b'Proof of Concept 4AWARDED JUNE 2021UNIVERSITY/PROJECT TITLE PROJECT SUMMARY RESEARCHCOLLABORATOR/SINSTITUTIONAn industrial wholePharmaceutical companies require reliable biofilmUniversity ofMagnitude organism assay forassays. Current tests are performed in cultured cells.Kent Biosciences biofilms made byWe will develop colour-based assays to monitorand Perfectus pathogenic bacteriabiofilm formation by the pathogen PseudomonasBiomedwithout the use ofaeruginosa in the transparent nematode laboratory mammalsCaenorhabditis elegans. Assays using fluorescent markers and health readouts in this animal will be faster and cheaper than mammals.Utilising biofilm-drivenThis project will apply a bacteria-based constructionUniversity ofAdaptavatemineral precipitationtechnology (BBCT), driven by biofilm-formation, toBathfor sustainableimprove the performance of a new eco-friendly, construction materialsbreathable plasterboard. BBCT can produce and a healthy builtlimestone films on material surfaces, and here we will environment use it to modify hemp particles for improved strength when added to the new plasterboard technology. Endolysin technologyAntibiotic-resistant bacteria (MRSA) are frequentlyUniversity ofCica Biomedical for selectivefound on the skin of hospitalised patients, leading toHull Ltd and Micreosmanagement of MRSAinfection and poor wound healing. This project will biofilms on skin andtest whether an enzyme (endolysin) is able to safely wounds and selectively kill skin and wound MRSA without damaging the beneficial skin bacteria. Targeted proteinBacterial vaginosis (BV) represents both a significantGlasgowCC Bio and payload dispersal ofhealth and economic burden. Commonly associatedCaledonianUniversity of vaginal biofilms with this infection is treatment failure due to theUniversity Glasgowpresence of microbial communities known as biofilms. In this project we aim to develop testing platforms to assess the efficacy of a novel therapeutic targeting BV. Assessing the potentialThis project investigates the potential of anHeriot-WattVirustaticof a recombinantabundant, naturally-occurring protein, increasinglyUniversityanti-biofilm proteinused in clinical applications, for preventing and as a cost-effective,controlling industrial biofilms, to reduce problems environmentally- such as toxic gas production and biocorrosion, and friendly treatmentthe need for biocides.against souring and biocorrosionDeveloping novelNitroPep and the University of Birmingham areUniversity ofNitroPepantimicrobial surfacesdeveloping a novel technology which could preventBirminghampreventing biofilms inbacterial adhesion and biofilm growth on frequent the rail and transporttouch surfaces such as those in public transport in industry trains and buses. 56'