[Applause] what if I was to tell you that a secret
what if I was to tell you that a secret
what if I was to tell you that a secret war has been going on for billions of
war has been going on for billions of
war has been going on for billions of years a war for simultaneously on a
years a war for simultaneously on a
years a war for simultaneously on a global and a microscopic level we all
global and a microscopic level we all
global and a microscopic level we all came late to this war and despite what
came late to this war and despite what
came late to this war and despite what we might like to think we are in over
we might like to think we are in over
we might like to think we are in over our heads my name is clay gory and I’m a
our heads my name is clay gory and I’m a
our heads my name is clay gory and I’m a PhD researcher at the University of
PhD researcher at the University of
PhD researcher at the University of Melbourne currently studying some of the
Melbourne currently studying some of the
Melbourne currently studying some of the smallest organisms on our planet
smallest organisms on our planet
smallest organisms on our planet bacteria for much of history bacteria
bacteria for much of history bacteria
bacteria for much of history bacteria have been responsible for about 50
have been responsible for about 50
have been responsible for about 50 percent of all human deaths worldwide
percent of all human deaths worldwide
percent of all human deaths worldwide and this includes diseases like
and this includes diseases like
and this includes diseases like tuberculosis or the bubonic plague or
tuberculosis or the bubonic plague or
tuberculosis or the bubonic plague or Black Death
Black Death
Black Death bacteria are frequently opportunists
bacteria are frequently opportunists
bacteria are frequently opportunists meaning that they wait until we are
meaning that they wait until we are
meaning that they wait until we are vulnerable to attack and cause disease
vulnerable to attack and cause disease
vulnerable to attack and cause disease or infection for example a hundred years
or infection for example a hundred years
or infection for example a hundred years ago the Spanish influenza virus swept
ago the Spanish influenza virus swept
ago the Spanish influenza virus swept across the world in a devastating
across the world in a devastating
across the world in a devastating pandemic leaving tens of millions dead
pandemic leaving tens of millions dead
pandemic leaving tens of millions dead in its wake it’s said to have killed the
in its wake it’s said to have killed the
in its wake it’s said to have killed the most amount of people in the shortest
most amount of people in the shortest
most amount of people in the shortest amount of time but actually many of
amount of time but actually many of
amount of time but actually many of these deaths were caused by bacterial
these deaths were caused by bacterial
these deaths were caused by bacterial pneumonia that attacked a population
pneumonia that attacked a population
pneumonia that attacked a population made vulnerable by the influenza virus
made vulnerable by the influenza virus
made vulnerable by the influenza virus despite cases like this for much of
despite cases like this for much of
despite cases like this for much of history bacteria have been held in a
history bacteria have been held in a
history bacteria have been held in a sort of balance by naturally occurring
sort of balance by naturally occurring
sort of balance by naturally occurring antibiotics but the discovery of
antibiotics but the discovery of
antibiotics but the discovery of penicillin in 1928 and its subsequent
penicillin in 1928 and its subsequent
penicillin in 1928 and its subsequent clinical use disturbed this balance and
clinical use disturbed this balance and
clinical use disturbed this balance and changed the tide of the war we had a new
changed the tide of the war we had a new
changed the tide of the war we had a new magic bullet in our fight against
magic bullet in our fight against
magic bullet in our fight against bacterial infections problems that were
bacterial infections problems that were
bacterial infections problems that were once potentially fatal we’re now just
once potentially fatal we’re now just
once potentially fatal we’re now just minor inconveniences antibiotics are
minor inconveniences antibiotics are
minor inconveniences antibiotics are designed to fit into a certain part of
designed to fit into a certain part of
designed to fit into a certain part of the bacterial cell much like a key is
the bacterial cell much like a key is
the bacterial cell much like a key is designed to fit into a look when a
designed to fit into a look when a
designed to fit into a look when a bacterial cell encounters an antibiotic
bacterial cell encounters an antibiotic
bacterial cell encounters an antibiotic it’s got really two options one it dies
it’s got really two options one it dies
it’s got really two options one it dies the second option is that it evolves it
the second option is that it evolves it
the second option is that it evolves it mutates it survives in evolving it’s
mutates it survives in evolving it’s
mutates it survives in evolving it’s essentially changing the shape of the
essentially changing the shape of the
essentially changing the shape of the look so that the ants fight it ki can no
look so that the ants fight it ki can no
look so that the ants fight it ki can no longer fit and is therefore no longer
longer fit and is therefore no longer
longer fit and is therefore no longer effective our options then are either to
effective our options then are either to
effective our options then are either to also the key to fit the new shape of the
