Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms highly antibiotic resistant biofilms in the airways of people with Cystic Fibrosis and other lung diseases. Nitrosative stress stops bacterial respiration, thus we are developing nebulized nitrite as an antimicrobial agent. In the laboratory, we use a bacterial epithelial co-culture model to study how nitrosative stress modulates bacterial respiration and to study the physiology of biofilm dispersal.
We are conducting a Proof of Concept human subjects study using nebulized nitrite within the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Pitt in collaboration with Dr. Joe Pilewski.