Targeting Gram-negative ‘superbugs’: A microbiome and systems approach

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose massive medical and economic threats globally. Polymyxins are used as a last-line defence against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections clinically and used as a food additive in agriculture. The substantial role of microbiome in human health has been well documented. However, it is not clear how polymyxins and/or MDR ‘superbugs’ affect the gut microbiome and overall health. This PhD project investigates the profound influence of polymyxin treatment and polymyxin resistance on the host-gut microbiome ecosystem via multi-omics approaches, which is crucial for the improvement of antimicrobial stewardship and agricultural use of polymyxins.