also the key to fit the new shape of the
also the key to fit the new shape of the lock make a new key to fit that same
lock make a new key to fit that same
lock make a new key to fit that same lock or just target an entirely
lock or just target an entirely
lock or just target an entirely different lock the problem that we face
different lock the problem that we face
different lock the problem that we face is that we have a relatively limited
is that we have a relatively limited
is that we have a relatively limited selection of antibiotics and bacteria
selection of antibiotics and bacteria
selection of antibiotics and bacteria are incredibly good at adapting and
are incredibly good at adapting and
are incredibly good at adapting and evolving many common bacterial species
evolving many common bacterial species
evolving many common bacterial species actually replicate so quickly that one
actually replicate so quickly that one
actually replicate so quickly that one starting cell can become almost 300
starting cell can become almost 300
starting cell can become almost 300 trillion cells in just 24 hours and
trillion cells in just 24 hours and
trillion cells in just 24 hours and every single one of those cells has had
every single one of those cells has had
every single one of those cells has had the chance to mutate and evolve
the chance to mutate and evolve
the chance to mutate and evolve potentially to become resistant to
potentially to become resistant to
potentially to become resistant to antibiotics due to us using antibiotics
antibiotics due to us using antibiotics
antibiotics due to us using antibiotics so much in recent history bacteria are
so much in recent history bacteria are
so much in recent history bacteria are encountering them much more frequently
encountering them much more frequently
encountering them much more frequently and at much higher concentrations than
and at much higher concentrations than
and at much higher concentrations than would naturally happen this is meant
would naturally happen this is meant
would naturally happen this is meant that many species now are resistant to
that many species now are resistant to
that many species now are resistant to not just one or two antibiotics at once
not just one or two antibiotics at once
not just one or two antibiotics at once but too many or even all available
but too many or even all available
but too many or even all available antibiotics these highly resistant
antibiotics these highly resistant
antibiotics these highly resistant bacteria are called superbugs and
bacteria are called superbugs and
bacteria are called superbugs and they’re becoming increasingly common
they’re becoming increasingly common
they’re becoming increasingly common we’re seeing a resurgence of dangerous
we’re seeing a resurgence of dangerous
we’re seeing a resurgence of dangerous bacterial infections that we thought
bacterial infections that we thought
bacterial infections that we thought were thing in the past in America this
were thing in the past in America this
were thing in the past in America this year public health officials have found
year public health officials have found
year public health officials have found the yesenia pestis bacteria hiding on
the yesenia pestis bacteria hiding on
the yesenia pestis bacteria hiding on the spiny backs of fleas that is the
the spiny backs of fleas that is the
the spiny backs of fleas that is the exact same bacteria that caused the
exact same bacteria that caused the
exact same bacteria that caused the black death 700 years ago in Australia
black death 700 years ago in Australia
black death 700 years ago in Australia and many other countries we’re seeing
and many other countries we’re seeing
and many other countries we’re seeing untreatable cases of gonorrhea and a lot
untreatable cases of gonorrhea and a lot
untreatable cases of gonorrhea and a lot of people don’t actually get symptoms so
of people don’t actually get symptoms so
of people don’t actually get symptoms so can unwittingly pass this untreatable
can unwittingly pass this untreatable
can unwittingly pass this untreatable infection on to others in the Northern
infection on to others in the Northern
infection on to others in the Northern Territory there’s an ongoing case study
Territory there’s an ongoing case study
Territory there’s an ongoing case study of a patient who’s had the same
of a patient who’s had the same
of a patient who’s had the same bacterial infection for 17 years
bacterial infection for 17 years
bacterial infection for 17 years continually evolving to evade treatment
continually evolving to evade treatment
continually evolving to evade treatment and with nasty symptoms similar to
and with nasty symptoms similar to
and with nasty symptoms similar to tuberculosis new antibiotics are being
tuberculosis new antibiotics are being
tuberculosis new antibiotics are being developed but we face a conundrum the
developed but we face a conundrum the
developed but we face a conundrum the more we develop the more resistant the
more we develop the more resistant the
more we develop the more resistant the bacteria eventually become in fact it’s
bacteria eventually become in fact it’s
bacteria eventually become in fact it’s been estimated that by 2050 and what it
been estimated that by 2050 and what it
been estimated that by 2050 and what it resistance will have cost us 300 million
resistance will have cost us 300 million
resistance will have cost us 300 million lives so we need a new way to deal with
lives so we need a new way to deal with
lives so we need a new way to deal with these bacteria a way that focuses on the
these bacteria a way that focuses on the
