Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of designed peptides against a Novel Class A β-lactamase in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Karina Caetano Souza

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that is one of the WHO’S priority ESKAPE pathogens which are responsible for a significant increase in mortality worldwide. It has also caused a massive economic burden due to presenting multidrug resistance in the causal pathogen at an alarming rate. The aim of this project is to reverse β -lactam drug resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae by binding designed peptides (designed in silico, produced and purified) to the active site pocket of a novel Class A β – lactamase. Antibiotic sensitivity assessment of the cells harboring the β – lactamase in presence and absence of the peptides has shown some promising results. Alongside this, expression and purification of the novel β – lactamase is being approached for further structure-activity relationship studies.