Understanding the multiple antibiotic resistant ESKAPE pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii

The ESKAPE pathogens, which evade most commonly used antibiotics, are a small group of bacteria, identified by the WHO in 2017, as presenting the greatest risk to global human health. Amongst these organisms, Acinetobacter baumannii, is an important cause of antibiotic resistant infections acquired in hospitals. Indeed, it is still not understood if A. baumannii has a natural habitat outside of the hospital setting. In addition to escaping the effects of antibiotic treatment, A. baumannii is able to survive for extended periods in the absence of moisture. In a clinical setting, this means that the organism is difficult to eradicate from surfaces. The goal of the project is to understand how A. baumannii can evade antibiotic treatment and other extreme environments. To do this you will use a combination of genomic, genetic, molecular and biochemical tools. You will begin by using genome-wide approaches to understand how A. baumannii responds to extreme environments. It is expected that this approach will identify important genetic determinants for resistance to antibiotics and other extreme conditions. Once key genes are identified, the mechanisms of resistance will be determined at the molecular level.