Engineering synthetic phages against pathogenic E. coli as an innovative tool for phage therapy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Summary
A major challenge to patient safety is the hospital infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. A well-defined bacterial strain of this kind is Escherichia coli (E. coli) O18:K1:H7, which is responsible for secondary infections in burn patients, neonatal meningitis and sepsis, and acute cystitis. One of the possible solutions to this problem is the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria. They show high specificity to their bacterial target, while having minimal side effects on the host, so they can potentially be used to treat bacterial infections in humans. However, there are still concerns for phage therapy, over the potential for immune response, rapid toxin release by the phages and difficulty of dose determination in clinical situations. Additionally, little is known about the cell biology underlying phage therapy, due to the challenges in the field, so that has been an obstacle in the rapid progress of phage therapy.
The key aim of the research proposal is to engineer a model system as a tool for phage therapy consisting of 3 parts: a synthetic phage able to target a well-known pathogen, the pathogen (E.coli O18:K1:H7), and mammalian cells to test the phage-bacterium interplay mimicking the conditions of the human body. This system, with proper validation, can be used further for studies, establishing a promising proof of concept for safe phage therapy, which can treat conditions such as infection in burn wound patients, neonatal meningitis or acute cystitis, caused by the target pathogen. A combination of molecular biology, synthetic biology and microscopy methods will be enable me to achieve the objectives. The research will be undertaken in the School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, in the lab of Professor Alfonso Jaramillo. The University of Warwick has been ranked as the 7th top institutions within the UK according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. The School of Life Sciences was rated as world-leading (80% of its outputs were rated as world leading or internationally excellent).
A major challenge to patient safety is the hospital infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. A well-defined bacterial strain of this kind is Escherichia coli (E. coli) O18:K1:H7, which is responsible for secondary infections in burn patients, neonatal meningitis and sepsis, and acute cystitis. One of the possible solutions to this problem is the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria. They show high specificity to their bacterial target, while having minimal side effects on the host, so they can potentially be used to treat bacterial infections in humans. However, there are still concerns for phage therapy, over the potential for immune response, rapid toxin release by the phages and difficulty of dose determination in clinical situations. Additionally, little is known about the cell biology underlying phage therapy, due to the challenges in the field, so that has been an obstacle in the rapid progress of phage therapy.
The key aim of the research proposal is to engineer a model system as a tool for phage therapy consisting of 3 parts: a synthetic phage able to target a well-known pathogen, the pathogen (E.coli O18:K1:H7), and mammalian cells to test the phage-bacterium interplay mimicking the conditions of the human body. This system, with proper validation, can be used further for studies, establishing a promising proof of concept for safe phage therapy, which can treat conditions such as infection in burn wound patients, neonatal meningitis or acute cystitis, caused by the target pathogen. A combination of molecular biology, synthetic biology and microscopy methods will be enable me to achieve the objectives. The research will be undertaken in the School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, in the lab of Professor Alfonso Jaramillo. The University of Warwick has been ranked as the 7th top institutions within the UK according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. The School of Life Sciences was rated as world-leading (80% of its outputs were rated as world leading or internationally excellent).
Technical Summary
Technical Summary
A solution to the emerging problem of antibiotic resistance in many bacterial pathogens is the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. By the means of molecular biology, synthetic biology and microscopy, I propose to engineer a model system as a tool for phage therapy consisting of synthetic T7 phage able to target Escherichia coli (E. coli) O18:K1:H7, a defined bacterial strain responsible for various human diseases, in a mammalian cell environment. The synthetic T7 phage will be non-lytic, so that the release of endotoxin is minimal and it can therefore be used therapeutically. The synthetic phage will be engineered to encode endosialidase, an enzyme that will allow the phage to recognize and degrade the K1 capsule. The synthetic phage will be engineered to be detectable by microscopy, by fusing an EGFP protein to the major capsid protein of T7 phage. The synthetic phage will be evaluated for its killing efficiency and endotoxin release upon infection of E.coli K1 cells. The model system will be tested in mammalian cells, infected with E. coli O18:K1:H7, using a K-12/K1 hybrid strain (EV36) constructed in the lab. The final goal is to find an efficient and simple way to provide a tool for phage therapy against pathogenic E. coli K1. The synthetic phage should efficiently kill the pathogen (E. coli K1) without harming the mammalian cell environment. The mammalian cells infected by pathogenic E. coli should recover (be healthy with no bacteria) after addition of the synthetic phage. This system, upon proper validation, can be used further for in vivo mouse studies, establishing a promising proof of concept for safe phage therapy.
