In the last two decades, nanobodies (Nbs) have revealed as a promising alternative to conventional antibodies as therapeutic agents. Proof of this was the first nanobody approved by FDA in 2018 for treatment of a rare disease (Caplacizumab for acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) and the significant number of other nanobodies (more than 20) in clinical trials for different diseases. Some Nbs can equal or even exceed several features of conventional antibodies (stability, cell permeability) at lower costs.

The NbTx project proposes the production of Nbs against Quorum Sensing (QS) molecules of P. aeruginosa with therapeutic purposes, paying especial attention to patients suffering from cystic fibrosis, frequently infected by this pathogen with letal effects in too many occasions. Their binding ability and specificity can favour their use for quenching these QS molecules to avoid or minimize the growth of the bacterial population and attenuate the cytotoxic effect caused by the virulence factors secreted by the bacteria. Such nanobodies are going to be tested in cell culture and bacterial assays to demonstrate the feasability of this novel therapeutic approach that aims to mitigate the AMR and the increasing lack of new effective antibiotics against multi-resistant bacteria.