2025
Journal - Research Article
Wardell, S. J. T., Yung, D. B. Y., Nielsen, J. E., Lamichhane, R., Sørensen, K., Molchanova, N., … Wise, L. M., … Pletzer, D. (2025). A biofilm-targeting lipo-peptoid to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus co-infections. Biofilm. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100272
Wardell, S. J. T., Yung, D. B. Y., Gupta, A., Bostina, M., Overhage, J., Hancock, R. E. W., & Pletzer, D. (2025). DJK-5, an anti-biofilm peptide, increases Staphylococcus aureus sensitivity to colistin killing in co-biofilms with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. npj Biofilms & Microbiomes, 11, 8. doi: 10.1038/s41522-024-00637-y
Journal - Research Other
Cloeckaert, A., Pletzer, D., & Khaiboullina, S. (2025). Reviews in microbial pathogenesis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 16, 1568840. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1568840
Kabir, F., Yung, D. B. Y., da Cruz Nizer, W. S., Allison, K. N., Zigic, S., Russell, E., … Pletzer, D., & Overhage, J. (2025). Pressure injuries and biofilms: Microbiome, model systems and therapies. Wound Repair & Regeneration, 33(1), e70005. doi: 10.1111/wrr.70005
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Hardie Boys, M. T., Taylor-Wardell, S., & Pletzer, D. (2025). Loss of aminoarabinose lipid modification leads to cephalosporin antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Annual Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go
2024
Journal - Research Article
Saseendran Nair, S., Kleffmann, T., Smith, B., Morris, V., Göbl, C., Pletzer, D., & Fellner, M. (2024). Comparative lipidomics profiles of planktonic and biofilms of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Analytical Biochemistry, 698, 115746. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2024.115746
Shein, A. M. S., Wannigama, D. L., Hurst, C., Monk, P. N., Amarasiri, M., Wongsurawat, T., … Hosseini Rad, S. M. A., … Pletzer, D., … Abe, S. (2024). Phage cocktail amikacin combination as a potential therapy for bacteremia associated with carbapenemase producing colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Scientific Reports, 14, 28992. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79924-9
Shein, A. M. S., Hongsing, P., Smith, O. K., Phattharapornjaroen, P., Miyanaga, K., Cui, L., … Pletzer, D., … Wannigama, D. L. (2024). Current and novel therapies for management of Acinetobacter baumannii-associated pneumonia [Review]. Critical Reviews in Microbiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/1040841x.2024.2369948
Na, T. U., Sander, V., Davidson, A. J., Lin, R., Hermant, Y. O., Hardie Boys, M. T., Pletzer, D., Campbell, G., Ferguson, S. A., Cook, G. M., … Cameron, A. J. (2024). Allenamides as a powerful tool to incorporate diversity: Thia-Michael lipidation of semisynthetic peptides and access to β-ketoamides. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/anie.202407764
Ross, C. L., Lawer, A., Sircombe, K. J., Pletzer, D., Gamble, A. B., & Hook, S. (2024). Site-specific antimicrobial activity of a dual-responsive ciprofloxacin prodrug. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00724
Esposito, T. V. F., Blackadar, C., Wu, L., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, C., Haney, E. F., Pletzer, D., … Häfeli, U. O. (2024). Biodistribution of native and nanoformulated innate defense regulator peptide 1002. Molecular Pharmaceutics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01169
Lyons, N., Wu, W., Jin, Y., Lamont, I. L., & Pletzer, D. (2024). Using host-mimicking conditions and a murine cutaneous abscess model to identify synergistic antibiotic combinations effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Frontiers in Cellular & Infection Microbiology, 14, 1352339. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1352339
Rajchakit, U., Lamba, S., Wang, K., Lyons, N., Lu, J., Swift, S., Pletzer, D., & Sarojini, V. (2024). Size-controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles tethering antimicrobial peptides with potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. Molecular Pharmaceutics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00734
