Antimicrobial peptides and microbial resistance

This thesis addresses the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, focusing on the potential of antimicrobial peptides as viable alternatives to traditional antibiotics. The research centers on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen notorious for causing severe complications in cystic fibrosis patients and investigates the resistance mechanisms that has been developed following exposure to D-Q53 CecB, a synthetic enantiomer of the antimicrobial peptide Q53 CecB derived from the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori. The study examines three key genes: ParR, murG, and PmrB, where single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified. By combining extensive literature review with predictive protein modeling, this work aims to elucidate how these mutations might impact protein function and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.