A resistance-resilient strategy to prevent device-associated biofilm infections

Principal Investigator

Biofilm infections on catheters, vascular lines, and other implanted or indwelling medical devices are a major clinical problem because they are difficult to treat, often persist despite antibiotic therapy, and commonly require repeat procedures or device removal. These infections increase morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs, and the burden is likely to grow in Australia with an ageing population and rising use of medical devices. Current antibiofilm approaches have had limited success because most target specific bacterial pathways and are often narrow in scope, vulnerable to escape, and difficult to apply across different pathogens and device settings. This project will test a new idea for preventing biofilm infection: instead of targeting a single pathway, it will target the membrane state bacteria need to switch into biofilm growth. Our preliminary work shows that biofilm formation depends on membranes remaining within an optimal fluidity range. When membrane fluidity is pushed outside this range, biofilm development is disrupted. This makes membrane fluidity an attractive target because it is a fundamental physical requirement for biofilm formation rather than a species-specific pathway. We will determine whether this principle can be used against major multidrug-resistant pathogens that commonly cause device-associated infection. We will test whether selected fatty acids and lipid synthesis inhibitors can prevent or reduce biofilm formation across priority pathogens, identify the most effective intervention conditions, and evaluate the most promising approaches in device-relevant infection models. We will also define the membrane features linked to biofilm success or failure, providing a foundation for future intervention design. This project will establish proof-of-concept for a new antibiofilm strategy, identify practical intervention leads, and provide a foundation for reducing chronic device-associated infection in Australia.

30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2027

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