Project 467199

Infections by pathogenic bacteria present a health challenge to humans and animals, and with the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, alternative treatments to antibiotics are needed. Engineered nutritional products such as prebiotics may provide a promising solution to the treatment of bacterial infections without the risk of creating antibiotic-resistant species of bacteria. Prebiotics, fibres that are broken down by bacteria in the digestive tract of humans and animals, have potential in treating bacterial infections by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria. Some prebiotics, such as mannooligosaccharides, also appear to have the ability to bind pathogenic bacteria, preventing them from creating infections within humans and animals. The ability of prebiotics in binding pathogens is influenced by their chemical structure, such as their size, but little is known about what is the optimal chemical structure of mannooligosaccharides for pathogen binding. My research will explore what mannooligosaccharide structure has the greatest ability to bind pathogenic bacteria. The findings of my research will contribute to a greater understanding of how prebiotic fibres can be used as an alternative to antibiotics. Engineered nutritional products such as prebiotics can promote health in humans and in agriculture by providing a low cost and safe treatment for bacterial infections without the risk of antibiotic resistance.