Microbiome Mining for New Cures | Ross Youngs | TEDxHilliard

thank you one of the things I’d ask you

thank you one of the things I’d ask you to consider is are we human that may

to consider is are we human that may

to consider is are we human that may sound like a really silly question well

sound like a really silly question well

sound like a really silly question well let’s take the facts we’re made up of

let’s take the facts we’re made up of

let’s take the facts we’re made up of human cells and we’re made up of

human cells and we’re made up of

human cells and we’re made up of microorganisms the microorganisms are

microorganisms the microorganisms are

microorganisms the microorganisms are really somewhat alien to us or are they

really somewhat alien to us or are they

really somewhat alien to us or are they the reality of it is microorganisms are

the reality of it is microorganisms are

the reality of it is microorganisms are pervasive throughout the entire

pervasive throughout the entire

pervasive throughout the entire environment they were part of what

environment they were part of what

environment they were part of what terraformed the planet 4.2 billion years

terraformed the planet 4.2 billion years

terraformed the planet 4.2 billion years ago into the living excision rich

ago into the living excision rich

ago into the living excision rich water rich environment we have today

water rich environment we have today

water rich environment we have today they evolved into every single life-form

they evolved into every single life-form

they evolved into every single life-form and micro biomes are actually everywhere

the reality of it is whether it is

the reality of it is whether it is ourselves where we have many different

ourselves where we have many different

ourselves where we have many different micro biomes that are a part of our own

micro biomes that are a part of our own

micro biomes that are a part of our own body from a hair microbiome to an ear

body from a hair microbiome to an ear

body from a hair microbiome to an ear microbiome to nose two eyes to mouth to

microbiome to nose two eyes to mouth to

microbiome to nose two eyes to mouth to skin we are covered in microorganisms in

skin we are covered in microorganisms in

skin we are covered in microorganisms in a way we really had no idea in fact

a way we really had no idea in fact

a way we really had no idea in fact they’ve just recently identified a

they’ve just recently identified a

they’ve just recently identified a rather robust microbiome in the brain so

rather robust microbiome in the brain so

rather robust microbiome in the brain so the microbiome are part of us and become

the microbiome are part of us and become

the microbiome are part of us and become part of us at a very young age in fact

part of us at a very young age in fact

part of us at a very young age in fact when we are born we pick up the mother’s

when we are born we pick up the mother’s

when we are born we pick up the mother’s microbiome during birth and during

microbiome during birth and during

microbiome during birth and during feeding and as we live our lives we pick

feeding and as we live our lives we pick

feeding and as we live our lives we pick up various other microorganisms to fill

up various other microorganisms to fill

up various other microorganisms to fill out our own microbiome now let’s put

out our own microbiome now let’s put

out our own microbiome now let’s put this in a little perspective because the

this in a little perspective because the

this in a little perspective because the question I started with are we human or

question I started with are we human or

question I started with are we human or what is a good question because one of

what is a good question because one of

what is a good question because one of the things we know is that the

the things we know is that the

the things we know is that the communication between our microbiome is

communication between our microbiome is

communication between our microbiome is very intense so even though we have

very intense so even though we have

very intense so even though we have these foreign invaders on our body they

these foreign invaders on our body they

these foreign invaders on our body they control more than we ever thought we’re

control more than we ever thought we’re

control more than we ever thought we’re learning that they do things like tell

learning that they do things like tell

learning that they do things like tell us when we’re hungry what we may want to

us when we’re hungry what we may want to

us when we’re hungry what we may want to eat when we want to eat fact recent

eat when we want to eat fact recent

eat when we want to eat fact recent studies have even showed potentially

studies have even showed potentially

studies have even showed potentially your own microbiome and a partner’s

your own microbiome and a partner’s

your own microbiome and a partner’s microbiome might be communicating to

microbiome might be communicating to

microbiome might be communicating to actually bring you two together the

actually bring you two together the

actually bring you two together the facts about the microbiome are hard to

facts about the microbiome are hard to

facts about the microbiome are hard to get your head around yet science is just

get your head around yet science is just

get your head around yet science is just starting to figure this out but let’s

starting to figure this out but let’s

starting to figure this out but let’s talk about the real statistics and that

talk about the real statistics and that

talk about the real statistics and that is for every one gene you have as a

is for every one gene you have as a

is for every one gene you have as a human

human

human your human microbiome has 100 genes so

your human microbiome has 100 genes so

your human microbiome has 100 genes so your genetic material that you walk

your genetic material that you walk

your genetic material that you walk around with is swamped by microorganisms

around with is swamped by microorganisms

around with is swamped by microorganisms you’re actually outnumbered in your body

you’re actually outnumbered in your body

you’re actually outnumbered in your body forty trillion microorganism cells

forty trillion microorganism cells

forty trillion microorganism cells versus 30 trillion a lot of people

versus 30 trillion a lot of people

versus 30 trillion a lot of people didn’t know that now put it even in a

didn’t know that now put it even in a

didn’t know that now put it even in a Wilder perspective is that those

Wilder perspective is that those

Wilder perspective is that those microorganisms have a mutation rate

microorganisms have a mutation rate

microorganisms have a mutation rate that’s very high so it changes

that’s very high so it changes

that’s very high so it changes constantly in fact in the next 12 hours

constantly in fact in the next 12 hours

constantly in fact in the next 12 hours every human in here will have a hundred

every human in here will have a hundred

every human in here will have a hundred and twenty billion mutations in their

and twenty billion mutations in their

and twenty billion mutations in their own microbiome so where did drugs come

own microbiome so where did drugs come

own microbiome so where did drugs come from the interesting part is over the

from the interesting part is over the

from the interesting part is over the last sixty seventy years most drugs have

last sixty seventy years most drugs have

last sixty seventy years most drugs have come from microorganisms and all

come from microorganisms and all

come from microorganisms and all microorganisms come from microbiome

microorganisms come from microbiome

microorganisms come from microbiome somewhere and that’s either directly

somewhere and that’s either directly

somewhere and that’s either directly indirectly or inspirationally because

indirectly or inspirationally because

indirectly or inspirationally because science has showed us some chemic

science has showed us some chemic

science has showed us some chemic property that we like and we take it

property that we like and we take it

property that we like and we take it into the lab and we modify it and then

into the lab and we modify it and then

into the lab and we modify it and then use it as a drug so some of the first

use it as a drug so some of the first

use it as a drug so some of the first drugs we got that I’m sure everyone’s

drugs we got that I’m sure everyone’s

drugs we got that I’m sure everyone’s aware of is something like penicillin it

aware of is something like penicillin it

aware of is something like penicillin it was two microorganisms in battle in 1928

was two microorganisms in battle in 1928

was two microorganisms in battle in 1928 in a lab sitting in a petri dish next to

in a lab sitting in a petri dish next to

in a lab sitting in a petri dish next to each other and the researcher noticed

each other and the researcher noticed

each other and the researcher noticed that the mold that was producing a

that the mold that was producing a

that the mold that was producing a chemical kept the bacteria away

chemical kept the bacteria away

chemical kept the bacteria away ultimately that was turned into the

ultimately that was turned into the

ultimately that was turned into the first real antibiotic and used

first real antibiotic and used

first real antibiotic and used extensively in the 1940s saved a lot of

extensively in the 1940s saved a lot of

extensively in the 1940s saved a lot of people but it came from microorganisms

people but it came from microorganisms

people but it came from microorganisms other places drugs have come from are

other places drugs have come from are

other places drugs have come from are things like plants other creatures the

things like plants other creatures the

things like plants other creatures the reality of it is something like taxol

reality of it is something like taxol

reality of it is something like taxol came from the bark of a Pacific yew tree

came from the bark of a Pacific yew tree

came from the bark of a Pacific yew tree so as they were looking at the bark of

so as they were looking at the bark of

so as they were looking at the bark of the tree they noticed that it could kill

the tree they noticed that it could kill

the tree they noticed that it could kill cancer and it’s an active cancer killing

