Jilan Al-Jilani

Education and career history

2025-present: PhD student, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield

2025: General Dentist and Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Petra

2023-2025: General Dentist, NGOs funded by UNHCR and Qatar Charity, Jordan

2021-2023: General Dentist, my own private dental clinic, Amman

2022: Membership of the Faculty of Dentistry (MFD), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

2019-2020: Intern, University of Jordan Hospital

2014-2019: DDS, University of Jordan

Current research

My PhD project is funded by Aqaba Medical Sciences University in Jordan. It aims to design antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that specifically target Gram-negative bacteria, with a particular emphasis on multidrug-resistant (MDRs) pathogens and oral bacterial species. The designed peptides are intended to exert their antimicrobial activity by binding to the energy transducer protein TonB, which plays a critical role in the transport of essential metabolites. TonB functions by coupling with TonB-dependent transporters (TBDTs) to facilitate nutrient uptake across the outer membrane. By disrupting the interaction between TonB and its associated transport system, the designed peptides aim to block metabolite transport, ultimately leading to bacterial cell death. We will investigate the use of AMPs in combination with antibiotics as well as phages. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat that was associated with an estimated 5 million deaths in 2019, and if left untackled, this number is predicted to tremendously increase with a forecast of 10 million deaths per year by 2025. Alternative therapies could save millions of lives and AMPs whether used alone or synergistically with antibiotics are promising.