Channel WISN in Milwaukee, Wisconsin featured David Andes, MD, professor and head, Infectious Disease, in a story about a team research effort to discover new antibiotic compounds produced by bacteria that live in symbiotic association with insects. 

In this “bugs on bugs” research study, scientists are identifying chemicals produced by beneficial microbes that reside on insects such as ants, and which protect the insects from harmful microbes. 

Dr. Andes’ and collaborators have found hundreds of compounds that have potentially useful antimicrobial activities as well as good toxicity profiles in early testing; after animal testing, they intend to advance the most promising candidates for clinical trials. 

The need for new antimicrobials is urgent, Dr. Andes explains. “By 2050, more patients will die [from antibiotic-resistant infections] than from cancer. That’s 10 million patients per year.”

Resources:

• "Life or death matter: How bugs could hold key to lifesaving drugs," WISN-ABC, May 3, 2017