Saha, T., Lyons, N., Yung, D. B. Y., Quiñones‑Mateu, M. E., Pletzer, D., & Das, S. C. (2024). Repurposing ebselen as an inhalable dry powder to treat respiratory tract infections. European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics, 195, 114170. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.12.010
Journal - Research Other
Choudhury, M., Brunton, P., Dias, G., Schwass, D., Meledandri, C., Ratnayake, J., Pletzer, D., & Tompkins, G. (2024). Gold nanoparticles as innovative therapeutics for oral mucositis: A review of current evidence. Drug Delivery & Translational Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s13346-024-01748-x
Pérez de la Lastra, J. M., Wardell, S. J. T., Pal, T., de la Fuente-Nunez, C., & Pletzer, D. (2024). From data to decisions: Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning in combating antimicrobial resistance: A comprehensive review. Journal of Medical Systems, 48, 71. doi: 10.1007/s10916-024-02089-5
Wei, X., Gao, J., Zhou, D., Xu, C., Chen, P., Chen, S., … Lamont, I. L., Pletzer, D., … Wu, W. (2024). Murepavadin promotes the killing efficacies of aminoglycoside antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by enhancing membrane potential. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, 68(4), e01539-23. doi: 10.1128/aac.01539-23
Choudhury, M., Brunton, P., Schwass, D., Pletzer, D., Ratnayake, J., Dias, G., & Tompkins, G. (2024). Effectiveness of gold nanoparticles in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in animal models: A systematic review. Systematic Reviews, 13(1), 39. doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02425-9
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lamont, B., Suwanarusk, R., Yung, D., Barron, A. E., Pletzer, D., Russell, B., & Muhsin-Sharafaldine, M.-R. (2024). Antiparasitic activity of novel peptoids against Cryptosporidium parvum. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Societies for Parasitology and the 7th International Conference on Anaerobic Protists: Parasites in the Pacific. (pp. 57). Retrieved from https://www.parasite.org.au/aspconference/
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Hardie Boys, M. T., Taylor-Wardell, S., & Pletzer, D. (2024, September). Loss of aminoarabinose lipid modification leads to cephalosporin antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Research Week (QRW) Pathogen Genomics Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Smith, O. K., Babiychuk, E., & Pletzer, D. (2024, September). Cell membrane-mimicking liposomes as an anti-virulence therapy for Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Research Week (QRW) Biomolecular Interactions Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Sircombe, K. J., Gamble, A., Pletzer, D., & Hook, S. (2024, November). Development and evaluation of controlled release responsive antibiotic delivery systems. Verbal presentation at the School of Pharmacy Research Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.
2023
Journal - Research Article
Shein, A. M. S., Wannigama, D. L., Hurst, C., Monk, P. N., Amarasiri, M., Badavath, V. N., … Pletzer, D., … Hosseini Rad, S. M. A., … Abe, S. (2023). Novel intranasal phage-CaEDTA-ceftazidime/avibactam triple combination therapy demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 168, 115793. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115793
Wei, X., Gao, J., Xu, C., Pan, X., Jin, Y., Bai, F., … Lamont, I. L., Pletzer, D., & Wu, W. (2023). Murepavadin induces envelope stress response and enhances the killing efficacies of β-lactam antibiotics by impairing the outer membrane integrity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology Spectrum. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01257-23
Wiesmann, C. L., Zhang, Y., Alford, M., Hamilton, C. D., Dosanjh, M., Thoms, D., … Pletzer, D., … Haney, C. H. (2023). The ColR/S two-component system is a conserved determinant of host association across Pseudomonas species. ISME Journal, 17, 286-296. doi: 10.1038/s41396-022-01343-3
Fahma, F., Firmanda, A., Cabral, J., Pletzer, D., Fisher, J., Mahadik, B., … Wulandari, A. (2023). Three-dimensional printed cellulose for wound dressing applications. 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing, 10(5), 1015-1035. doi: 10.1089/3dp.2021.0327