A solution to the emerging problem of antibiotic resistance in many bacterial pathogens is the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. By the means of molecular biology, synthetic biology and microscopy, I propose to engineer a model system as a tool for phage therapy consisting of synthetic T7 phage able to target Escherichia coli (E. coli) O18:K1:H7, a defined bacterial strain responsible for various human diseases, in a mammalian cell environment. The synthetic T7 phage will be non-lytic, so that the release of endotoxin is minimal and it can therefore be used therapeutically. The synthetic phage will be engineered to encode endosialidase, an enzyme that will allow the phage to recognize and degrade the K1 capsule. The synthetic phage will be engineered to be detectable by microscopy, by fusing an EGFP protein to the major capsid protein of T7 phage. The synthetic phage will be evaluated for its killing efficiency and endotoxin release upon infection of E.coli K1 cells. The model system will be tested in mammalian cells, infected with E. coli O18:K1:H7, using a K-12/K1 hybrid strain (EV36) constructed in the lab. The final goal is to find an efficient and simple way to provide a tool for phage therapy against pathogenic E. coli K1. The synthetic phage should efficiently kill the pathogen (E. coli K1) without harming the mammalian cell environment. The mammalian cells infected by pathogenic E. coli should recover (be healthy with no bacteria) after addition of the synthetic phage. This system, upon proper validation, can be used further for in vivo mouse studies, establishing a promising proof of concept for safe phage therapy.
Planned Impact
Impact Summary
More than 20,000 European citizens die every year from untreatable bacterial infections that are resistant to conventional antibiotics. The proposal aims to develop new technologies and foundational advances in Synthetic Biology, by creating phage therapy approaches using recombinant phages made in the lab. From this proposal, the UK economy will benefit, since due to the antibiotic resistance problem, the phage therapy will provide a direct and financially affordable approach for tackling a serious problem. The research will also impact directly on human and animal health and wellbeing through providing an alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.
The engineering of synthetic phages will have a significant impact in biological manufacturing and the development of novel therapeutics. The modular phage engineering will facilitate future engineering projects aimed at the creation of organism-specific antibiotics and the delivery of non-invasive therapeutics to specific cells.
The engineering-driven focus on healthcare applications aimed at developing new tools for personalized medicine will engage young citizens towards careers in synthetic biology.
This research will have an impact in the industrial biotechnology and bioenergy: the methodology proposed will be useful to engineer biomolecules, phages and bacteria, with the desirable characteristics for each approach.
Phages can also be used in contexts other than phage therapy, such as agriculture, environment and decontamination. Synthetic phages could be used against bacterial pathogens of fresh fruits and plants for food. Phages could also be used in bacterial diseases of wild trees, where small-molecule antibiotics are not an option.
The proposal will increase the public awareness of phage therapy, which will contribute to the engagement of citizens in science.
The impact in biotechnology and medical research industries is very high, as the key aim of the proposal is to produce a new approach for antimicrobials that could be patented and generalised to other systems.
The model system of the application could foster the creation of new start-up companies.
The current proposal is an example of personalized therapeutics for the medical-oriented industry, which will impact on the way medicine, is practiced. It focuses on creating molecular therapies specific to the individual and the pathogen, more efficient therapy development, efficient delivery of personalized drugs, the development of non-invasive treatments for disease, and the production of organism-specific antimicrobials. Overall, the potential impacts on health are significant.