cancer and it’s an active cancer killing

cancer and it’s an active cancer killing agent even today and the belief is it

agent even today and the belief is it

agent even today and the belief is it came from the tree the reality is we’re

came from the tree the reality is we’re

came from the tree the reality is we’re also learning about horizontal gene

also learning about horizontal gene

also learning about horizontal gene transfer

transfer

transfer we knew that genes could transfer from

we knew that genes could transfer from

we knew that genes could transfer from micro organisms to other organisms

micro organisms to other organisms

micro organisms to other organisms animal organisms rather easily but now

animal organisms rather easily but now

animal organisms rather easily but now we even have examples of micro organisms

we even have examples of micro organisms

we even have examples of micro organisms doing horizontal gene transfer to even

doing horizontal gene transfer to even

doing horizontal gene transfer to even plants so when you think about the

plants so when you think about the

plants so when you think about the essence of life and its ability to

essence of life and its ability to

essence of life and its ability to communicate and its ability to change

communicate and its ability to change

communicate and its ability to change and then the capacity to be able to

and then the capacity to be able to

and then the capacity to be able to change so radically so rapidly what it

change so radically so rapidly what it

change so radically so rapidly what it really states is we’re pretty stable

really states is we’re pretty stable

really states is we’re pretty stable because we don’t go through those

because we don’t go through those

because we don’t go through those changes we actually push back on those

changes we actually push back on those

changes we actually push back on those changes dramatically as an organism no

changes dramatically as an organism no

changes dramatically as an organism no matter what that onslaught is but that’s

matter what that onslaught is but that’s

matter what that onslaught is but that’s also one of the reasons it’s very

also one of the reasons it’s very

also one of the reasons it’s very difficult to actually find drugs

difficult to actually find drugs

difficult to actually find drugs it’s not an easy thing to do

it’s not an easy thing to do

it’s not an easy thing to do so back 6070 years ago in the golden age

so back 6070 years ago in the golden age

so back 6070 years ago in the golden age of pharmaceuticals the way they found

of pharmaceuticals the way they found

of pharmaceuticals the way they found drugs was they’d go take samples of

drugs was they’d go take samples of

drugs was they’d go take samples of microorganisms or samples of dirt or

microorganisms or samples of dirt or

microorganisms or samples of dirt or samples of anything and see what they

samples of anything and see what they

samples of anything and see what they could grow well the challenge was even

could grow well the challenge was even

could grow well the challenge was even if I took a sample of the floor right

if I took a sample of the floor right

if I took a sample of the floor right here and put it in a culture plate and

here and put it in a culture plate and

here and put it in a culture plate and incubated it only one out of a hundred

incubated it only one out of a hundred

incubated it only one out of a hundred organisms that I would sample would be

organisms that I would sample would be

organisms that I would sample would be able to grow only one out of a hundred

able to grow only one out of a hundred

able to grow only one out of a hundred would I even have a chance to study but

would I even have a chance to study but

would I even have a chance to study but there’s even a tougher equation to that

there’s even a tougher equation to that

there’s even a tougher equation to that and that is just because I can grow that

and that is just because I can grow that

and that is just because I can grow that one doesn’t mean I can learn a thing so

one doesn’t mean I can learn a thing so

one doesn’t mean I can learn a thing so if I grow that up in a culture and I

if I grow that up in a culture and I

if I grow that up in a culture and I study what it produced odds are it won’t

study what it produced odds are it won’t

study what it produced odds are it won’t produce anything because it takes life’s

produce anything because it takes life’s

produce anything because it takes life’s interactions to produce things and

interactions to produce things and

interactions to produce things and that’s one of the challenges but what

that’s one of the challenges but what

that’s one of the challenges but what turns out to be a one in 5,000 chance of

turns out to be a one in 5,000 chance of

turns out to be a one in 5,000 chance of producing something has led to most

producing something has led to most

producing something has led to most drugs on the shelf what this ended up

drugs on the shelf what this ended up

drugs on the shelf what this ended up doing is it challenged researchers to

doing is it challenged researchers to

doing is it challenged researchers to try to figure out how do we find more

try to figure out how do we find more

try to figure out how do we find more drugs more cures more opportunities and

drugs more cures more opportunities and

drugs more cures more opportunities and one of the things that came along in the

one of the things that came along in the

one of the things that came along in the 60s was a massive chemistry kit known as

