Gregor Fuhrmann

Antibiotic resistance ‐ challenge and new therapeutic perspectives

Bacterial resistance to clinically used antibiotics has increased significantly in recent decades. Worldwide, the number of annual deaths is estimated at 700,000 and up to 15,000 in Germany, making antibiotic resistance one of the three major threats to humanity, according to the World Health Organisation. A promising way to address this challenge is the discovery of new natural products in combination with their efficient delivery to the site of infection. We are studying vesicles of non-pathogenic bacteria that are naturally loaded with antimicrobial compounds. In my talk, I present their activity against planktonic and intracellular pathogens as well as against biofilms and discuss current challenges in further development.