Most of the antibiotics we use today come from bacteria and fungi that inhabit the soil. The next antibiotic might come from the back of your cupboard, your bin or even the change in your pocket.
[Infographic] Did you know? Every year, at least 700,000 people die worldwide from infections that no longer respond to antibiotics. That toll could balloon to 10 million by 2050.
The rise of infections, caused by resistant bacteria, is leading to some antibiotics becoming ineffective. This is one of the biggest threats to modern medicine today. The identification of new antibiotics is vitally important and LSTM’s Senior Lecturer, Dr Adam Roberts is recruiting the general public through this citizen science project, in his search for the next new antibiotic/treatment.
So far, we have received thousands of swabs from locations as diverse as school classrooms, people’s garages, mobile phones and slate mines – even a seagull’s foot! Using the swabs, school children and adults have explored their environment for sites which could harbour antibiotic-producing bacteria and fungi.
Excitingly, four swabs sent back to Dr Roberts have contained bacteria which have anti-fungal properties, these bacteria will be explored further by him and his team to do what?
Help us search for the world's next antibiotic!
You can join us in the hunt for the next antibiotics. When you pledge £30, you will receive five swabs so that you can swab areas that you think might be home to some interesting microbes.
Click here to order your swabs and to find out more information.
Getting involved as a corporate partner
You can get your staff involved the hunt. Computer keyboards, the kitchen sink – even the office door handle are all prime locations for microbes. If your business would like to get involved, then we would love to talk to you.
Please contact Karen Brady by emailing karen.brady@lstmed.ac.uk or calling.