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Contact Details

Email
daniel.pletzer@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Associate Professor
Department
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Qualifications
PhD
Research summary
Using nanomedicines to combat multidrug resistant WHO-priority pathogens

Research

Our research is focused on recalcitrant ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) pathogens; especially hard-to-treat clinical isolates involved in multidrug resistance, biofilm infections and persistence.

We are especially interested in bacteria that have been categorized as 'critical' priority pathogens by the World Health Organization. This includes multidrug resistant organisms that cause severe and often deadly infections and therefore pose an enormous threat in hospitals.

To address this issue, research in the Pletzer Lab focuses on fighting infectious diseases and tackling antimicrobial resistance using innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.

Our lab seeks to:

  1. Understand how microbes cause disease
  2. Fight antimicrobial resistance with novel nanomedicines
  3. Develop new antimicrobial strategies

Visit www.pletzerlab.com for more information

Visit Daniel Pletzer’s profile in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

Scholarly networking websites

Publications

Wardell, S. J. T., Yung, D. B. Y., Gupta, A., Bostina, M., Overhage, J., Hancock, R. E. W., & Pletzer, D. (2025). DJK-5, an anti-biofilm peptide, increases Staphylococcus aureus sensitivity to colistin killing in co-biofilms with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. npj Biofilms & Microbiomes, 11, 8. doi: 10.1038/s41522-024-00637-y Journal - Research Article

Wardell, S. J. T., Yung, D. B. Y., Nielsen, J. E., Lamichhane, R., Sørensen, K., Molchanova, N., … Wise, L. M., … Pletzer, D. (2025). A biofilm-targeting lipo-peptoid to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus co-infections. Biofilm. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100272 Journal - Research Article

Pérez de la Lastra, J. M., Wardell, S. J. T., Pal, T., de la Fuente-Nunez, C., & Pletzer, D. (2024). From data to decisions: Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning in combating antimicrobial resistance: A comprehensive review. Journal of Medical Systems, 48, 71. doi: 10.1007/s10916-024-02089-5 Journal - Research Other

Lyons, N., Wu, W., Jin, Y., Lamont, I. L., & Pletzer, D. (2024). Using host-mimicking conditions and a murine cutaneous abscess model to identify synergistic antibiotic combinations effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Frontiers in Cellular & Infection Microbiology, 14, 1352339. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1352339 Journal - Research Article

Pletzer, D., Mansour, S. C., & Hancock, R. E. W. (2018). Synergy between conventional antibiotics and anti-biofilm peptides in a murine, sub-cutaneous abscess model caused by recalcitrant ESKAPE pathogens. PLoS Pathogens, 14(6), e1007084. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007084 Journal - Research Article

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