Dear Organizing Committee of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum,
I am honored to apply for the opportunity to engage with esteemed laureates and learn from their inspiring journeys. From a young age, I have been dedicated to my educational goals, aspiring to become a renowned scientist in medical sciences. I believe that attending the Hong Kong Laureate Forum will empower me to advance my aspirations alongside my commitment to hard work and discipline.
Having completed my PhD in medical sciences, I am currently pursuing postdoctoral studies sponsored by the Research Grants Council (RGC). My journey has been enriched by prestigious awards, including the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship and the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship. These experiences have instilled in me the values of perseverance, teamwork, and a strong work ethic—essentials for achieving my ambitions.
As I embark on the next chapter of my academic career, I aim to become a leading professor and scientist in the field. Participating in the Hong Kong Laureate Forum will provide invaluable insights from those who have successfully navigated their paths, bringing me closer to realizing my dreams and enabling me to make a positive impact in our community.

Thank you for considering my application.

Best regards,

Exploring the therapeutic potential of Cell-penetrating peptide conjugates of peptide nucleic acids (CPP-PNA) for Targeted Inhibition of Small RNA00203 and Disruption of Biofilm mediated Antibiotic Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii
Abebe Mekuria Shenkutiea, , Polly H.M. Leunga
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Our study explores the therapeutic potential of cell-penetrating peptide conjugates of peptide nucleic acids (CPP-PNA) to inhibit small RNA (sRNA00203) in Acinetobacter baumannii. We identified small RNA00203 as a key regulator of genes contributing to biofilm-mediated antibiotic resistance. We conducted transcriptome analysis alongside the construction of an sRNA00203 knockout strain and the prediction of mRNA targets for sRNA00203. We designed five cell-penetrating peptide conjugates of peptide nucleic acids (CPP-PNA) that are antisense to the sequences of the genes encoding sRNA00203. Deletion of the sRNA00203-encoding gene led to an 85% reduction in biofilm biomass and significant decreases in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for imipenem (1,024-fold) and ciprofloxacin (128-fold). The CPP-PNA targeting the 9-23 nucleotide region of sRNA00203 demonstrated the highest efficacy, achieving MICs of 2.5–5 μM compared to >20 μM for scrambled sequences. The results indicate CPP-PNA can inhibit sRNA00203 expression and its downstream mRNA targets, suggesting a promising strategy for gene-targeted antimicrobials against A. baumannii.