objectives

The main purpose of this project consists in facilitating the fast identification of nosocomial infections and their proper antibiotic treatment by electrochemical detection of molecules involved in quorum sensing and biofilm formation from microbiological cultures and different biological samples.


This purpose would help to:

  1. combat nosocomial infections, diminishing their impact on the public health;

  2. identify the most efficient antibiotic treatment (including new antibiotic strategies);

  3. to impair the spread of antibiotic resistance.


QUOREL-SENS goals:

  1. selective and sensitive detection of QS for the Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

  2. selective and sensitive detection of the biofilm formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

  3. simultaneous electrochemical evaluation of the concentration of QS molecules or biofilm formation and the concentration of different antibiotics, all via electrochemical biomimetic sensors.


The envisioned goals will be achieved by two different, interconnected strategies, with specific objectives:

  1. modification of the electrodes with MIPs (improving the selectivity of the analysis) and with nanomaterials (improving the electrochemical properties and the sensitivity of the analysis) for the detection of HSLs produced by P. aeruginosa and of c-di-GMP;

  2. development of electrochemical aptasensors for the detection of HSLs and of c-di-GMP;

  3. evaluation of the concentration of molecules involved in QS or biofilm formation in the presence of different antibiotics, their concentration being detected electrochemically before and after exposure to antibiotics;

  4. complete characterization of the developed electrochemical (bio)sensors and their adaptation for real samples analysis