Fighting Hospital-acquired Illnesses at the HUG

Research project on antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus strains to improve patient safety

Context

The resistance that Staphylococcus aureus strains in hospitals show against antibiotics is surely linked to the bacteria entering a dormant state in environments that are toxic for them. It is therefore important to find new solutions to make antibacterial treatments effective and to eradicate hospital-acquired illnesses.

 

Project

The project consists of studying bacteria’s dormancy mechanisms in toxic environments and building upon the latest discoveries about Caulobacter crescentus bacteria and the complex toxin-antitoxin systems that these pathogens use to resist bacteria. Similarities with Staphylococcus aureus strains will be analyzed.

 

project manager

Professor Patrick Viollier, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva

Dr. Adriana Renzoni, Biologist, Laboratory Medicine Division, Department of Genetic and Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals