Catégorie | Industriel |
| Période | 2026-2029 (AAP2) |
Porteur | HOCQUET Didier |
Unités/Plateformes BFC | Chrono-environnement, Agroécologie, Hygiène CHUB, CTM, Institut Carnot |
Collaborateurs externes | Pollet (entreprise) |
Doctorants/Postdoctorants | 1 postdoc |
Stages Master |
|
Work Packages HARMI | WP1, WP3, WP4 |
Hospital sink traps are moist environments, enriched with organic matter, and exposed to antibiotics and disinfectants, creating hotspots for polymicrobial biofilms with opportunistic and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Conventional chemical disinfection provides only transient control, promotes antimicrobial resistance, generates ecotoxic residues, and disrupts beneficial microbial communities. Innovative, ecological strategies are therefore urgently needed to manage hospital microbiomes and limit pathogen dissemination.
The PRO-SIP project aims to develop a biocontrol strategy using Bacillus strains to exclude pathogenic bacteria from hospital sink traps. This probiotic approach relies on ecological competition, antimicrobial metabolite production, and formation of protective biofilms that reduce pathogen colonization and resistance gene spread.
PRO-SIP employs a multi-omics and phenotypic characterization framework (WP1): Bacillus strains will undergo genomic screening for resistance and virulence genes, mobile genetic elements, and horizontal gene transfer potential; metabolomic and proteomic analyses will characterize antimicrobial and enzymatic activity; and phenotypic assays will assess biofilm formation, susceptibility, antimicrobial activity, and optimal growth conditions. Inoculum formulations will be optimized to maximize in situ biocontrol efficiency (WP2). The efficacy of Bacillus strains will be tested against Gram-negative pathogens, alone (WP3) and within complex microbial communities (WP4).
PRO-SIP is a multidisciplinary collaboration between two academic institutions in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté — UMR Chrono-environnement (UMR CE) and UMR Agroécologie (UMR AE) — and an industrial partner Pollet (Belgium). UMR CE specializes in hospital microbiology, genomics, and antibiotic resistance. UMR AE provides expertise in microbial ecology, biofilm dynamics, and data integration. Pollet develops microbial-based cleaning products and supports translation into scalable, eco-friendly probiotic formulations for hospital environments. Following a One Health approach, PRO-SIP integrates microbial ecology, clinical microbiology, and industrial innovation to develop a safe, durable, and eco-friendly probiotic solution for preventing pathogen growth in high-risk siphons.
