Alchemy - Issue 28 | Page 4

From left to right: Dr Tony Velkov, Associate Professor Phil Thompson, Professor Jian Li, Dr Kade Roberts and Professor Roger Nation. THE GLOBAL THREAT OF SUPERBUGS A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the most serious global health threats of our time, and the greatest challenge in infectious diseases. According to the report, the development of bacteria that are progressively less treatable by available antibiotics is evident in all regions of the world. The problem is exacerbated by a decline in the development of new antibiotics in the past generation. If not addressed, the WHO warns of a ‘post-antibiotic era’ in which common infections and minor injuries could once again prove fatal. 2