PROTON Project Nominated for Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026 for Novel Anti-Virulence Agent Against S. aureus
Key Insights
The PROTON project, led by Prof. Mark Brönstrup at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (search), has been nominated for the "Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026" award in the Life Sciences category by the Falling Walls Foundation (search).
The project is developing a novel "pathoblocker (search)" that neutralizes a toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus (search), targeting disease-causing mechanisms rather than inhibiting bacterial growth to reduce antibiotic resistance risk.
The agent is intended for prevention and treatment of pneumonia in high-risk hospital patients by blocking a toxin that destroys lung tissue and immune cells.
The PROTON project—"Breaking the Wall of Deadly Bacterial Infections"—has been nominated by the Falling Walls Foundation (search) for the title "Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026" in the Life Sciences category. The prestigious award honors scientific advances that break down barriers in science and have the potential to make a global impact. Led by DZIF scientist Prof. Mark Brönstrup at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (search) (HZI), the project is substantially supported by the German Center for Infection Research (search) (DZIF) and its Product Development Unit.
The nomination highlights the potential of the PROTON project to translate excellent basic research into tangible medical innovations. The winners will be announced at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin this November.
A New Class of Anti-Infective Agents: Pathoblockers
The active agent under development belongs to a class of compounds known as "pathoblockers." Unlike classic antibiotics, pathoblockers do not inhibit bacterial growth but instead specifically block the mechanisms through which bacteria cause disease. This distinction is critical: by targeting virulence mechanisms rather than bacterial viability, the approach is designed to significantly reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance development.
The research, conducted within the department of "Chemical Biology" at HZI, focuses on neutralizing a toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus (search) that can destroy lung tissue and immune cells. By disarming the pathogen rather than killing it outright, the strategy aims to preserve the body's microbiome while preventing the tissue damage that characterizes severe S. aureus infections.
Clinical Target: Pneumonia in High-Risk Patients
The product is intended to be used primarily for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in high-risk patients in hospitals. Hospital-acquired pneumonia, particularly when caused by S. aureus, represents a significant clinical challenge, especially given the rising prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains. The pathoblocker (search) approach offers a potential option for this vulnerable patient population where conventional antibiotic options may be limited.
Prof. Brönstrup and his team's long-term goal is to establish a new approach to treating bacterial infections and thereby effectively combat the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Broader Context at HZI
The PROTON project is one of two HZI projects nominated for the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026, exemplifying the breadth of research at the institute. The second nomination, the ENDURIVAC project led by Prof. Luka Cicin-Sain and Dr. Henning Jacobsen in the department of "Viral Immunology," is pursuing a preventive approach with vaccine technology designed to offer long-term protection against respiratory pathogens after a single dose using murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a vector.
Together, PROTON and ENDURIVAC demonstrate how basic research can lead to real-world solutions for global challenges, from antimicrobial resistance to vaccine equity in resource-limited regions.