Mechanisms of Action of Magnesium Oxide

Non-antibiotic therapies are urgently needed to control bacterial infections.

Calix Limited is an Australian technology company that has developed a manufacturing technique to produce honeycomb-like structures in the processed minerals. Preliminary work has found that several materials based on bioactive magnesium oxide possess antibacterial activity. However, exactly how these products kill bacteria is unknown. This project will apply a range of genetic and other approaches to identify what mechanism(s) are involved, and how readily these allow resistance to develop. In parallel, formulations of these products that will be developed in complementary Calix programs, will be assessed in a bespoke artificial wound model developed at UQ.