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 and biofilms made byWe will develop colour-based assays to monitorPerfectus Biomedpathogenic bacteriabiofilm formation by the pathogen Pseudomonas without the use ofaeruginosa in the transparent nematode Caenorhabditis laboratory mammalselegans. 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 limestone and a healthy builtfilms on material surfaces, and here we will use it to environment 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 test biofilms on skin andwhether an enzyme (endolysin) is able to safely and wounds 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 theThis project investigates the potential of an abundant,Heriot-WattVirustaticpotential of anaturally-occurring protein, increasingly used inUniversityrecombinant anti- clinical applications, for preventing and controlling biofilm protein asindustrial biofilms, to reduce problems such as toxic a cost-effective,gas production and biocorrosion, and the need for environmentally- biocides.friendly treatment 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'