Misuse of antibiotics is causing an emerging threat to global public health due to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This poses a high risk of fatality in patients who have acquired untreatable infections and may contribute to the emergence of future pandemics. While these pathogens undergo selective pressure to evolve and bypass antibiotics, there is a critical need for innovative therapeutics to combat them. Our human gut could be a valuable therapeutic and prophylactic resource, as it contains a vast array of beneficial bacteria that forms the first line of defense against pathogens.

UBC researchers, Dr. Carolina Tropini and Dr. Bruce Vallance, will tap into the human gut to identify protective microbes that can tackle AMR. The team will use high-throughput omics technologies to screen for beneficial microbiota, investigate how they boost our immune response against pathogens and validate their protective effects using advanced animal and human preclinical models. These findings will result in microbiota candidates that can be translated into biotherapeutics or prophylactics. The team has identified an efficient pipeline from discovery to commercialization and will enable promoting biomanufacturing capabilities in Canada. The overarching goal of this project will be to improve health outcomes for Canadians and preparing us for future pandemics.