60s was a massive chemistry kit known as

60s was a massive chemistry kit known as combinatorial chemistry and when you

combinatorial chemistry and when you

combinatorial chemistry and when you look at having a super incredible

look at having a super incredible

look at having a super incredible chemistry kit to mix up anything and

chemistry kit to mix up anything and

chemistry kit to mix up anything and everything you want you’d think that if

everything you want you’d think that if

everything you want you’d think that if you could automate that and do things

you could automate that and do things

you could automate that and do things with that and create what was ultimately

with that and create what was ultimately

with that and create what was ultimately called combinatorial chemistry you would

called combinatorial chemistry you would

called combinatorial chemistry you would have an opportunity to find all sorts of

have an opportunity to find all sorts of

have an opportunity to find all sorts of potential drugs well

No billions and billions of dollars over

No billions and billions of dollars over decades there’s only one drug on the

decades there’s only one drug on the

decades there’s only one drug on the Shelf now why is that well if they’d ask

Shelf now why is that well if they’d ask

Shelf now why is that well if they’d ask a mathematician with what we know today

a mathematician with what we know today

a mathematician with what we know today obviously not what we knew then what we

obviously not what we knew then what we

obviously not what we knew then what we know is that small molecules that are

know is that small molecules that are

know is that small molecules that are the most drug like molecules themselves

the most drug like molecules themselves

the most drug like molecules themselves that there’s nearly an infinite

that there’s nearly an infinite

that there’s nearly an infinite assembling of these because of how the

assembling of these because of how the

assembling of these because of how the elements come together how they

elements come together how they

elements come together how they orientate how they spin what charges

orientate how they spin what charges

orientate how they spin what charges they are in fact it’s estimated that

they are in fact it’s estimated that

they are in fact it’s estimated that there is one and then 500 zeroes

there is one and then 500 zeroes

there is one and then 500 zeroes possibility of small molecules so even

possibility of small molecules so even

possibility of small molecules so even if you had the super duper combinatorial

if you had the super duper combinatorial

if you had the super duper combinatorial chemical capability to do a billion

chemical capability to do a billion

chemical capability to do a billion billion molecules per second every

billion molecules per second every

billion molecules per second every second for the next eight billion years

second for the next eight billion years

second for the next eight billion years you’d only be at one and thirty four

you’d only be at one and thirty four

you’d only be at one and thirty four zeroes so mathematically it’s going to

zeroes so mathematically it’s going to

zeroes so mathematically it’s going to be very tough to just randomly stumble

be very tough to just randomly stumble

be very tough to just randomly stumble upon it but the technologies that were

upon it but the technologies that were

upon it but the technologies that were created are great technologies because

created are great technologies because

created are great technologies because we’ve learned how to take existing

we’ve learned how to take existing

we’ve learned how to take existing molecules we do know and make them

molecules we do know and make them

molecules we do know and make them better or take inspiration or take

better or take inspiration or take

better or take inspiration or take something from nature and that’s

something from nature and that’s

something from nature and that’s important so let’s talk about genomics

important so let’s talk about genomics

important so let’s talk about genomics well we all knew 15-20 years ago that

well we all knew 15-20 years ago that

well we all knew 15-20 years ago that when we had the human genome decoded

when we had the human genome decoded

when we had the human genome decoded we’d learn everything we ever needed to

we’d learn everything we ever needed to

we’d learn everything we ever needed to know we’d know what drugs would work on

know we’d know what drugs would work on

know we’d know what drugs would work on we eat on each people we would know

we eat on each people we would know

we eat on each people we would know exactly how to solve disease well we’ve

exactly how to solve disease well we’ve

exactly how to solve disease well we’ve certainly learned a lot but what

certainly learned a lot but what

certainly learned a lot but what happened is then came along an epigenome

happened is then came along an epigenome

happened is then came along an epigenome and an epigenome is what we go through

and an epigenome is what we go through

and an epigenome is what we go through every day

every day

every day in living life and what they found out

in living life and what they found out

in living life and what they found out is two identical twins in very little

is two identical twins in very little

is two identical twins in very little time whatsoever are hardly alike

time whatsoever are hardly alike

time whatsoever are hardly alike genomically their genetics changes and

genomically their genetics changes and

genomically their genetics changes and that’s the environmental factors it’s

that’s the environmental factors it’s

that’s the environmental factors it’s what you eat it’s potentially your own

what you eat it’s potentially your own

what you eat it’s potentially your own microbiome interacting with you but then

microbiome interacting with you but then

microbiome interacting with you but then we also learned about the microbiome and

we also learned about the microbiome and

we also learned about the microbiome and it’s 100 times the genomics that we have

