Antimicrobial Resistance

INFECTIOUS DISEASES / Antimicrobial Resistance

Research Interests

Bacteria, antibiotic resistance, bacteriophages, phage therapy, microbial biofilms, antimicrobials

Description of Research

The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Group investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial resistance and tolerance to antibiotics, and the development of new strategies to counteract these. Research focuses on human pathogenic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, among others, listed by the World Health Organization as priority pathogens for the development of new antimicrobial approaches. The main objective is to understand how genetic and physiological factors contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

A major area of investigation concerns the formation and persistence of bacterial biofilms, which play a central role in chronic infections and antibiotic tolerance. The Group employs fundamental microbiology and confocal laser scanning microscopy to characterise biofilm development and identify molecular targets for their control and eradication.

Research also focuses on bacteriophages and their application in phage therapy as an alternative or complement to antibiotic treatment. The AMR Group studies phage–bacterium interactions, bacterial resistance mechanisms to phages, and the optimisation of phage preparations for therapeutic use. By integrating molecular microbiology, high-resolution microscopy, and bioinformatics, the Group examines bacterial adaptation under antimicrobial pressure and identifies new molecular targets and adjuvants capable of restoring antibiotic activity.

Dr Di Luca coordinates a project funded by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, aimed at developing phage-based therapeutic approaches for infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus. Collaboration with academic and industrial partners supports translational studies, including the evaluation of novel antimicrobial compounds, phage formulations, and diagnostic tools. These joint efforts bridge the gap between fundamental research and applied approaches in infection control.

The overall goal of the AMR Group is to advance the understanding of bacterial resistance mechanisms and to develop effective, sustainable methods to prevent and treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Recent Publications