The aim of this project was to determine whether small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are able to silence, i.e. to shut down the activity of antibiotic resistance genes. If so, the bacteria would lose their resistance and the antibiotics would become effective again. Therefore, such sRNAs were designed against tetracycline (Tc) resistance gene. In presence of these sRNAs, only few Tc resistant bacteria were able to grow in the presence of the antibiotic. Thus, the sRNAs successfully silenced the Tc resistance gene. Consequently, the antibiotic became effective again. However, efficiency of these sRNAs was not 100 percent. Thus, this method must be further adjusted and improved. Nevertheless, this work validated the viability of sRNAs as a means to overcome antibiotic resistances in bacteria.
Contestants
Nina Chiara Kathe
Medicine
Country
Switzerland