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UQ researchers are taking inspiration from pollen to create more effective antimicrobial medicine that could help tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance – where microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses are no longer susceptible to antibiotics and antivirals – is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today”.
Now, Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology is pioneering technology inspired by pollen to make antimicrobial delivery more effective.
“If we can ensure a better way for medicines to be administered during the early stages of disease, we can wipe out infections before they get stronger, and so prevent a whole new breed of ‘superbugs’,” Yu said.
Yu and his team have engineered hollow silica nanoparticles with rough surfaces similar to pollen, enabling them to adhere to pili, the hair-like appendages found on the surface of most bacteria.
“If we can ensure a better way for medicines to be administered during the early stages of disease, we can wipe out infections before they get stronger, and so prevent a whole new breed of ‘superbugs'."
These nanoparticles are well-suited to delivering lysozyme, an enzyme that occurs naturally in human and animal immune systems. Lysozyme has strong antimicrobial properties with minimal side effects, but has an unstable nature that makes it difficult to deliver – a problem that the nanoparticles help to overcome.
“Considering the number of deaths caused by infections globally, the potential implications of this finding for healthcare are significant,” Yu said.
Yu and his team are now testing the nanoparticles in livestock, where antibiotic resistance can cause problems not only for animal health, welfare and production, but also for humans who can be infected directly by animals, through groundwater contaminated with farmyard run-off, or through food-borne diseases.
“The development of natural and biocompatible antibacterial nano-formulations holds great promise for replacing the current antibiotic supplements in animal feed, which is one of the main causes of ‘super-bugs’ that threaten human health.”
To read the full story, visit the Research Impact website.
Troubled waters
Dr Simon Albert is tapping into local knowledge and exploring innovative technology to help the Solomon Islands tackle sea level rise.
To read the full story, visit the Research Impact website.
Teaming up for survival
Professor Sunil Lakhani is collaborating with scientists around the globe to tackle a fatal complication of breast cancer – metastatic tumours spreading to the brain.
To read the full story, visit the Research Impact website.
Sticks and stones
Professor Katharine Gelber’s research into hate speech is shining a light on the lived experiences of minority communities.
To read the full story, visit the Research Impact website.