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wardell, S., & Pletzer, D. (2023). Polymicrobial skin infections promote unique host transcriptional responses leading to increased morbidity. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference
Yung, D., Wardell, S. J. T., Hancock, R. E. W., Bostina, M., & Pletzer, D. (2023). Anti-biofilm peptide DJK-5 potentiates activity of colistin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus co-biofilms. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference
Hardie Boys, M., & Pletzer, D. (2023). Loss of aminoarabinose lipid modification leads to cephalosporin antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference
Smith-Beech, A., Fellner, M., & Pletzer, D. (2023). A biochemical description of UspN and its function in the anaerobic metabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB) 50th Anniversary Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzsbmb.org/conference
Su, S., Hook, S., Pletzer, D., & Gamble, A. (2023). Overcoming efflux-mediated multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Proceedings of the New Zealand Controlled Release Society (NZCRS) Symposium. Retrieved from http://nzcrs.org.nz/#/home
Sircombe, K. J., Gamble, A., Pletzer, D., & Hook, S. (2023). Development and evaluation of controlled release responsive antibiotic delivery systems. Proceedings of the New Zealand Controlled Release Society (NZCRS) Symposium. Retrieved from http://nzcrs.org.nz/#/home
Ross, C., Lawer, A., Sircombe, K., Pletzer, D., Gamble, A., & Hook, S. (2023). Development of controlled release antibiotic prodrugs. Proceedings of the New Zealand Controlled Release Society (NZCRS) Symposium. Retrieved from http://nzcrs.org.nz/#/home
Hardie Boys, M. T., & Pletzer, D. (2023). Cross-resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics occurs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa lacking the aminoarabinosylation system. In T. Milne, M. Anwar, L. Burga, H. Harcombe, M. Garelja, A. Middleton, D. C. Ribeiro, N. Fleming, K. Ogbuehi & A. Bahn (Eds.), Proceedings of the 268th Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) Meeting: Masters/Honours/Postgraduate Diploma Student Speaker Awards. Dunedin, New Zealand: OMSRS. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/12839
Saha, T., Lyons, N., Yung, D., Pletzer, D., Quiñones Mateu, M. E., & Das, S. (2023). Inhalable ebselen dry powder for respiratory tract infections. Pharmacy Education, 23(6), (pp. 147). doi: 10.46542/pe.2023.236.129157
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Pletzer, D. (2023, February). Developing new approaches to fight infectious diseases. Verbal presentation at the Maurice Wilkins Centre (MWC) for Molecular Biodiversity Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Pletzer, D. (2023, August). Peptides and peptidomimetics as a potential treatment for hard-to-treat polymicrobial infections. Verbal presentation at the 33rd Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting (QMB), Queenstown, New Zealand.
2022
Journal - Research Article
Belanger, C. R., Dostert, M., Blimkie, T. M., Lee, A. H.-Y., Dhillon, B. K., Wu, B. C., … Pletzer, D., … Hancock, R. E. W. (2022). Surviving the host: Microbial metabolic genes required for growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in physiologically-relevant conditions. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 1055512. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1055512
Adhikari, B. R., Sinha, S., Lyons, N., Pletzer, D., Lamont, I., Gordon, K. C., & Das, S. C. (2022). Inhalable ceftazidime-roflumilast powder targeting infection and inflammation: Influence of incorporating roflumilast into ceftazidime-leucine co-amorphous formulation. European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics, 180, 260-268. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.10.005
Firmanda, A., Fahma, F., Syamsu, K., Cabral, J., Pletzer, D., & Gustiananda, M. (2022). Cellulose composites containing active constituents of coffee and tea: A prospective novel wound dressing [Review]. Materials Advances, 3, 7463-7483. doi: 10.1039/D2MA00642A
