Evaluation of the role of septins in the lung and as a susceptibility factor for infection in patients with cystic fibrosis – SEPT-CF

Infections are a major health issue worldwide and antibiotic resistance is a serious public health threat. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical priority 1 for research and development of novel therapies, considering high prevalence, high mortality rates, and limited therapeutic options. It is particularly important in people with chronic lung diseases such as people with Cystic Fibrosis (pwCF), a rare genetic disease characterized by chronic bacterial lung infections, notably by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Acquisition of microbial infection is a key step in the course of CF lung disease severity and there is no way to predict which patients are at the highest risk of being infected by these bacteria. Since airway epithelial cells (AEC) are constantly exposed to pathogens through respiration and have a pivotal role in the orchestration of the lung immune response, a better understanding of the interaction between AEC from pwCF and bacteria will allow to develop alternative/complementary strategy to antibiotics and to improve patient follow-up. In this research project will study the contribution of septins, proteins known to have an emerging role in microbial infection. Their role in the lung, one of the major exposed tissue to bacteria has never been investigated and may constitute new therapeutics targets in the development of new therapeutic strategies besides antibiotics. Complementary, in a translational approach their involvement as susceptibility genes of infection by P. aeruginosa in pwCF would serve as biomarkers to identify and follow in a personalized way, people at higher risk to be infected by this pathogen.