More than 20,000 European citizens die every year from untreatable bacterial infections that are resistant to conventional antibiotics. The proposal aims to develop new technologies and foundational advances in Synthetic Biology, by creating phage therapy approaches using recombinant phages made in the lab. From this proposal, the UK economy will benefit, since due to the antibiotic resistance problem, the phage therapy will provide a direct and financially affordable approach for tackling a serious problem. The research will also impact directly on human and animal health and wellbeing through providing an alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.
The engineering of synthetic phages will have a significant impact in biological manufacturing and the development of novel therapeutics. The modular phage engineering will facilitate future engineering projects aimed at the creation of organism-specific antibiotics and the delivery of non-invasive therapeutics to specific cells.
The engineering-driven focus on healthcare applications aimed at developing new tools for personalized medicine will engage young citizens towards careers in synthetic biology.
This research will have an impact in the industrial biotechnology and bioenergy: the methodology proposed will be useful to engineer biomolecules, phages and bacteria, with the desirable characteristics for each approach.
Phages can also be used in contexts other than phage therapy, such as agriculture, environment and decontamination. Synthetic phages could be used against bacterial pathogens of fresh fruits and plants for food. Phages could also be used in bacterial diseases of wild trees, where small-molecule antibiotics are not an option.
The proposal will increase the public awareness of phage therapy, which will contribute to the engagement of citizens in science.
The impact in biotechnology and medical research industries is very high, as the key aim of the proposal is to produce a new approach for antimicrobials that could be patented and generalised to other systems.
The model system of the application could foster the creation of new start-up companies.
The current proposal is an example of personalized therapeutics for the medical-oriented industry, which will impact on the way medicine, is practiced. It focuses on creating molecular therapies specific to the individual and the pathogen, more efficient therapy development, efficient delivery of personalized drugs, the development of non-invasive treatments for disease, and the production of organism-specific antimicrobials. Overall, the potential impacts on health are significant.
Organisations
- University of Warwick (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) (Collaboration)
- University of Texas at Austin (Collaboration)
- LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- DSV (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Antonia Sagona (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Williams J
(2023)
Genetic Engineering of Bacteriophage K1F with Human Epidermal Growth Factor to Enhance Killing of Intracellular E. coli K1.
in ACS synthetic biology
Sagona AP
(2016)
Genetically modified bacteriophages.
in Integrative biology : quantitative biosciences from nano to macro
Møller-Olsen C
(2018)
Engineered K1F bacteriophages kill intracellular Escherichia coli K1 in human epithelial cells.
in Scientific reports
Møller-Olsen C
(2020)
Bacteriophage K1F targets Escherichia coli K1 in cerebral endothelial cells and influences the barrier function.
in Scientific reports
Liyanagedera SBW
(2022)
SpyPhage: A Cell-Free TXTL Platform for Rapid Engineering of Targeted Phage Therapies.
in ACS synthetic biology
Dhanoa GK
(2022)
Investigating the effect of bacteriophages on bacterial FtsZ localisation.
in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
Avramucz Á
(2021)
Analysing Parallel Strategies to Alter the Host Specificity of Bacteriophage T7.