Esposito, T. V. F., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, C., Blackadar, C., Haney, E. F., Pletzer, D., Hancock, R. E. W., … Häfeli, U. O. (2022). Biodistribution and Toxicity of Innate Defense Regulator 1018 (IDR-1018). European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics, 179, 11-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.08.004
Wolfmeier, H., Wardell, S. J. T., Liu, L. T., Falsafi, R., Draeger, A., Babiychuk, E. B., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2022). Targeting the Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factor phospholipase C with engineered liposomes. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 867449. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.867449
Neilsen, J. E., Alford, M. A., Yung, D. B. Y., Molchanova, N., Fortkort, J. A., Lin, J. S., … Pletzer, D., … Barron, A. E. (2022). Self-assembly of antimicrobial peptoids impacts their biological effects on ESKAPE bacterial pathogens. ACS Infectious Diseases, 8, 533-545. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00536
Sousa, M. G. d. C., de Almeida, G. C., Mota, D. C. M., da Costa, R. A., Dias, S. C., Limberger, S. N., … Pletzer, D., … Rezende, T. M. B. (2022). Antibiofilm and immunomodulatory resorbable nanofibrous filing for dental pulp regenerative procedures. Bioactive Materials, 16, 173-186. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.01.027
Harfoot, R., Yung, D. B. Y., Anderson, W. A., Wild, C. E. K., Coetzee, N., Hernández, L. C., Lawley, B., Pletzer, D., Derraik, J. G. B., … Quiñones‑Mateu, M. E. (2022). Ultraviolet-C irradiation, heat, and storage as potential methods of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 and bacterial pathogens on filtering facepiece respirators. Pathogens, 11(1), 83. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11010083
Journal - Research Other
Firmanda, A., Syamsu, K., Sari, Y. W., Cabral, J., Pletzer, D., Mahadik, B., … Fahma, F. (2022). 3D printed cellulose based product applications. Materials Chemistry Frontiers, 6, 254-279. doi: 10.1039/d1qm00390a
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lamont, B., Pletzer, D., Russell, B., & Muhsin, R. (2022). Novel peptoids as treatment for Cryptosporidiosis. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Parasitology (NZSP) 49th Conference & Annual Meeting. (pp. 15). Retrieved from https://nzs4p.org.nz
Choudhury, M., Tompkins, G., Brunton, P., Dias, G., Pletzer, D., & Ratnayake, J. (2022). Gold nanoparticles against oropharyngeal pathogens in cancer therapy. New Zealand Dental Journal, 118(4), (pp. 168). [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Lyons, N. M. A., Wu, W., Jin, Y., Lamont, I. L., & Pletzer, D. (2022, August). Using antibiotic combinations to suppress development of resistance. Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Sircombe, K. J., Kirman, J. R., & Pletzer, D. (2022, August). Can BCG vaccination train innate immune cells to protect against skin and soft tissue infections? Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Su, S., Hook, S., Pletzer, D., & Gamble, A. (2022, November). Overcoming efflux-mediated multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Verbal presentation at the School of Pharmacy Research Day, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Ross, C. L., Lawer, A., Sircombe, K. J., Mros, S., McConnell, M., Pletzer, D., Gamble, A. B., & Hook, S. (2022, November). Development of a dual prodrug for triggered antibiotic activation. Verbal presentation at the School of Pharmacy Research Day, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Pletzer, D. (2022, September). Peptides and peptidomimetics to combat adaptive multidrug resistant high-density infections. Plenary presentation at the Australasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society (AWTRS) Meeting, Sydney, Australia.
Yung, D. B. Y., Esposito, T. V. F., Hafeli, U. O., Barron, A., Hancock, R. E. W., & Pletzer, D. (2022, August). Peptides and peptidomimetics to combat adaptive multidrug resistant high-density infections. Verbal presentation at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.
