Characterisation and exploitation of novel antimicrobials within the rumen microbiota

Lead Research Organisation: Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Biological Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

10 25 50

 
Description This grant was a partnership award allowing travel between the partners to aid collaboration through further funding. We subsequently obtained a Newton Royal Society grant to mine microbial communities for antimicrobial resistance genes and mine and develop novel antimicrobial compounds within these communities, which ended 3 years ago. We found the existence of numerous drug resistance genes in the microbial communities within the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants as well as discovering that they posses hundreds of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We have subsequently developed these aMPs for application in the treatment of livestock diseases, particularly bovine mastitis. We are currently completing small scale preliminary work to check their efficacy against sub-clinical bovine mastitis and subject to the results hope to follow on with more substantial funding aiding larger scale experiments. This grant and the follow-on Newton Royal Society grant resulted in all the publications noted with more to be completed. We have also exchanged staff and students since obtaining this grant which have aided development of the publications, one of which is in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. Therefore this partnering award had=s and continues to spark much impact between the partners.
Exploitation Route Sequences obtained are deposited in publicly available databases so available to all. The publications also aid scientific understanding. Last not least we are developing some of the novel antimicrobials for commercial use in the livestock sector.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Chemicals

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description Data has been communicated to public on many occasions through popular articles and talks. Data has been communicated under confidentiality agreements to appropriate companies to seek licensing agreements.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Education
Impact Types Societal

 
Description DFE studentship: Understanding the rumen microbiome
Amount £60,000 (GBP)
Organisation Department for Education 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2020
 
Description ERA net Gas Co-fund
Amount £1,500,000 (GBP)
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2020
 
Description EU Horizon2020
Amount € 11,000,000 (EUR)
Funding ID Horizon 2020 
Organisation European Union 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 01/2019 
End 12/2023
 
Description FACCE ERA GAS
Amount € 2,000,000 (EUR)
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 02/2020 
End 01/2023
 
Description Invest Northern Ireland Development of microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides
Amount £126,000 (GBP)
Organisation Invest Northern Ireland 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2018 
End 10/2020
 
Description One health approach to the understanding of the agricultural contribution to antimicrobial resistance
Amount £60,000 (GBP)
Organisation Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description PhD studentship
Amount £60,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of York 
Department Department of Education
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 08/2022
 
Description Plant-based solutions to integrate livestock disease control, nutrition and environmental sustainability in Africa
Amount £1,128,779 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/S014748/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 03/2021
 
Description Science Foundation Ireland
Amount £2,500,000 (GBP)
Organisation Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country Ireland
Start 02/2020 
End 01/2023
 
Description AMP lung mouse model work 
Organisation University of British Columbia
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We own the antimicrobial peptides (patent pending) and have many grants including this Newton grant to further the development of these.
Collaborator Contribution we met the partner who is very renound in antimicrobial peptide research in a Gordons conference in Italy. He offered to complete some mouse Pseudomonas infection model work for our peptides for free for co-authorship and future collaboration.
Impact This collaboration ended as the collaborator insisted on owning IP.
Start Year 2016
 
Description AMP mechanism of action 
Organisation Aix-Marseille University
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We own the antimicrobial peptides and have many funding streams including this Newton fund to understand and develop this compounds. We met the partner in a conference in France and he had expertise in terms of mechanism of action technologies which we have not set up in Aberystwyth. Therefore the partner under MTA and CDA agreements has conducted this aspect of the work for us, giving in-kind contribution in return for co-authorship and future collaboration.
Collaborator Contribution As noted above we met the partner in a conference in France and he had expertise in terms of mechanism of action technologies which we have not set up in Aberystwyth. Therefore the partner under MTA and CDA agreements has conducted this aspect of the work for us, giving in-kind contribution in return for co-authorship and future collaboration.
Impact Two co-authored publications so far and more in the pipeline. Exchange of PhD students has also occurred last year (2018).
Start Year 2016
 
Description Antimicrobial peptide synthesis and modification 
Organisation St George's Hospital
Department Orthopaedics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We asked Kai Hilpert to become one of our collaborators on the project and the post-doc assigned to this project spent a month in his lab learning peptide synthesis techniques
Collaborator Contribution Kai has provided us with many peptides at very low cost (1/3 of the cost it would be to get them made commercially) and provided some training and valuable suggestions.
Impact We have 2 joint papers
Start Year 2015
 
Description British poultry council 
Organisation British Poultry Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution In collaboration with the British Poultry Council we have been testing our novel antimicrobial peptides against a life threatening poultry protozoal parasite, Histomonas meleagridis. We obtained internal funding alongside British Poultry Council funding (£22,000) to this studentship which started in 2016.
Collaborator Contribution They have provided samples for initial testing and the studentship was funded to the value of £22,000.
Impact Initial testing of our antimicrobial peptides against Histomonas PhD studentship
Start Year 2015
 