in Biology
Description | I have successfully engineered a fluorescent bacteriophage and I have discovered the mechanism via which the bacteriophage is able to clear infection in human cells environment. These data are now published (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30510202, Sci Rep. 2018 Dec 3;8(1):17559. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35859-6. Engineered K1F bacteriophages kill intracellular Escherichia coli K1 in human epithelial cells. Møller-Olsen C, Ho SFS, Shukla RD, Feher T, Sagona AP.). We have now all the data supporting also a neonatal meningitis model of in vitro phage therapy which are now published (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32483257, Møller-Olsen C, Ross T, Leppard KN, Foisor V, Smith C, Grammatopoulos DK, Sagona AP. Bacteriophage K1F targets Escherichia coli K1 in cerebral endothelial cells and influences the barrier function. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 1;10(1):8903. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65867-4). |
Exploitation Route | My data can be used by others in many ways: the fluorescent phage that I have constructed together with the CRISPR technology of selection that I established with collaborators, is available to other researchers. Already, I have initiated new collaborations due to this and I have been requested these phages to be used by others multiple times or my expertise that relates to construct genetically modified phages. Additionally, my findings open a new field in phage biology and give hope for future phage therapy. I already have great interest from industry and many collaborations, as based on my results, bacteriophages can used efficiently also as diagnostics. Here as well, I have initiated various collaborations, because of my expertise and findings. I have started collaborations with colleagues on veterinary/agricultural sectors as well, to investigate how genetically modified phages can be useful in these sectors as well. The impact of my results is economic & social, since my results have a direct effect in society, economy and health sector. |
Sectors | Education,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30510202 |
Description | An RFP bacterial strain I constructed together with methodology I have developed, have been used by Biocote Ltd, in a collaboration that we have recently established, which has received attention from media (https://www.biocote.com/biocote-technology-in-action/): 2018: University footage shows bug-killing effects of silver-treated surfaces https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwipnfSwnMvZAhVKKsAKHfXwCJYQFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicalplasticsnews.com%2Fnews%2Funiversity-footage-shows-bug-killing-effects-of-silver-treat%2F&usg=AOvVaw0wXvj0s8lx9IvSN3zVK_sd 2017: New time-lapse imaging shows superbug killed in two hours https://www.buildingbetterhealthcare.co.uk/news/article_page/New_timelapse_imaging_shows_superbug_killed_in_two_hours/136910 https://www.news-medical.net/news/20171213/Time-lapse-imaging-reveals-how-antimicrobial-treated-surfaces-kill-superbugs-in-two-hours.aspx https://www.parallelstate.com/news/time-lapse-imaging-reveals-how-antimicrobial-treated-surfaces-kill-superbugs-in-two-hours/590388 My K1F-GFP phages are to be used via my new collaboration with LSTM, reported this year. |
Sector | Education,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | Participation in a focus group of phage researchers organised by Microbiology society to discuss the use of phage therapy in UK |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
Impact | we hope to establish safely phage therapy in UK, this is very much needed and very much requested by patients. |
URL | https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7045/the-antimicrobial-potential-of-bacteriophages/ |
Description | Detection of CF lung pathogens using engineered bacteriophages |
Amount | £46,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | VIA045 |
Organisation | Cystic Fibrosis Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 12/2022 |
Description | Overcoming the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii in Thailand- developing bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ID:332371796 |
Organisation | British Council |
Department | British Council - Newton Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | The Physics of Bacteriophage-coated antimicrobial surfaces |
Amount | £613,277 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S001255/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2019 |
End | 05/2021 |
Title | Development and observation of fluorescently genetically modified bacteriophages in human cellls |
Description | We developed and published methodology to detect genetically modified fluorescent bacteriophages and their effects inside infected human cells. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This is research with significant long term impact on the understanding of phage therapy in vitro. |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30510202 |
Description | Collaboration on fluorescent bacteriophages to be used as diagnostics for infection in blood samples |
Organisation | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a very new collaboration with Thomas Edwards and the team from Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research, CTID Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. We will be working together on establishing a system using my expertise on fluorescent bacteriophages to detect infection in blood samples. Together we submitted a small grant, funded by LSTM (approx, £40,000), to start doing some research to get preliminary results and move further to apply for a bigger grant. With this grant, a PDRA or Senior Technician will be hired for 10-12 months to start the project in LSTM, using the phages from my lab and we hope to get nice results to apply to bigger grants. |