2021
Chapter in Book - Research
Haney, E. F., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2021). Impact of host defense peptides on chronic wounds and infections. In M. A. Shiffman & M. Low (Eds.), Chronic wounds, wound dressings and wound healing. (pp. 3-19). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/15695_2017_88
Journal - Research Article
Drayton, M., Alford, M. A., Pletzer, D., Haney, E. F., Machado, Y., Luo, H. D., … Straus, S. K. (2021). Enzymatically releasable polyethylene glycol: Host defense peptide conjugates with improved activity and biocompatibility. Journal of Controlled Release, 339, 220-231. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.09.035
Ren, H., Zhang, J., Zhou, J., Xu, C., Fang, Z., Pan, X., … Pletzer, D., & Wu, W. (2021). Synergistic bactericidal activities of tobramycin with ciprofloxacin and azithromycin against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Journal of Antibiotics, 74, 528-537. doi: 10.1038/s41429-021-00427-0
Wilkinson, L. V., Alford, M. A., Coleman, S. R., Wu, B. C., Lee, A. H. Y., Blimkie, T. M., … Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2021). Peptide 1018 inhibits swarming and influences Anr-regulated gene expression downstream of the stringent stress response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PLoS ONE, 16(4), e0250977. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250977
Khomtchouk, K. M., Joseph, L. I., Khomtchouk, B. B., Kouhi, A., Massa, S., Xia, A., … Pletzer, D., … Santa Maria, P. L. (2021). Treatment with a neutrophil elastase inhibitor and ofloxacin reduces P. aeruginosa burden in a mouse model of chronic suppurative otitis media. npj Biofilms & Microbiomes, 7, 31. doi: 10.1038/s41522-021-00200-z
Alford, M. A., Choi, K.-Y. G., Trimble, M. J., Masoudi, H., Kalsi, P., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2021). Murine model of sinusitis infection for screening antimicrobial and immunomodulatory therapies. Frontiers in Cellular & Infection Microbiology, 11, 621081. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.621081
Pletzer, D., Asnis, J., Slavin, Y. N., Hancock, R. E. W., Bach, H., Saatchi, K., & Häfeli, H. O. (2021). Rapid microwave-based method for the preparation of antimicrobial lignin-capped silver nanoparticles active against multidrug-resistant bacteria. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 596, 120299. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120299
Wu, B., Haney, E. F., Akhoundsadegh, N., Pletzer, D., Trimble, M. J., Adriaans, A. E., … Hancock, R. E. W. (2021). Human organoid biofilm model for assessing antibiofilm activity of novel agents. npj Biofilms & Microbiomes, 7(1), 8. doi: 10.1038/s41522-020-00182-4
Coleman, S. R., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2021). Contribution of swarming motility to dissemination in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa murine skin abscess infection model. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 224, 726-733. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa778
Journal - Research Other
Yung, D. B. Y., Sircombe, K. J., & Pletzer, D. (2021). Friends or enemies? The complicated relationship between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Molecular Microbiology, 116, 1-15. doi: 10.1111/mmi.14699
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ross, C. L., Lawer, A., Sircombe, K., McConnell, M., Pletzer, D., Gamble, A., & Hook, S. (2021). Developing a dual prodrug for triggered antibiotic activation. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 244). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org
Yung, D. B. Y., Barron, A. E., & Pletzer, D. (2021). Anti-biofilm and anti-abscess activity of novel peptoids against Pseudomonas-Staphylococcus polymicrobial infections. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 273). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org
Yung, D., Alford, M., Barron, A., Hancock, R. E. W., & Pletzer, D. (2021). Synthetic peptides and peptidomimetics to treat infections caused by multidrug resistant ESKAPE pathogens. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 185). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org
2020
Journal - Research Article
Belanger, C. R., Lee, A. H.-Y., Pletzer, D., Dhillon, B. K., Falsafi, R., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2020). Identification of novel targets of azithromycin activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in physiologically relevant media. PNAS, 117(2), 33519-33529. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2007626117
