How to Kill Killer-bugs?

We are facing an antibiotic resistance crisis. Antibiotics used to kill superbugs are no longer working and we need to find alternatives to treat infections. I will introduce you to a fascinating tiny microbe called Bdellovibrio which can hunt down and kill other bacteria including superbugs. Bdellovibrio physically invades its prey and consumes it from the inside-out before the prey can resist. In my talk, I will give you a flavour of how our friendly predator achieves this and could help us to fight superbugs in the future.

Every organism alive today has its own set of viruses, and so do the bacteria that make us ill. In my talk, I’ll tell you about our work investigating how bacterial viruses - called bacteriophages - kill bacteria and can be our friends in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. I’ll explore how we can use these bacteriophages as alternatives to antibiotics to treat infections.

Join me as we explore the fascinating world of killer-bugs and learn how we can stop them in their tracks. I'll be sharing my research on Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacteria that lurks in our food production environments. We'll delve into the genetic profile of persistent Listeria and uncover the secrets of how some strains successfully adapt. With this knowledge, we can develop strategies to eliminate this deadly threat and ensure the safety of our food supply.