Collaborator Contribution | They will provide their expertise to viral and bacterial blood diagnostics and I will provide my expertise to recombinant bacteriophages. |
Impact | It just started, we hope to have outputs soon. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Control of gene expression in pathogenic Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Department | School of Immunity and Infection |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have started a collaboration with Professor Stephen Busby and his team, via having a joint PhD student who is currently learning bacteriophage methods in my lab and she will continue her PhD in the Busby lab, with my supervision on the bacteriophage aspect of the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Busby lab has expertise amongst others in site-directed mutagenesis on bacterial strains and this methodology will be contributed from the Busby lab to our joint project. |
Impact | This collaboration has just started, the joint PhD student with the Busby lab is currently in my lab learning phage methodology. This is a multidisciplinary collaboration, consisting of microbiology methods, synthetic biology and human cell biology. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Encapsulating bacteriophages in liposomes |
Organisation | Loughborough University |
Department | Department of Chemical Engineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Together with Dr Danish Malik, we have started a project in which we have encapsulated K1F phage into liposomes and we have tested their PH dependent killing efficiency in human cells, infected with the host pathogen. We have written a manuscript together, to be submitted soon. I have provided the phage, the host bacteria, the microscopy expertise and the human cell biology expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Malik's lab has provided the phage encapsulation expertise and the relevant experiments to measure the PH dependent phage release and stability. |
Impact | We have nice results together and we have written a manuscript to be submitted very soon. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Engineering non-proliferative K1F phages |
Organisation | University of Texas at Austin |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am currently constructing the non-proliferative K1F phages. |
Collaborator Contribution | Professor Ian J Molineux from University of Texas at Austin is helping me with the design of the constructs needed to engineer non-proliferative K1F phages. |
Impact | I am currently do the necessary cloning needed for this assay. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Establishment of CRISPR/Cas9 for recombinant phage selection |
Organisation | Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) |
Department | Biological Research Centre (BRC) |
Country | Hungary |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are trying together to establish an effective CRISPR/Cas9 system for phage selection |
Collaborator Contribution | The partner (Dr Tamás Fehér), is providing his technical expertise in genetic engineering in order to establish an effective system for CRISP/Cas9 as selection method. |
Impact | We are currently do experiments in parallel in order to establish an efficient system of CRISPR/Cas9 for phage selection, which seems to work well and we will write a manuscript soon about it. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Immobilizing phages on surfaces and track by microscopy and modelling the interplay between phage and bacteria. |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have constructed a T4-GFP phage to be used for the model system that we are building. Together with Dr Aidan Brown and Fixed-Phage Ltd, we have submitted an EPSRC Industrial Fellowship grant, in which I am listed as co-Investigator. This has passed the first round and we are waiting for the final results soon. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Aidan Brown and Fixed-Phage Ltd have used the phage I constructed and have started doing some immobilization and advanced microscopy/modeling experiments to understand the interplay between phage and bacteria. This collaboration will be further enhanced upon our funding success, which will enable us to work more actively in this project. |
Impact | I have constructed a T4-phage GFP and the Edinburgh part has been working experimentally on that. We expect to have soon funding success and common publications. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Rapifage Ltd, Phage-based diagnostics |
Organisation | DSV |
Department | DSV UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I presented in the Scientific Entrepreneurship module of the Innovation and the Business of Science Course (Royal Society in partnership with Imperial College), suggested for BBSRC fellows, my idea on phage-based diagnostics and I got contacted by one of the founders of DSV to start a spin-out company with them. Together with Dr Richard Amaee from DSV we have initialized Rapifage Ltd. We have received money from DSV (http://deepscienceventures.com/) and investors and this has enabled me to recruit a senior research technician for 6 months to work on this project. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Richard Amaee has done the commercial search, initialized the spin-out formally and has provided the funds from DSV and investors. |
Impact | We have started Rapifage Ltd together and we recruited a senior research technician who started in my lab in January 2018 to work on this project. We have now renamed the company Lucidix BioLabs. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Company Name | Rapifage Ltd |
Description | Rapifage was initiated by Dr Richard Amaee in collaboration with myself, based on the phage-based diagnostics idea that I presented in the Scientific Entrepreneurship module organized for Fellows. We aim to engineer phage-based diagnostics that can be used for a discrimination between viral-bacterial infections. |
Year Established | 2017 |
Impact | If successful, this company will have great impact in the society, health sector and in the economy. |
Description | 'Antibiotic Awareness week' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The week commencing 18/11/2019, my lab participated in an outreach event as part of the 'Antibiotic Awareness week' organized by Professor Chris Dowson, with 4 posters from my lab exhibited in the University House, University of Warwick. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | 'Meet the Academics event' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | The 01/12/2020 via Teams, I participated in the event 'Meet the Academics', organized by School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick and I had the chance to introduce myself to the students, present my work and answer their questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | 'Science on the Hill' event The Rise of the Superbugs: Will your next infection kill you? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | • The 10th of December 2019, I gave a talk to the public 'Science on the Hill' event The Rise of the Superbugs: Will your next infection kill you?, and my talk was entitled: 'What are the bacteriophages and how can they help us?' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/about/publicengagement/events/scienceonthehill/pastevents/AMR |
Description | 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Warwick scientists explain Crispr-Cas9 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Warwick scientists explain Crispr-Cas9 I was invited to provide my opinion as an expert on CRISPR-Cas9 from the University of Warwick in relation to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/expertcomment/2020_nobel_prize/ |
Description | AN INTERVIEW WITH MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY |
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 | AN INTERVIEW WITH DR ANTONIA SAGONA, MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY https://microbiologysociety.org/membership/meet-our-members/focus-area-genetics/an-interview-with-dr-antonia-sagona.html I was invited by Microbiology Society to provide an interview about my work in relation to : "Why Microbiology matters". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
URL | https://microbiologysociety.org/membership/meet-our-members/focus-area-genetics/an-interview-with-dr... |
Description | BioSoc community calendar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was selected by the students of the BioSoc community to participate and showcase my research in the 2021 calendar. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
Description | British Science Festival Event 'Super drugs for superbugs' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The 11/09/2019, in Zeeman Building, University of Warwick, I participated in the British Science Festival Event 'Super drugs for superbugs', as part of the panel of experts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Expert opinion on AMR |
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 | I was approached by University of Warwick initially and then media, to provide my expert opinion and an interview to the problem of AMR. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.voanews.com/a/superbugs-deadlier-than-aids-malaria-study-shows/6405622.html |
Description | Interdisciplinary event (WALL-E), as part of the Welcome Week |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | The 26/09/2019, in The Oculus Building, University of Warwick, I participated in an Interdisciplinary event (WALL-E), as part of the Welcome Week and funded by Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA), in the panel of experts related to this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | One day visit and training of year 12 students in my lab |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The 06/07/2016, I accommodated two year 12 students from Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School in my lab, and together we did cloning experimens which were successful. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Organise the "Alternative antimicrobials" workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | On Wednesday 26 October, I organised the Alternative Antimicrobial Methods Workshop, which combined the expertise of biotech companies (Fixed-Phage UK, APS Biocontrol Ltd UK, Avidbiotics USA and Centauri Therapeutics Ltd UK), and academia (Dr Mark A Webber, University of Birmingham, Professor Martha Clokie, University of Leicester, Dr Jess Healy, UCL, Dr James Spencer, University of Bristol and Dr Antonia Sagona, University of Warwick). The speakers presented research on alternative antimicrobial strategies, including phages, bacteriocins, aptamers and novel bacterial targets. The audience consisted of academics and researchers from varied disciplines (SLS, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine and Engineering). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/people/asagona/alternativeantimicrobials/ |
Description | Participation in School of Life Sciences outreach event Getting to grips with antibiotic resistance |
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 | The 15/11/2016, I participated in the SLS Outreach event, University of Warwick: Getting to grips with antibiotic resistance, led by Dr David Roper and Professor Christopher Dowson, where I presented the work of my lab both with a poster and a demo microscopy event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/intranet/staffpg/support/comms/slsupdate/sls_update_decemb... |
