Research project Identification of genetic factors influencing low-level antibiotic resistance

Bacterial mutations that confer low-level antibiotic resistance are usually not clinically relevant by themselves. However, bacteria can accumulate multiple low-level resistance mutations to reach a clinically relevant and high level of antibiotic resistance. Thus, to understand and recognize the possible antibiotic resistance challenges of the future, we need to increase our understanding of low-level antibiotic resistance. Yet, low-level resistance mutations are often conditional and situation-specific, meaning that screening for such mutations is often a time-consuming and biased process. In this project, we aim to overcome these obstacles by using several different custom-designed bacterial antibiotic biosensors to quantify relative antibiotic uptake in single bacterial cells in real time. Such measurements will allow for the identification of novel antibiotic resistance mechanisms, as well as factors and conditions that are more likely to select for low-level antibiotic resistance.