University of Ottawa

Purpose

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR) gene which creates a breeding ground in the lungs for opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa), leading to pulmonary inflammation, progressive decline in lung function and respiratory failure. Antibiotics temporarily reduce bacterial counts which stabilizes CF. The Project will test therapies against the bacteria that are isolated from CF patients. The Project will initially obtain a collection of various isolates of P. aeruginosa from environmental sources and from CF patients to characterize the inflammatory properties of these isolates. Then researchers will identify the specific antigenic structures on the surface of bacterial isolates of CF patients. Results will be used to develop a model for testing therapies against these bacterial isolates. The various delivery systems and biologics developed will be used to test their efficacy against a library of clinical isolates. Success of these approaches will help to develop improved therapeutics for treatinq anti-microbial resistance.