Etayash, H., Qian, Y., Pletzer, D., Zhang, Q., Xie, J., Cui, R., … Hancock, R. E. W. (2020). Host defense peptide-mimicking amphiphilic β-peptide polymer (Bu:DM) exhibiting anti-biofilm, immunomodulatory, and in Vivo anti-infective activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63, 12921-12928. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01321
Copp, J. N., Pletzer, D., Brown, A. S., van der Heijden, J., Miton, C. M., Rich, M. H., … Ackerley, D. F. (2020). Mechanistic understanding enables the rational design of salicylanilide combination therapies for gram-negative infections. mBio, 11(5), e02068-20. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02068-20
Etayash, H., Pletzer, D., Kumar, P., Straus, S. K., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2020). Cyclic derivative of host-defense peptide IDR-1018 improves proteolytic stability, suppresses inflammation, and enhances in vivo activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63(17), 9228-9236. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00303
Khomtchouk, K. M., Kouhi, A., Xia, A., Bekale, L. A., Massa, S. M., Sweere, J. M., Pletzer, D., … Santa Maria, P. L. (2020). A novel mouse model of chronic suppurative otitis media and its use in preclinical antibiotic evaluation. Science Advances, 6(33), eabc1828. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abc1828
Pletzer, D., Blimkie, T. M., Wolfmeier, H., Li, Y., Baghela, A., Lee, A. H. Y., … Hancock, R. E. W. (2020). The stringent stress response controls proteases and global regulators under optimal growth conditions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. mSystems, 5(4), e00495-20. doi: 10.1128/mSystems.00495-20
Alford, M. A., Baghela, A., Yeung, A. T. Y., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2020). NtrBC regulates invasiveness and virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during high-density infection. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00773
Moosavian, M., Emam, N., Pletzer, D., & Savari, M. (2020). Rough-type and loss of the LPS due to lpx genes deletions are associated with colistin resistance in multidrug-resistant clinical Escherichia coli isolates not harbouring mcr genes. PLoS ONE, 15(5), e0233518. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233518
Pletzer, D., Sun, E., Ritchie, C., Wilkinson, L., Liu, L. T., Trimble, M. J., … Hancock, R. E. W. (2020). Surfing motility is a complex adaptation dependent on the stringent stress response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa LESB58. PLoS Pathogens, 16(3), e1008444. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008444
2019
Journal - Research Article
Kłodzińska, S. N., Pletzer, D., Rahanjam, N., Rades, T., Hancock, R. E. W., & Nielsen, H. M. (2019). Hyaluronic acid-based nanogels improve in vivo compatibility of the anti-biofilm peptide DJK-5. Nanomedicine, 20, 102022. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2019.102022
Woehlk, H., Trimble, M. J., Mansour, S. C., Pletzer, D., Trouillet, V., Welle, A., … Fairfull-Smith, K. E. (2019). Controlling biofilm formation with nitroxide functional surfaces. Polymer Chemistry, 10(31), 4252-4258. doi: 10.1039/c9py00690g
Kumar, P., Pletzer, D., Haney, E. F., Rahanjam, N., Cheng, J. T. J., Yue, M., … Straus, S. K. (2019). Aurein-derived antimicrobial peptides formulated with pegylated phospholipid micelles to target methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections. ACS Infectious Diseases, 5, 443-453. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00319
Journal - Research Other
Alford, M. A., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2019). Dismantling the bacterial virulence program. Microbial Biotechnology, 12(3), 409-413. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13388
2018
Journal - Research Article
Pletzer, D., Mansour, S. C., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2018). Synergy between conventional antibiotics and anti-biofilm peptides in a murine, sub-cutaneous abscess model caused by recalcitrant ESKAPE pathogens. PLoS Pathogens, 14(6), e1007084. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007084
Wolfmeier, H., Pletzer, D., Mansour, S. C., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2018). New perspectives in biofilm eradication. ACS Infectious Diseases, 4(2), 93-106. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00170
