The “Bacteriophage project” carried out by the Near East University together with La Trobe University from Australia, might reduce deaths caused by bacteria that gained antibiotic resistance, which was declared as “one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity” by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Due to the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance of bacteria in recent years, many bacterial infections that were easily treated in the past years can now result in death. This situation was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “one of the 10 biggest global public health threats facing humanity”. The data also confirm this finding. According to the latest data published by WHO, more than 1.2 million people died in 2019 due to bacterial infections. In the absence of any studies on this issue, 10 million people are expected to die each year from antibiotic-resistant diseases until 2050.
Scientists, on the other hand, are working to develop alternative treatments to manage infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and other multidrug and to reduce mortality rates. Phage Therapy is one of these alternative methods. In this treatment method, it is aimed to isolate viruses that target certain types of bacteria, which are their natural enemies, and use them as a natural medicine in bacterial diseases.
Hopeful collaboration from Near East University and La Trobe University!
Near East University continues to carry out innovative studies in this field with international collaborations. The “Molecular Mechanism of Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains and Investigation of New Bacteriophages as Alternative Treatment Approach” project carried out by Near East University DESAM Research Center in cooperation with La Trobe University in Australia is one of them. The study aims to analyze the resistance mechanism of “Pseudomonas aeruginosa” strains, one of the bacterial groups found in soil and water, against antibiotics, and to establish a natural defense mechanism against this bacteria with the bacteriophage method.
Organized by the Antibiotic and Chemotherapy Association (ANKEM), in the TRNC, the ’38. The project, which was awarded the Poster Presentation First Prize at the ANKEM Rational Antibiotic Use Congress, was conducted by Near East University DESAM Research Center researcher Dr. Ferdiye Taner. In addition, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, one of the specialists of the Near East University Kit Production Laboratory, Dr. Gökçe Akan, Dr. Gülten Tuncel, Near East University DESAM Research Center researchers Prof. Dr. Murat Sayan, Doruk Kaynarca, Dr. Ferdiye Taner and Vaheesan Rajabal and Steve Petrovovski from La Trobe University also take place in the project.
Dr. Ferdiye Taner: “We have to develop new alternative treatments against bacteria that have acquired antibiotic resistance.”
Stating that they aim to develop a natural alternative treatment method against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which has gained drug resistance, with the project titled “The Molecular Mechanism of the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains and Investigation of New Bacteriophages as an Alternative Treatment Approach”, Ferdiye Taner said, “In the study, we isolated a bacteriophage that can degrade multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Our research on the characterization of the isolated bacteriophage was carried out by DESAM Research Center researchers, Dr. Gökce Akan, Dr. Gülten Dereboyu and our colleagues from La Trobe University. We carry out the study with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Steve Petrovski and Vaheesan Rajabal from La Trobe University.” Dr. Taner said that the results of the project they carry out will contribute to an effective phage therapy formulation to be produced in the future.
Reminding that bacterial resistance against the use of antibiotics and multiple drugs has increased in recent years, Dr. Ferdiye Taner underlined the need for regular monitoring of antibiotic use rates. Considering the increase in drug and especially antibiotic resistance as a ‘globally spreading threat’, Dr. Taner stated that it strengthens the effective treatment of many resistant pathogens, especially in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, and consequently necessitates the need for new alternative treatment protocols.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Cooperation, not competition, is essential in scientific studies carried out for a better world and service to humanity.”
Emphasizing that the problems that concern humanity can only be overcome with scientific projects developed by scientists from different universities of the world, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “As Near East University, we have been collaborating with La Trobe University from Australia for a long time in important scientific projects. We aim to develop an effective alternative treatment method against antibiotic resistance, which has become a global health threat, with the ‘Molecular Mechanism of the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains and Investigation of New Bacteriophages as an Alternative Treatment Approach’, which was born as a result of this collaboration.
Emphasizing that they have developed scientific collaborations with many institutions from different countries of the world, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “The essence of scientific studies carried out for a better world and service to humanity is cooperation, not competition. We will continue to develop new collaborations with La Trobe University.”