Swissnex

Over billions of years, bacteria have evolved a diverse arsenal of secretion systems, which they use to transfer proteins and other molecules to their surroundings and neighboring cells. Scientists have identified at least eleven distinct types, each with its own architecture and strategy. As antibiotic resistance outpaces the development of new drugs, these natural delivery systems offer a blueprint for new therapies. One especially promising example is the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS), studied by Marek Basler at the University of Basel, which can deliver molecules directly into neighboring cells with remarkable precision. Its accuracy and efficiency raise a compelling question: could systems like these be re-engineered to deliver therapeutics in entirely new ways? This event convenes experts at the forefront of synthetic biology, bioengineering, and drug discovery to explore that question. The panel will feature Marek Basler, Professor of Infection Biology the University of Basel’s Biozentrum, whose lab studies the structure and function of the T6SS at the nanoscale. He will be joined by Tetsuhiro Harimoto, a postdoctoral fellow at the Mooney Lab at Harvard and incoming assistant professor at Cornell University whose research develops engineered living materials as next-generation drug delivery systems, and Annette Bak, who leads Advanced Drug Delivery at AstraZeneca and brings an industry perspective on what it takes to translate early-stage discoveries into viable medicines. Together, they will discuss the opportunities and challenges of harnessing bacterial delivery systems for medicine. Learn more here!