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Humans and bacteria have a complicated relationship. They can be considered both our closest allies and worst enemies. Over the course of this evening, we will explore this relationship in both contexts, ranging from the critical role bacteria play in guarding our guts, to the looming threat of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria, and what can be done to combat it.
The Microbes Fight Back: Antibiotic Resistance
Professor Laura Bowater
( Lecturer of Microbiology, Education and Engagement in Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia )
Antibiotics are familiar drugs to us all and we may have taken them for granted. Antibiotics have allowed us to survive life-threatening infections, and to protect the animals we farm for food. But many antibiotics have now become ineffective against common diseases. Let’s consider the scenario of a future where there are no effective antibiotics and lets discuss what we can be doing to fight back against the rise of ‘superbugs’?
Bifidobacterium: Microbial Guardians Of The (Gut) Galaxy
Dr Cho Zin Soe
(Research Scientist at the Institute of Food Research )
Impressively, the human gut contains more than 1000 different types of bacteria, known as our “gut microbiome”. Bifidobacterium are among the first members to make themselves at home in our gut after birth. Our resident superheroes, their health benefits include: developing the immune system in infants, assisting digestion and absorption of nutrients and protection against disease-causing pathogens. How can a bacteria aid in the fight against infections?
Evolution, Evolution, Evolution: How Bacteria Become ‘Superbugs'
Dr Mark Webber
(Research Leader in Gut Heath at the Institute of Food Research )
Antibiotic resistance is a huge threat to human health but is also a perfectly natural process which pre-dates humans. Bacteria are often found in very large populations and can grow very rapidly as well as being able to transfer pieces of DNA between each other. In this talk, Dr Mark Webber will explain how the Superbugs come about and give some examples of how different pathogens have evolved antibiotic resistance.
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