AMR Q&A with Professor Carol Munro
Posted on November 22, 2023 by Microbiology Society
In a short series for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2023, we spoke to members of the Society's Impact and Influence Comittee about the work they do to combat Antimicrobial Resistance.
Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your research?
Hello, I am Professor Carol Munro and my research focusses on fungal pathogens that cause life-threatening infections and are a global healthcare concern. My group study the fungal cell wall and have shown that fungi alter their cell surfaces in response to antifungal treatment and this remodelling of the wall reduces drug susceptibility.
What are some of the challenges we face with antimicrobial resistance?
When new antimicrobials are approved for clinical use after what can be over a decade of development there is only a short window of time before pathogens become resistant. New multi-drug resistant species are emerging that are hard to treat. Antimicrobial resistance can be acquired in the environment when the same classes of drugs are used in agriculture as in the clinic (e.g. azole antifungal resistance). We need to come up with more novel strategies to combat infectious diseases and to incentivise Big Pharma and investors to invest in antimicrobial drug discovery (in particular antifungals).
Why is your research into potential solutions to the AMR crisis important?
At the University of Aberdeen, UK, we are collaborating with the Scottish Biologics Facility, an antibody-engineering facility to generate monoclonal antibodies that recognise surface-exposed peptide targets. These targets are upregulated during an infection, when cells are treated with antifungals and are more abundant in drug resistant fungal isolates. We have shown these antibodies can protect mice against normally lethal systemic infections and we are developing them as a novel class of antifungal therapy.
Why is it important to get involved with societies like us when tackling big problems like antimicrobial resistance?
AMR is a global problem on a massive scale which can’t be tackled by individuals or small groups. The extensive networks based in societies like the Microbiology Society can be utilised to educate and to bring people with varied knowledge and expertise together to come up with ways to fight AMR.
You sit on the Impact and Influence Committee at the Society. What have you enjoyed the most about this experience?
In our discussions as a Committee it has become evident that we have a common goal and the drive and motivation of the other committee members and our current and past chairs have been inspiring.
If you are interested in opportunities for organisations to collaborate with the Microbiology Society's Knocking out AMR prioject, please email [email protected].
Find out more about the priority solutions and objectives on our website.