CZS Breakthroughs: SynThera
In the SynThera project (Synthetic Therapeutic Microbes for Individualized Antimicrobial Therapies), researchers are developing genetically modified microorganisms that can be used specifically against multi-resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens. In the future, these therapeutic microbes will not only detect and combat acute infections, but also have a prophylactic effect – for example, in immunocompromised patients. The basis for this is a modular system consisting of four components: detection of pathogens, formation of specific antimicrobial agents, targeted release at the site of infection, and subsequent safe removal of the microbes from the body. SynThera brings together experts from the fields of microbiology, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and infection research and is closely linked to existing research networks in Jena, such as the “Balance of the Microverse” Cluster of Excellence.
