Antibiotic resistance may cost global economy $100tn by 2050
Bacteria carrying the antibiotic resistant mcr-1 gene is spreading fast globally, warn scientists. Since the UN general assembly cited drug-resistant infection as a key threat to humanity last September, around 700,000 "super bug" related deaths are reported. However, Wellcome Trust estimates that by 2050, deaths caused globally by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could number 10 million p.a., cost the economy about $100tn and push 28.3 million more people to extreme poverty. A recent study reported mcr-1 is prevalent in China's water, food, animal and human population, and separately, the World Health Organisation warned of a global shortage of antibiotics in pipelines to deal with drug-resistance.
Understanding how human cells and tissues operate can help us fight diseases and develop new drugs. Creating lab-based models of tissues is one way to do this, but it has its challenges. In their research, Dr Chris Spicer and his team are tackling this head-on using newly engineered biomaterials.