(1020-A) A modular robotic platform for the discovery and development of antibiotics

Abstract: The emergence of new pathogens and the increase in drug resistance pose a significant threat to public health. However, the number of drug candidates in the clinical pipeline remains low. Addressing the global antibiotic crisis requires collaboration among various partners, including industry, universities, and federal agencies. To bridge the gap between academia and industry, a highly integrated robotic platform for the discovery and development of antibiotics is currently under construction at Leibniz-HKI. This platform automates essential steps in natural product identification, optimization, and development. This significantly increases both the speed of development and the validity of the data. The modularity of the platform enables different workflows, including microbiological, phenotypic, and molecular biology assays. The platform consists of three modules, each equipped with a robotic arm for plate transport, which ensures flexibility and separate operation of the modules. Module 1 is mostly used for sample preparation, drug profiling, and compound handling, while Module 2 enables clone isolation, nucleic acid amplification, and cell cultivation. Module 3 is dedicated to phenotypic and biochemical screening. In summary, a new automation platform has been created that brings high quality to the handling, analysis, and profiling of bioactive substances and is dedicated to the discovery and development of antibiotics.