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Xavi is currently undertaking a PhD in the Bacterial Pathogenesis Group at QUT’s Centre for Immunology and Infection Control.
Before embarking in his new project, Xavier completed his BSc in Human Biology in Barcelona (Pompeu Fabra University), an MSc in Science Communication in Dublin (Dublin City University) and an MSc in Clinical Microbiology in Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona). During the latter, he investigated whether β-lactamases from Aeromonas species could be used as a quick method to differentiate them in a clinical setting.
Now, funded by a QUT Amplify Scholarship, Xavier is researching the mode of action of nitric oxide mimics as dispersal agents in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, which are very predominant causes of disease. Biofilms are aggregates of bacterial cells protected by a gel-like substance that can tolerate antibiotics at concentrations a thousand times higher than those that kill free bacteria, and can recolonise surfaces after aggressive antimicrobial treatments. Moreover, biofilms continuously shed cells as a natural part of their lifecycle, which can spread the infection across a person’s body. In the US, 1.96 million biofilm infections occur annually and cause about 268,000 deaths. Additionally, all the top 25 most health-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria graded by the WHO can cause biofilm-related infections.
Nitric Oxide is a gas with cell signalling properties that shows promise as a method to treat biofilms due to its reported biofilm dispersal effects. However, its gaseous and reactive nature pose a challenge to administering it safely to patients. Due to these difficulties, his group is exploring nitroxides as more stable and easier to handle nitric oxide mimics to disperse biofilms.