A Royal Society talk taking place in Wānaka later this week will discuss how bacteria protect themselves from viruses and how we might use this knowledge to overcome antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

University of Otago senior research fellow Dr Simon Jackson will discuss the role of bacterial immune systems function, the threat of viruses or ‘bacteriophages’, and the potential role of bacteriophage-based precision medicine in the future.

Bacteria are found in almost all environments on earth and play essential roles in the function of ecosystems but they are under constant threat from viruses known as bacteriophages, which outnumber bacteria by ten to one, Simon said. 

“To protect themselves from these infections, bacteria have evolved a diverse arsenal of antiviral immune systems,” he said. 

“Our research aims to understand what immune systems bacteria possess and how they function.”

At the talk on Friday (November 19) Simon will present an overview of what future bacteriophage-based precision medicines might look like and how research advances this field.

Understanding how bacterial immune systems function is critical to enabling future applications of bacteriophages to overcome major global challenges in health and agriculture, he said. 

“For example, many bacteria that cause disease are becoming highly resistant to antibiotics. 

“A potential solution is to use bacteriophages to selectively kill these antibiotic-resistant superbugs — an approach called phage therapy.”

Simon recently received funding from the Royal Society of New Zealand to research the use of bacteriophages in agriculture with the aim of reducing nitrogenous fertiliser requirements for pastoral farming.

Simon’s talk ‘How bacteria protect themselves from viruses and how we might use this knowledge to overcome antibiotic-resistant superbugs’ will be held at the Presbyterian Community Centre at 91 Tenby Street on Friday (November 19) at 6pm. Entry is $5.

PHOTO: Supplied