Antibiotic resistance induced by quinolone drugs (MAXWELL_J17DTP)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Graduate Office
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious problem in clinical medicine. We have found that exposing bacteria to low-level (sub-lethal) concentrations of a quinolone antibiotic induces resistance to a number of other antibiotics. Quinolone drugs target the bacterial topoisomerases DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV. The observation of quinolone-induced antibiotic resistance (QIAR) has potentially far-reaching consequences for future antibiotic usage and correlates with similar observations in cancer, where treatment with a topoisomerase-targeted anti-tumour drug subsequently leads to leukaemia. In this this project we aim to establish the nature and extent of QIAR and to understand is origin and molecular mechanism.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Anthony Maxwell (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Isabel Diez Santos (Student) |
| Description | Mark Webber |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Characterisation of mutant gyrase proteins |
| Collaborator Contribution | Microbiology |
| Impact | 1. Webber, M.A., Buckner, M.M.C., Redgrave, L.S., Ifill, G., Mitchenall, L.A., Webb, C., Iddles, R., Maxwell, A. and Piddock, L.J.V. (2017) Quinolone-resistant gyrase mutants demonstrate decreased susceptibility to triclosan. J Antimicrob Chemother, 72, 2755-2763. Mulit-disciplinary: Maxwell - biochemistry; Webber - microbiology |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Science summer school (Joves i ciencia) |
| 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 | Participated in a 2-week science summer for teenagers in Catalonia (Spain). Organised and delivered theorical and practical activities related to molecular biology. Feedback was really positive and most of the teenagers were later able to do internships in labs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.fundaciocatalunya-lapedrera.com/ca/acabant-primera-setmana-molta-energia |
| Description | Seminar on "Antibiotics: Friends, foes or something more complex?" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a seminar about antibiotic resistance and what I've learnt about it from my research to the undergraduates in Pwani University (Kenya). The students showed interest in the topic by asking many questions about the misuse of antibiotics. They were also keen on knowing more about doing a PhD and on my institution, the John Innes Centre. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Supervisor at the Nuffield Future Researchers Scheme |
| 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 | I supervised a Yr12 student for a 6-week project on the present, past and future of quinolones. The student wrote a short literature review on the topic and analysed data from public databases. The student won a golden CREST award for her work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Visit to the Institute of Gene Biology (Moscow) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I visited the lab of Prof. Konstantin Severinov (a collaborator of my supervisor Tony Maxwell) in the Institute of Gene Biology of Moscow, to give a seminar about my PhD research. The seminar was attended by all the members of his lab (~20 people), lead to a discussion on the topic and an offer of potential future collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |