ernst, since 1/2026; Professor Dr. Joachim Krug; Professor Dr. Arjan G.M. de Visser