Objectives: This project is based on development of antibacterial and anti-mutagenic peptides that targets the bacterial DNA sliding clamp, the beta-clamp, or disturb the SOS regulated bacterial toxin-anti-toxin systems. The project is both a basic research project and an innovation project. The primary objective was to develop antibacterial peptides as new antibiotics able to combat AMR, and to increase the basic knowledge of the TA-systems and the role and regulation of the bacterial DNA sliding clamp as a scaffold protein.

Outcomes: Initial result resulted in the TAMiR project (2019-2024) funded by the national Trond Mohn Foundations’ AMR initiative. From 2019 to 2022 we have published 13 papers which reveal novel roles of the beta-clamp, novel information on the SOS repose in bacteria upon treatment with different antibiotics, and novel cell membrane targets of the TA-based peptide. The beta-clamp targeting peptides are shown to have multiple properties favourable for new antibacterial drugs, e.g., novel mode of action and low probability of the bacteria to develop resistance against the peptides. Several large bioreactor culturing experiments focusing on multiple-omics (transcriptomics, proteomics/signalome, and metabolomics) have been successfully performed, and several manuscripts are under preparation. The innovation potential of the project is high, and we are in close contact with several interested biotech /small pharma companies.