Description | Participation in a Welcome Week Event at the University of Warwick |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | The 30/09/2020, via Teams (virtual platform), I participated in an Interdisciplinary event (WALL-E), as part of the Welcome Week and funded by Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA), in the panel of experts related to this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Participation of my Master student in an 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 | The 25/01/2017, a Master student from my lab, Stanley Ho participated in an Outreach event in Physics Department, University of Warwick, organised by XMas Science Gala and he presented "Phage therapy in the battle of AMR". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/xmas/impact/xmas_scientist_experience_2016/xmas_science_gala... |
Description | Participation of my lab in the New Scientist Live 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 | My lab participated in the New Scientist Live event (28th September-1st October), in London. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Participation via interview |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participation via interview: https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/science/summary/phage-therapy/phage-therapy-uses-viruses-that-attack-bacteria-to-treat |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/science/summary/phage-therapy/phage-therapy-uses-virus... |
Description | Public Science Evening " Back to the Future: How Studying History Helps Medical Science" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The 12th of March 2019, my lab and myself participated in the Public Science Evening: " Back to the Future: How Studying History Helps Medical Science", held in atrium of School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick. I gave a talk and my lab members demonstrated different phage methods. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | SLS outreach activity in All Saints, Leek Wootton Primary School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I organised an outreach activity in All Saints, Leek Wootton Primary School (08/06/2016), with the help of two PhD students who are part of Warwick School of Life Sciences Outreach. It included a presentation about bacteria, viruses and phages, then the class was asked to build phages from card, and there was also a session of microscopy, during which the class observed samples from different bacterial pathogens. Finally, the class was asked to fill in a questionnaire which was very successful, since it seems they understood what I presented. The audience were all the year 6 students of the School and their teachers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/intranet/staffpg/support/comms/slsupdate/sls_update_july_2... |
Description | School Visit in All Saints Leek Wootton Academy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I visited the school to discuss about bacteria, phages and gut microbiome with children from the Reception Class. I gave a short talk and then I had prepared different games using bacteria and phage soft toys as well as tubes to mimic the gut. I explained to the children about the gut microbiome and we played relevant games on that as well. In the end, the children could understand and tell which were the good and bad bacteria. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | School visit in All Saints Leek Wootton Primary School |
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 | Due to its success last year, All Saints Leek Wootton Primary School asked me to visit again this year and familiarize the students with phage therapy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Supporting Women's Careers in Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I am part of the Athena Swan Committee in School of Life Sciences, responsible for Outreach activities. As part of this activity, in July 2017, I organized an Athena Swan meeting " Supporting Women's Careers in Science" (http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/athenaswan/news/careers, http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/athenaswan/#hp-03-tab), based around career pathways and work life balance, funded by Athena Swan and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, which was very successful. Due to its success, we are now planning to organize a follow-up event this summer as well. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/athenaswan/news/careers |
Description | Warwick Knowledge Center, 'Going viral: What are bacteriophages and how can they help us?' |
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 | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Warwick Knowledge Center, 'Going viral: What are bacteriophages and how can they help us?' https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/knowledgecentre/science/life-sciences/bacteriophages |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/knowledgecentre/science/life-sciences/bacteriophages |
Description | expert opinion on AMR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | As mentioned, I provided expert opinion through Warwick and then was asked to comment on media internationally. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/expertcomment/antibiotic-resistant_infections_we |
Description | new interviews to media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed in the media (Daily ?ail, Voice of America, Royal society of biology, Microbiology society, New Statesman), by BBSRC Impact Showcase, which introduces some of the people BBSRC are investing in and who in turn work with BBSRC to support world-class bioscience for everyone BBSRC Impact Showcase 2022 and by BBSRC senior managers on AMR: Report Publication Page: Evaluating BBSRC investments in antimicrobial resistance research - UKRI, Blog post: : Informing BBSRC's future AMR research strategy - UKRI. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.ukri.org/blog/informing-bbsrcs-future-amr-research-strategy/ |