Predicting and Ranking Peptide-Enzybiotic Conjugates with Enhanced Intracellular Bacteriolytic Activity

The project aims to develop innovative antimicrobial agents (enzybiotics) capable of penetrating eukaryotic cell membranes and eliminating hidden intracellular reservoirs of Staphylococcus bacteria. While the current formulation effectively destroys bacteria outside host cells, pathogens that reside within cells remain inaccessible, contributing to persistent and chronic infections. To overcome this challenge, researchers are leveraging EuroHPC supercomputing infrastructure and state-of-the-art computational enzymology to design an optimised cell-penetrating conjugate. This engineered formulation is intended to enable efficient intracellular delivery while preserving the full bacteriolytic activity of the antimicrobial agent. By targeting both extracellular and intracellular bacterial populations, the project aims to provide a more effective treatment strategy for difficult-to-treat infections. Ultimately, the development of such highly targeted antimicrobials represents a promising advance in addressing the growing global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

Organisations involved: 

End-User: Enzybiotx