Development of Bioactive Nanocomposites for Inactivation of Pseudomonas fluorescens Biofilms and their Applications in Food and Agriculture

• Grant number: 23/14222-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Valtencir Zucolotto
• Grantee: Fernanda Coelho
• Supervisor: Sanna Maria Sillankorva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/11081-8 - Theranostic platforms for discrimination and selective elimination of super-resistant bacteria in agriculture, BP.PD

Abstract

The excessive use of antibiotics in agriculture has led to the emergence of antibiotic- resistant bacteria, as observed in the case of Pseudomonas fluorescens. This species has gained significance in public health due to its resistance to adverse conditions, biofilm formation, and its capacity to produce thermostable proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes. The development of new therapeutic strategies for these pathogenic bacteria has become a primary area of interest in the field of food safety. Phage therapy has been considered a novel form of biocontrol against specific pathogens, where the use of bacteriophages has been successfully explored in the food industry. Despite its effectiveness in reducing bacterial populations, numerous barriers challenge their prompt delivery to the site of infection. Incorporation in nanocarriers offers targeted therapy with controlled compound delivery, overcoming chemical, physical, and immunological barriers that can inactivate and eliminate them. This project aims to assess of the potential of this nanosystem in disrupting the extracellular matrix to enhance the inactivation of P. fluorescens biofilms in agricultural food systems.