Investigating Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination Therapy in Acinetobacter Baumannii

Natasha Delgado, Investigating Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination Therapy in Acinetobacter Baumannii

Winner – Macquarie University VYT local competition (2024)

Transcript: Imagine a world where a simple infection could be a death sentence. This is the grim reality we face as antibiotic resistance continues to rise, leaving us with fewer ways to fight bacteria. But there is hope. By combining antibiotics, we can achieve better killing – like assembling a team of superheroes that work together to conquer bacteria in ways they couldn’t alone.

One combination that has been used effectively against some of the world’s toughest bacteria is trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole. These drugs elicit super-charged killing together by taking down the essential folate synthesis pathway in bacteria My PhD explores how this combination works against Acinetobacter baumannii, The World Health Organization’s number one pathogen, notorious for resistance to multiple antibiotics. I’m investigating why this combination works against some bacteria but not others, aiming to identify markers that predict treatment outcomes to prevent treatment failure. I’m also exploring how resistance to this combination develops, to ensure that using it doesn’t accidentally create even more resistant bacterial foes.

Ultimately, my goal is to understand and optimize how these drugs interact to improve treatment, both to save lives and to help prevent a future where infections are untreatable. Acknowledgement of country: I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Macquarie University stands – the Wallumattagal Clan of the Dharug Nation – whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture this land since time immemorial. I also acknowledge the Wangal people, on whose land I live. I pay respects to Elders, past and present.