these bacteria a way that focuses on the source of the problem currently if
source of the problem currently if
source of the problem currently if you’re in hospital with a bacterial
you’re in hospital with a bacterial
you’re in hospital with a bacterial infection it
infection it
infection it can potentially take several days before
can potentially take several days before
can potentially take several days before the doctors know what bacteria they’re
the doctors know what bacteria they’re
the doctors know what bacteria they’re dealing with whether or not it’s
dealing with whether or not it’s
dealing with whether or not it’s resistant to antibiotics and if it is
resistant to antibiotics and if it is
resistant to antibiotics and if it is whether or not there are still viable
whether or not there are still viable
whether or not there are still viable antibiotic options for treatment this is
antibiotic options for treatment this is
antibiotic options for treatment this is a problem with technology not with
a problem with technology not with
a problem with technology not with expertise
expertise
expertise the doctors are of course doing
the doctors are of course doing
the doctors are of course doing everything they possibly can to help the
everything they possibly can to help the
everything they possibly can to help the patients in their care but unfortunately
patients in their care but unfortunately
patients in their care but unfortunately current diagnostic methods suggest
current diagnostic methods suggest
current diagnostic methods suggest sometimes too slow to help the doctors
sometimes too slow to help the doctors
sometimes too slow to help the doctors before the infections progressed too far
before the infections progressed too far
before the infections progressed too far this actually happens my friend’s dad
this actually happens my friend’s dad
this actually happens my friend’s dad along with two other men who were
along with two other men who were
along with two other men who were admitted to the same ward in his
admitted to the same ward in his
admitted to the same ward in his hospital all three men developed the
hospital all three men developed the
hospital all three men developed the same bacterial infection
same bacterial infection
same bacterial infection all three were permanently affected by
all three were permanently affected by
all three were permanently affected by it but the outcomes were very different
it but the outcomes were very different
it but the outcomes were very different the first man to become infected
the first man to become infected
the first man to become infected actually died because every antibiotic
actually died because every antibiotic
actually died because every antibiotic they tried failed the second man was
they tried failed the second man was
they tried failed the second man was headed down much the same path as the
headed down much the same path as the
headed down much the same path as the first but because they knew what had
first but because they knew what had
first but because they knew what had happened to that first man they active
happened to that first man they active
happened to that first man they active preemptively and actually amputated his
preemptively and actually amputated his
preemptively and actually amputated his leg just to stop the infection from
leg just to stop the infection from
leg just to stop the infection from spreading my friend’s father was
spreading my friend’s father was
spreading my friend’s father was comparatively lucky he survived and he
comparatively lucky he survived and he
comparatively lucky he survived and he kept all of his limbs because he was a
kept all of his limbs because he was a
kept all of his limbs because he was a third man infected they had enough time
third man infected they had enough time
third man infected they had enough time to find a rarer antibiotic that was
to find a rarer antibiotic that was
to find a rarer antibiotic that was effective in treating the infection the
effective in treating the infection the
effective in treating the infection the problem was that the antibiotic that
problem was that the antibiotic that
problem was that the antibiotic that worked to cure the infection also caused
worked to cure the infection also caused
worked to cure the infection also caused kidney failure so he was on dialysis for
kidney failure so he was on dialysis for
kidney failure so he was on dialysis for the rest of his life
the rest of his life
the rest of his life but what if a relatively fast diagnostic
but what if a relatively fast diagnostic
but what if a relatively fast diagnostic technique could actually determine what
technique could actually determine what
technique could actually determine what bacteria was present and what it’s
bacteria was present and what it’s
bacteria was present and what it’s likely strengths and weaknesses were
likely strengths and weaknesses were
likely strengths and weaknesses were including bacterial resistance what if
including bacterial resistance what if
including bacterial resistance what if we could also predict which individuals
we could also predict which individuals
we could also predict which individuals were most at risk of these bacterial
were most at risk of these bacterial
were most at risk of these bacterial infections and maybe even stop the
infections and maybe even stop the
infections and maybe even stop the infections from arising in the first
infections from arising in the first
infections from arising in the first place in my research I’ve been focusing
place in my research I’ve been focusing
place in my research I’ve been focusing on bacteria present in hospitalized
on bacteria present in hospitalized
