Photodynamic inactivation of mycobacteria - Novel agents for selective control of mycobacterial infections of the skin

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Claudia Jessen-Trefzer
• Subject Area: Pharmacy
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 498527918

Despite extensive research, infections with pathogenic mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, continue to pose a significant threat to human health. The most common clinical manifestations of mycobacterial infections include pulmonary, cutaneous, and disseminated forms, the majority of which occur in immunocompromised hosts. In the search for new treatments, especially of superficial infections, this project focuses on the unique mycobacterial membrane and its glycolipids. Further development of our already proven photosensitizer-trehalose conjugates, which are enzyme-catalyzed and covalently anchored in the mycobacterial membrane, is the main focus. For this purpose, new and improved derivatives will be synthesized and subsequently investigated in vitro by liquid chromatography. The synthesis work will focus on novel photosensitizers that release superoxide radicals after irradiation with light and on the functionalization of the conjugates with dendrimers. Furthermore, the establishment of a macrophage model is planned in this project to evaluate the synthesized compounds in infected cell lines directly after irradiation. The following species will be used for infection: M. tuberculosis H37Ra, M. bovis BCG, M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, M. haemophilum, M. marinum and M. chelonae, and as a model organism for preliminary testing M. smegmatis mc2155. The project aims to help address the future antibiotic crisis and explore new ways to successfully combat bacterial infections.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants