Work is ongoing to develop Plasgene’s pCURE technology to displace plasmids in vivo, with the primary aim of removing antibiotic resistance carrying plasmids.

“Antibiotic resistance – one of the three greatest threats to human health”
- World Health Organisation, 2009

Antibiotic resistance is a growing world-wide problem, reducing the effectiveness of current clinical antibiotics. Use of antibiotics selects for both the transfer of existing antibiotic resistance genes and the generation of new resistant strains.

As mobile genetic elements, plasmids play a key role in transferring antibiotic resistance genes horizontally between bacteria. Our vision is to develop pCURE technology to displace such plasmids from enteric bacteria in the human gastrointestinal tract, reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Research in the Thomas group is ongoing to develop pCURE plasmids capable of curing in in vivo conditions, and on delivery mechanisms for the plasmids.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bacteria
Scanning electron micrograph of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (yellow, round) killing and escaping from a human white cell. Creative commons license – image by NIAID.