Wolfmeier, H., Mansour, S. C., Liu, L. T., Pletzer, D., & Draeger, A. (2018). Liposomal therapy attenuates dermonecrosis induced by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by targeting α-type phenol-soluble modulins and α-hemolysin. EBioMedicine, 33, 211-217. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.06.016
Windham, I. H., Servetas, S. L., Whitmire, J. M., Pletzer, D., Hancock, R. E. W., & Merrell, D. S. (2018). Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation is differentially affected by common culture conditions, and proteins play a central role in the biofilm matrix. Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 84(14), e00391-18. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00391-18
Luscher, A., Moynié, L., Auguste, P. S., Bumann, D., Mazza, L., Pletzer, D., … Köhler, T. (2018). TonB-dependent receptor repertoire of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for uptake of siderophore-drug conjugates. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, 62(6), e00097-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00097-18
Journal - Research Other
Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2018). Is synergy the key to treating high-density infections? Future Microbiology, 13(15), 1629-1632. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2018-0216
2017
Journal - Research Article
Pletzer, D., Wolfmeier, H., Bains, M., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2017). Synthetic peptides to target stringent response-controlled virulence in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa murine cutaneous infection model. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 1867. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01867
Moynié, L., Luscher, A., Rolo, D., Pletzer, D., Tortajada, A., Weingart, H., … Köhler, T. (2017). Structure and function of the PiuA and PirA siderophore-drug receptors from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, 61, e02531-16. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02531-16
Pothula, K. R., Dhanasekar, N. N., Lamichhane, U., Younas, F., Pletzer, D., Benz, R., … Kleinekathöfer, U. (2017). Single residue acts as gate in OccK channels. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 121, 2614-2621. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b01787
Pletzer, D., Mansour, S. C., Wuerth, K., Rahanjam, N., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2017). New mouse model for chronic infections by gram-negative bacteria enabling the study of anti-infective efficacy and host-microbe interactions. mBio, 8(1), e00140-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00140-17
Chalhoub, H., Pletzer, D., Weingart, H., Braun, Y., Tunney, M. M., Elborn, J. S., … Van Bambeke, F. (2017). Mechanisms of intrinsic resistance and acquired susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis patients to temocillin, a revived antibiotic. Scientific Reports, 7, 40208. doi: 10.1038/srep40208
Journal - Research Other
Belanger, C. R., Mansour, S. C., Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2017). Alternative strategies for the study and treatment of clinical bacterial biofilms. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 1, 41-53. doi: 10.1042/ETLS20160020
2016
Journal - Research Article
Pletzer, D., Braun, Y., & Weingart, H. (2016). Swarming motility is modulated by expression of the putative xenosiderophore transporter SppR-SppABCD in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 109, 737-753. doi: 10.1007/s10482-016-0675-8
Ganguly, S., Jimenez-Galisteo, G., Pletzer, D., Winterhalter, M., Benz, R., & Viñas, M. (2016). Draft genome sequence of Dietzia maris DSM 43672, a Gram-positive bacterium of the mycolata group. Genome Announcements, 4(3), e00542-16. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00542-16
Abdallah, K., Hartman, K., Pletzer, D., Zhurina, D., & Ullrich, M. S. (2016). The bacteriophage-derived transcriptional regulator, LscR, activates the expression of levansucrase genes in Pseudomonas syringae. Molecular Microbiology, 102(6), 1062-1074. doi: 10.1111/mmi.13536
Mansour, S. C., Pletzer, D., de la Fuente-Núñez, C., Kim, P., Cheung, G. Y. C., Joo, H.-S., … Hancock, R. E. W. (2016). Bacterial abscess formation is controlled by the stringent stress response and can be targeted therapeutically. EBioMedicine, 12, 219-226. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.09.015
Pletzer, D., Coleman, S. R., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2016). Anti-biofilm peptides as a new weapon in antimicrobial warfare. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 33, 35-40. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.05.016
Journal - Research Other