it’s 100 times the genomics that we have

it’s 100 times the genomics that we have so essentially the complexity of

so essentially the complexity of

so essentially the complexity of genomics has gone to a whole different

genomics has gone to a whole different

genomics has gone to a whole different level

level

level and mathematically to use just genomics

and mathematically to use just genomics

and mathematically to use just genomics to find solutions it’s not possible to

to find solutions it’s not possible to

to find solutions it’s not possible to use genomics with inspiration of other

use genomics with inspiration of other

use genomics with inspiration of other technologies what goes on with real life

technologies what goes on with real life

technologies what goes on with real life absolutely it’s possible so where is the

absolutely it’s possible so where is the

absolutely it’s possible so where is the future source going to be well it’s

future source going to be well it’s

future source going to be well it’s going to be the source that has always

going to be the source that has always

going to be the source that has always worked the best it’s going to be from

worked the best it’s going to be from

worked the best it’s going to be from the microbiome and in fact in June of

the microbiome and in fact in June of

the microbiome and in fact in June of 2016 there was a recognition in a

2016 there was a recognition in a

2016 there was a recognition in a presidential announcement called the

presidential announcement called the

presidential announcement called the microbiome initiative so there already

microbiome initiative so there already

microbiome initiative so there already as a scientific recognition that the

as a scientific recognition that the

as a scientific recognition that the microbiome is absolutely key to our

microbiome is absolutely key to our

microbiome is absolutely key to our knowledge about us as humans and there

knowledge about us as humans and there

knowledge about us as humans and there is a number of approaches to get at what

is a number of approaches to get at what

is a number of approaches to get at what these uncultured microorganisms can

these uncultured microorganisms can

these uncultured microorganisms can potentially offer us and that’s one of

potentially offer us and that’s one of

potentially offer us and that’s one of the things that our company is actually

the things that our company is actually

the things that our company is actually doing as well we’re going and digging

doing as well we’re going and digging

doing as well we’re going and digging into the environment where we can grab a

into the environment where we can grab a

into the environment where we can grab a microbiome and study it and study it to

microbiome and study it and study it to

microbiome and study it and study it to a point to where we can find the

a point to where we can find the

a point to where we can find the chemistry that could potentially be a

chemistry that could potentially be a

chemistry that could potentially be a next cure there’s others looking at the

next cure there’s others looking at the

next cure there’s others looking at the uncultured microorganisms and there’s a

uncultured microorganisms and there’s a

uncultured microorganisms and there’s a lot of different strategies but the

lot of different strategies but the

lot of different strategies but the reality of it is it has a proven

reality of it is it has a proven

reality of it is it has a proven reliable source it’s not easy

reliable source it’s not easy

reliable source it’s not easy nothing’s ever simple as complex as this

nothing’s ever simple as complex as this

nothing’s ever simple as complex as this is it’s going to remain tough but one of

is it’s going to remain tough but one of

is it’s going to remain tough but one of the things that’s happening is when you

the things that’s happening is when you

the things that’s happening is when you look at all the tools that have been

look at all the tools that have been

look at all the tools that have been developed in the last 50 years we’re now

developed in the last 50 years we’re now

developed in the last 50 years we’re now on the verge of being able to use

on the verge of being able to use

on the verge of being able to use microorganisms in a way that we never

microorganisms in a way that we never

microorganisms in a way that we never could 4050 years ago the tools

could 4050 years ago the tools

could 4050 years ago the tools themselves and genomics and synthetic

themselves and genomics and synthetic

themselves and genomics and synthetic chemistry or combinatorial chemistry

chemistry or combinatorial chemistry

chemistry or combinatorial chemistry along with many other technologies are

along with many other technologies are

along with many other technologies are leading us down that pathway to new

leading us down that pathway to new

leading us down that pathway to new cures new treatments and a better world

cures new treatments and a better world

cures new treatments and a better world so there’s one thing I will say to the

so there’s one thing I will say to the

so there’s one thing I will say to the crowd and that is if you have an

crowd and that is if you have an

crowd and that is if you have an opportunity to go to a grad party high

opportunity to go to a grad party high

opportunity to go to a grad party high school or undergrad and you’ve got a

school or undergrad and you’ve got a

school or undergrad and you’ve got a student moving forward into higher

student moving forward into higher

student moving forward into higher education I would say take the

education I would say take the

education I would say take the opportunity to give them one word and

opportunity to give them one word and

opportunity to give them one word and that one word is microbiome thank you

that one word is microbiome thank you

that one word is microbiome thank you very much

very much

very much [Applause]