Restoring Antibiotic Susceptibility in Bacteria using Aptamers and Bacteriophages

Antimicrobial resistance makes antibiotics that once worked less effective, turning simple infections into serious health concerns. My research explores new ways to restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. First, I designed short DNA molecules, called aptamers, to block bacterial pumps and prevent antibiotics from being pumped out of cells. Second, I isolated and trained bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – to weaken the bacteria’s outer layer, making it easier for antibiotics to enter. By helping antibiotics enter bacteria and persist longer inside, these strategies could make resistant infections treatable again and prolong the usable lifespan of current antibiotics.