Description Huws Mantovani collaboration 
Organisation Federal University of Viçosa
Country Brazil 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The original partnering award is between Drs Huws and Mantovani. Post the first visit by Dr Huws and colleagues to Visosa in july 2014 Drs Huws and Mantovani (alongside other colleagues as Co-Is) have submitted 2 further grants to RCUK-Confap (one was successful-the newton grant). The grants have been written by myself and Dr Mantovani. Dr Mantovani has send 2 MSc students and 1 post-doctoral scientist to work with Dr Huws. Likewise a post-doctoral scientist from the Huws lab also spent 2 weeks with Dr Mantovani. Huws and Mantovani have published numerous publications from this collaboration, including one in Nature Communications. Huws and Mantovani are now awaiting a response on a Newton impact fund to develop their novel antimicrobial peptides for treatment of bovine mastitis in partnership with RAFT solutions.
Collaborator Contribution The grants have been written by myself and Dr Mantovani. Exchange of staff from both groups has occurred, thus increasing cross-fertilization of ideas and enhanced training. Both the Newton grant and the BBSRC partnering grant have now finished and both partners are seeking opportunities for further fruitful collaboration.
Impact Many publications are now publisged, including one last year in Nature Communications.
Start Year 2014
 
Description Neem Biotech 
Organisation NeemBiotech
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Neem Biotech are sponsoring a PhD studentship centred on work that has arisen from the Newton-RCUK funding which resulted from this BBSRC Brazil partnering award. We are working closely with Neem to try and further understand the novel antimicrobials isolated rom the rumen microbiome and to increase the likelihood of commercialisation.
Collaborator Contribution Neem biotech provide financial and in kind support. They also meet with us on a monthly basis for project updates and to input advice from a commercial perspective.
Impact The partnership started October, 2015 therefore it is early days but outcomes and impact will likely be apparent in the next year or two.
Start Year 2015
 
Description Newbold Shingfield grant 
Organisation Federal University of Viçosa
Country Brazil 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Professor Jamie Newbold and Kevin Shingfield attended the workshop held in Visosa in July as part of this grant. Subsequently they have worked closely with Edenio Dentman and submitted 2 grants to RCUK-Confap to strengthen the collaboration (awaiting outcome). This collaboration has occurred due to this grant and my involevemnet was to bring the partners together for discussion.
Collaborator Contribution The Brazilian partners held the workshop and help write the subsequent grant proposals that arose from this workshop.
Impact None as yet. Sadly Prof Kevin Shingfield passed away during the project also.
Start Year 2014
 
Description Novabiotics 
Organisation NovaBiotics Ltd, UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Main company in the UK involved in licensing antimicrobial peptides. Under a confidentiality agreement and material transfer agreement, we have sent them our novel peptides for testing against fungal pathogens
Collaborator Contribution TSome of our AMPs have shown potent anti-fungal acitivities after testing in novabiotics. Novabiotics do not license but have collaborated with us since our initial discussions to enhance our data and support grant applications.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2015
 
Description stability antimicrobial peptides 
Organisation Queen's University Belfast
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Under confidentiality and material transfer agreements we sent Dr Fionnula Lundy our antimicrobial peptides to test stability.
Collaborator Contribution They have tested the stability of our antimicrobial peptides and provided useful data to guide future modifications
Impact Data exchange and ideas for future collaboration
Start Year 2015
 
Description Balmoral show general public outreach event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Balmoral show general public outreach event. Organised an outreach event for the general public and children to enhance understanding of the research area. Activities for children included clay modelling of rumen microbes, DNA extraction etc.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description ITN productions Royal Society for Biology media production 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact ITN productions Royal Society for Biology media production to promote the reasrch area and activities within Queens University, Belfast.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Invited panel member 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact WAs involved in a panel discussion in the Kiasco Animal Microbiome conference in London on the future of livestock MIcrobiome Research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Invited speaker Sea-climate conference Teagasc, Republic of Ireland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited speaker Sea-climate conference Teagasc, Republic of Ireland. Tlk entitled 'Exploitation of the faecal microbiome of North Ronaldsay algae-eating sheep.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote speaker for Molecular microbial ecology group conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Keynote speaker for Molecular microbial ecology group conference. Talk entitled 'The rumen microbiome: A pandora's box for novel antimicrobials'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote talk British Society of Animal science 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Keynote talk at British Society for Animal Science conference. Talk entitled 'Understanding the role of the rumen microbiome in animal phenotype'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote talk for Microbiology Society 'Microbiomes underpinning agriculture' conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Keynote talk for Microbiology Society 'Microbiomes underpinning agriculture' conference entitled 'The rumen microbiome and it's role in animal phenotype
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote talk for Microbiology Society conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Keynote talk for Microbiology Society conference entitled 'Ecological interactionswithin the rumen microbiome play an importnat role in animal phenotype'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Rumen Microbial Genomics network talk as part of the GGAA conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave a talk on the future of ruminant research in the Rumen Microbial Genomics network meeting aligned to the GGAA conference in Brazil.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description School engagement 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Microbiology school event sponsored by microbiology society held in Strathhearn preparotory school, Northern Ireland. The event was to raise awareness of microbes will live on us and in the environment to prim Ary school children
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description School outreach 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Visit to Strathearn School, Northern Ireland to conduct microbiology activities. This school is a girls only school therefore the main aim was to promote STEM subjects to girls.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Seminar given on our research in teh ruminant microbiome area in AgResearch, New Zealand.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Talk given in an industry led conference on animal microbiomes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Talk on the turkey gut micro biome in an industry led conference on turkey production.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Talk China symposium on Ruminant Physiology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited as a guest speaker for the Chinese meeting on Ruminant physiology in Nanjing agricultural university, China. Spoke about our previously funded BBSRC research on plant-microbe interactions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk in the Chinese Academy of Sciences conference in Nanjing University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Talk in the Chinese Academy of Sciences conference in Nanjing University entitled 'Towards a greater understanding of the rumen microbiome
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018