Paul Ross Formicin Lecture

Introduction

In this talk, Paul Ross shares the journey behind the discovery of a novel antimicrobial published in 2018. As a microbiologist with a rich background in microbiology and biochemistry, Ross takes the audience through his professional journey and the pivotal role played by the APC Microbiome Institute in advancing microbiome science, particularly in discovering new antimicrobial compounds.

Paul's Background

  • Education: Studied microbiology and biochemistry.

  • Career Path: Worked at Wake Forest University focusing on Enterococcus tequilas, later returned to Moorpark for 20 years, and then moved to University College Cork (UCC) where he became head of the College of Science and Engineering.

  • Current Role: Director of APC Microbiome Ireland, one of the leading microbiome centers globally, established 20 years ago.

The Discovery of the Antimicrobial

  • Publication: The antimicrobial discovery was published in the journal Microbiology, titled "Forms for Amazon: A Novel, Broad Spectrum, Two Component Lambda Biotic."

  • Significance: This paper was recognized as a top recommendation by the journal editor, highlighting its importance in the field.

  • Title Importance: The title conveys the newness of the findings, indicating the broad-spectrum capability of the antimicrobial, similar to antibiotics like penicillin.

Characteristics of the Novel Antimicrobial

  • Broad Spectrum: This antimicrobial targets a wide variety of bacteria, not limited to a narrow range, posing a potential solution in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

  • Mechanism of Action: The compound operates through two distinct mechanisms, making it difficult for bacteria to develop resistance, a significant advantage over traditional antibiotics.

Composition and Team Collaboration

  • Ross discusses the collaborative efforts among researchers at APC, where the first author usually drafts the paper which undergoes multiple revisions before submission.

  • Research Techniques: Emphasizes the use of genomic and bioinformatics tools to screen bacteria for novel antimicrobials.

  • Collaborative Roles: Other team members, such as technicians and fellow researchers, contribute significantly to research efforts, from laboratory experimentation to manuscript writing and revision.

The Global Antimicrobial Challenge

  • Need for New Antimicrobials: There is a critical global need for new antibiotics due to the increasing cases of antibiotic resistance. The World Health Organization reported a staggering potential increase in deaths due to resistant infections by 2050 if new solutions are not found.

  • Bacterial Competition: Bacteria have evolved various mechanisms to outcompete one another, leading to the production of naturally occurring antimicrobials. Ross highlights the potential of using these mechanisms in clinical applications.

Future Directions and Conclusions

  • Clinical Trials: The presented research has passed phase one clinical trials, with ongoing efforts to advance into phase two.

  • Community Engagement: The discussion covers how research findings can be translated into community-level applications, with hopes to develop new treatments for various conditions caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

  • Further Research: Ongoing characterization of new antimicrobials is crucial as Ross's team believes they have potentially found about 50 others that require further investigation.

Final Thoughts

Paul Ross concludes by emphasizing the excitement of working in microbiome science and the continuous quest for new microbial compounds that could change the landscape of antimicrobial treatment. He invites questions and indicates the accessibility of further information on ongoing research activities.