NCN Grants – Sonata Bis

We warmly congratulate Dr Kamila Sadowska, Professor at IBIB, on obtaining funding for the NCN SONATA Bis grant entitled: ‘Research on new sensitive layers for the detection of quorum sensing molecules’.

Sonata bis 2023/50/E/ST5/00347 ‘Research on new sensitive layers for the detection of quorum sensing molecules.’ Project leader: Dr Kamila Sadowska, Professor at IBIB.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also known as blue pus bacillus, is a common bacterium that causes chronic hospital infections. One of the ways in which P. aeruginosa causes infection is through Quorum Sensing (QS). QS is a secret language of bacteria that use small molecules called autoinducers (AIs) instead of words. AIs regulate various processes such as biofilm formation, virulence factor expression, secondary metabolite production, and adaptive mechanisms. Bacterial infections are usually detected using microbiological techniques involving agar plate sowing in combination with microscopic analysis, disc tests, etc. The main disadvantages of conventional bacterial detection methods are: long assay times, insufficient sensitivity/specificity, and high diagnostic instrumentation requirements.
In this project, we propose tools for rapid detection of four compounds that are autoinducers secreted by P. aeruginosa. Monitoring the secretion of AIs in the early stages of bacterial colonisation allows for a rapid response to extinguish the QS system and inhibit the development of infection. We plan to develop sensors using molecularly imprinted conductive polymers and DNA fragments. The sensors produced will be tested in laboratory samples and biological samples. In order to obtain biological samples, Pseudomonas aeruginosa will be cultured under controlled conditions.