Pletzer, D., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2016). Antibiofilm peptides: Potential as broadspectrum agents. Journal of Bacteriology, 198(19), 2572-2578. doi: 10.1128/JB.00017-16
2015
Journal - Research Article
Pletzer, D., Stahl, A., Oja, A. E., & Weingart, H. (2015). Role of the cell envelope stress regulators BaeR and CpxR in control of RND-type multidrug efflux pumps and transcriptional cross talk with exopolysaccharide synthesis in Erwinia amylovora. Archives of Microbiology, 197, 761-772. doi: 10.1007/s00203-015-1109-0
Pletzer, D., Braun, Y., Dubiley, S., Lafon, C., Köhler, T., Page, M. G. P., … Weingart, H. (2015). The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 ABC transporter NppA1A2BCD is required for uptake of peptidyl nucleoside antibiotics. Journal of Bacteriology, 197(13), 2217-2228. doi: 10.1128/JB.00234-15
Stahl, A., Pletzer, D., Mehmood, A., & Ullrich, M. S. (2015). Marinobacter adhaerens HP15 harbors two CzcCBA efflux pumps involved in zinc detoxification. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 108, 649-658. doi: 10.1007/s10482-015-0520-5
Mehmood, A., Abdallah, K., Khandekar, S., Zhurina, D., Srivastava, A., Al-Karablieh, N., … Pletzer, D., & Ullrich, M. S. (2015). Expression of extra-cellular levansucrase in Pseudomonas syringae is controlled by the in planta fitness-promoting metabolic repressor HexR. BMC Microbiology, 15, 48. doi: 10.1186/s12866-015-0349-0
2014
Journal - Research Article
Karar, M. G. E., Pletzer, D., Jaiswal, R., Weingart, H., & Kuhnert, N. (2014). Identification, characterization, isolation and activity against Escherichia coli of quince (Cydonia oblonga) fruit polyphenols. Food Research International, 65(A), 121-129. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2013.10.040
Pletzer, D., Lafon, C., Braun, Y., Köhler, T., Page, M. G. P., Mourez, M., & Weingart, H. (2014). High-throughput screening of dipeptide utilization mediated by the ABC transporter DppBCDF and its substrate-binding proteins DppA1-A5 in pseudomonas aeruginosa. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e111311. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111311
Johnston, C. D., Bannantine, J. P., Govender, R., Endersen, L., Pletzer, D., Weingart, H., … Sleator, R. D. (2014). Enhanced expression of codon optimized Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens in Lactobacillus salivarius. Frontiers in Cellular & Infection Microbiology, 4, 120. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00120
Khandekar, S., Srivastava, A., Pletzer, D., Stahl, A., & Ullrich, M. S. (2014). The conserved upstream region of lscB/C determines expression of different levansucrase genes in plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. BMC Microbiology, 14, 79. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-79
Pletzer, D., & Weingart, H. (2014). Characterization of AcrD, a Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division-type multidrug efflux pump from the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. BMC Microbiology, 14, 13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-13
Pletzer, D., & Weingart, H. (2014). Characterization and regulation of the Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division-type multidrug efflux pumps MdtABC and MdtUVW from the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. BMC Microbiology, 14, 185. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-185
Pletzer, D., Schweizer, G., & Weingart, H. (2014). AraC/XylS family stress response regulators Rob, SoxS, PliA, and OpiA in the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora. Journal of Bacteriology, 196(17), 3098-3110. doi: 10.1128/JB.01838-14
2013
Journal - Research Article
Johnston, C., Douarre, P. E., Soulimane, T., Pletzer, D., Weingart, H., MacSharry, J., … O'Mahony, J. (2013). Codon optimisation to improve expression of a Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis-specific membrane-associated antigen by Lactobacillus salivarius. Pathogens & Disease, 68, 27-38. doi: 10.1111/2049-632X.12040
2009
Journal - Research Article
Veyrier, F., Pletzer, D., Turenne, C., & Behr, M. A. (2009). Phylogenetic detection of horizontal gene transfer during the step-wise genesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 9, 196. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-9-196
Microbiologist
Dr Sam Wardell
Dr Ian Liddle
Dr Anupriya Gupta
Dr Shilpa Nair
Saffron Whitta
Maddie Hardie Boys
Rory Smith
Tasbiha Gul
Robiul Shanto
Prasanga Madhushani
Kathy Sircombe
Simon Su
Meera Kabiraz
Haziq Aslan 
You Xiangyan 
Adrian Smith-Beech