Integrating Transborder Collaboration for Combating High-Resistance Bacteria with AI-Enhanced Modified Phages

The increasing spread of antibiotic-resistant infections (AMR) is a common and urgent challenge across the Italy–Switzerland cross-border region. In particular, chronic infections related to bacterial biofilms are becoming increasingly critical in both hospital and community settings, with significant public health, economic and social consequences. Conventional antibiotics are largely ineffective against biofilms, calling for novel therapeutic strategies. The general objective of the project is to establish a cross-border biotechnological platform for the design, production and validation of phage-based and protein-based antibiofilm agents. The goal is to deliver innovative therapeutic solutions with strong translational potential, contributing to AMR mitigation and the growth of biotech innovation within the region. The expected change is twofold: on one hand, enhancing the region’s capacity to generate health and biotech innovation; on the other, delivering practical and effective tools to treat infections currently resistant to traditional medicine. The project’s main outputs will include: - a library of optimized antibiofilm proteins and phages; - computational tools for rational design; - scalable protocols for production and purification; - validated experimental data on in vitro biofilm models; - an integrated, shared platform between the cross-border partners. Beneficiaries will include the scientific and industrial project partners, healthcare institutions, biotech companies, and ultimately patients suffering from chronic infections. The platform will also serve as a foundation for future public–private collaborations. A cross-border and interdisciplinary approach is essential, as it combines expertise in computational chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, and bioproduction—skills that would not be fully available within a single entity or country. It also allows the joint use of infrastructures and broadens the scope for technology transfer. The project’s novelty lies in: - the integrated use of AI, computational modeling and synthetic biology to design antibiofilm agents; - an early focus on scalability and industrial relevance; - the creation of a modular and reusable platform for future applications; - strong collaboration between academia and industry in a cross-border context.