TRAIN-ASAP

Training and Research AImed at Novel Antibacterial Solutions in Animals and People

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'TRAIN-ASAP addresses a very urgent public health issue. The lack of effective antibacterial drugs against resistant bacteria poses a serious threat to human health and has huge economical consequences to the healthcare system. The objective of this ITN is to fill the current gap between the burden of infections due to resistant bacteria and the strong need for alternative solutions to combat antibiotic resistance in both humans and animals. Young researchers will be trained in the scientific and complementary skills needed to implement a broad range of antibacterial approaches including discovery of new antibiotics, synthesis of antimicrobial peptides with improved pharmacological properties, improvement of the clinical efficacy of currently known drugs, and alternative strategies based on phages and bacteriocin-producing organisms. TRAIN-ASAP is a multidisciplinary and intersectorial ITN dedicated to the scientific and professional training of 14 early-stage researchers, including 2 financed by the University of Copenhagen, with the aim to develop novel antibacterial solutions for humans and animals. The consortium includes 7 academic institutions, 9 private enterprises and 2 national research centres representing 9 countries. The training programme is characterized by a unique innovative and multidisciplinary approach based on the use of front line research tools in molecular biology, combinatorial chemistry and in vivo pharmacology, an appropriate balance between scientific and generic skills training, and a strong contribution by the private partners in the form of mentoring, courses and secondments. Considering the urgent need for new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance and the growing demand for skilled scientists specialised in antibacterial drug discovery, TRAIN-ASAP is expected to have a strong impact on the careers of the trainees and result in a lasting collaboration between the partners and political, societal and economical benefits to Europe.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Existing antimicrobial drugs have become largely inefficient with emergence of microbial drug resistance. Efforts to develop new strategies against pathogens will benefit human and veterinary medicine.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The lack of effective antibacterial drugs to fight off resistant bacteria is an imminent threat to human health. It also has significant implications in animal welfare as antimicrobials are used for infection control in veterinary medicine. To effectively combat antimicrobial resistance in both humans and animals, alternative solutions are needed.

Seeking to address this challenge, the EU-funded 'Training and research aimed at novel antibacterial solutions in animals and people' (http://www.train-asap.eu/ (TRAIN-ASAP)) project will train young researchers in antimicrobial drug discovery. They will focus on scientific approaches such as discovery of new antibiotics and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides with improved pharmacological properties. They will also teach researchers alternative methodology in drug design based on bacterial viruses and toxin-producing organisms.

Already twelve young researchers have been recruited and enrolled in PhD programmes. In addition to academic experience, the TRAIN-ASAP project will provide them with invaluable industrial work experience. Trainees will become familiar with high-throughput technology as well as the discovery, development and regulatory requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

Among the research interests of the TRAIN-ASAP project is the investigation of novel peptides and peptide-peptoid (peptidomimetic) hybrids as antimicrobial agents. Novel compounds or metabolites secreted by various bacteria are being tested for their efficacy against a wide range of pathogens of medical and veterinary interest.

Additionally, the consortium aims to improve the clinical efficacy of existing antibacterial drugs, namely macrolides, sulphonamides and aminoglycosides. For this purpose, researchers are combining in vitro and in vivo approaches to study the pharmacodynamics of new drugs and minimise selection pressure in the target pathogens. Furthermore, scientists are exploring the utilisation of bacterial viruses known as phages to selectively kill pathogenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococci species in birds and cats.

Taken together, apart from educating the next generation of scientists, the activities of the TRAIN-ASAP will help develop recommendations for specific veterinary applications, with obvious benefits.