Novel small molecule and TCM approaches to support pig production, minimizing generation of resistance to human antibiotics

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The emergence of resistance to antibiotics is a major health concern. To address this concern, this project willaddress multiple aspects of antibacterial resistance, bringing together complementary expertise in the UK andChina. Antibiotics are widely used in agriculture, where they have a valid role in protecting farm animals fromdisease and increasing food production. However, the use of antibiotics that are also used to treat humanscould lead to increased antimicrobial resistance. One of the aims of this project is to develop a new class ofantibiotics that are specific to a species of bacteria that cause infections in pigs, which would enable reduceduse of human antibiotics in farming. A second aspect of the proposal is to investigate the use of traditionalChinese medicines (TCMs) in veterinary settings. TCMs are typically complex mixtures with unknownmechanism of action. We will use sophisticated computational modelling methods, specifically a techniquecalled chemgenomics, to identify the active components of TCMs, which may enable further classes ofantibiotic to be rationally designed, or to be used synergistically with existing compounds.