Lung infections are one of the main challenges in managing cystic fibrosis (CF), particularly because many bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics.

This project aims to explore an approach based on peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), synthetic molecules that can selectively block the expression of essential bacterial genes. Since PNAs do not exist in nature, they are unlikely to encounter pre-existing resistance mechanisms in microbial populations.
Researchers will use computational techniques to identify bacterial genes essential for bacterial growth. In parallel, they will design broad-spectrum PNAs capable of targeting these genes.
The PNAs will then be modified to improve their ability to penetrate bacterial cells and tested to assess their effectiveness against reference bacterial strains and isolates from people with CF, including biofilm-forming and antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates. The most promising molecules will be tested for toxicity in vitro on lung epithelial cells, and their effectiveness will be verified in vivo in animal models (thanks to the CFaCore Facility of FFC Ricerca).

Research on PNAs could lead to the development of a new class of antimicrobial therapies for people with CF and chronic lung infections.