on bacteria present in hospitalized patients and this is crucial because
patients and this is crucial because
patients and this is crucial because people in hospital are often at their
people in hospital are often at their
people in hospital are often at their most vulnerable the bacteria I’m
most vulnerable the bacteria I’m
most vulnerable the bacteria I’m studying Klebsiella pneumoniae as with
studying Klebsiella pneumoniae as with
studying Klebsiella pneumoniae as with many other species is incredibly
many other species is incredibly
many other species is incredibly adaptable it’s found living happily in
adaptable it’s found living happily in
adaptable it’s found living happily in water soil plants and a huge range of
water soil plants and a huge range of
water soil plants and a huge range of animals agree
animals agree
animals agree in China recently sets of this bacteria
in China recently sets of this bacteria
in China recently sets of this bacteria to space just to see if it would survive
to space just to see if it would survive
to space just to see if it would survive under zero gravity and under increased
under zero gravity and under increased
under zero gravity and under increased radiation perhaps unsurprisingly it did
radiation perhaps unsurprisingly it did
radiation perhaps unsurprisingly it did and it’s thrived in healthy humans like
and it’s thrived in healthy humans like
and it’s thrived in healthy humans like you and me
you and me
you and me Klebsiella can be found living in your
Klebsiella can be found living in your
Klebsiella can be found living in your gut or your throat causing no problems
gut or your throat causing no problems
gut or your throat causing no problems but if an individual is made vulnerable
but if an individual is made vulnerable
but if an individual is made vulnerable for one reason or another Klebsiella can
for one reason or another Klebsiella can
for one reason or another Klebsiella can cause a range of infections including
cause a range of infections including
cause a range of infections including urinary tract infections bloodstream
urinary tract infections bloodstream
urinary tract infections bloodstream infections and even pneumonia and
infections and even pneumonia and
infections and even pneumonia and meningitis so how is it possible that
meningitis so how is it possible that
meningitis so how is it possible that one species is able to adapt so
one species is able to adapt so
one species is able to adapt so effectively well the key to
effectively well the key to
effectively well the key to understanding bacteria lies in their DNA
understanding bacteria lies in their DNA
understanding bacteria lies in their DNA which tell us the bacterial cell
which tell us the bacterial cell
which tell us the bacterial cell everything it’s capable of and with new
everything it’s capable of and with new
everything it’s capable of and with new genome sequencing technology we can
genome sequencing technology we can
genome sequencing technology we can actually decode that same DNA and
actually decode that same DNA and
actually decode that same DNA and predict what the likely strengths and
predict what the likely strengths and
predict what the likely strengths and weaknesses of the bacteria are in my
weaknesses of the bacteria are in my
weaknesses of the bacteria are in my research I’ve been looking specifically
research I’ve been looking specifically
research I’ve been looking specifically at bacteria present in individuals when
at bacteria present in individuals when
at bacteria present in individuals when they are first admitted to the hospital
they are first admitted to the hospital
they are first admitted to the hospital a single rectal swab can tell me what
a single rectal swab can tell me what
a single rectal swab can tell me what bacteria is present including not just
bacteria is present including not just
bacteria is present including not just those actively causing infection but
those actively causing infection but
those actively causing infection but those that have the potential to do so
those that have the potential to do so
those that have the potential to do so later on now I know a rectal swab might
later on now I know a rectal swab might
later on now I know a rectal swab might not sound particularly pleasant but the
not sound particularly pleasant but the
not sound particularly pleasant but the results have been really enlightening we
results have been really enlightening we
results have been really enlightening we found that actually only 12% of
found that actually only 12% of
found that actually only 12% of infections are contracted in the
infections are contracted in the
infections are contracted in the hospital
hospital
hospital the majority of infections we see are
the majority of infections we see are
the majority of infections we see are actually caused by bacteria that were
actually caused by bacteria that were
actually caused by bacteria that were already living inside the patient when
already living inside the patient when
already living inside the patient when they were admitted they brought their
they were admitted they brought their
they were admitted they brought their own bacteria in with them and many
own bacteria in with them and many
own bacteria in with them and many coolest infections this is a game
coolest infections this is a game
coolest infections this is a game changer if we’d known what bacteria were
changer if we’d known what bacteria were
changer if we’d known what bacteria were present when my friend’s dad was
present when my friend’s dad was
present when my friend’s dad was admitted to hospital he might still be
admitted to hospital he might still be
admitted to hospital he might still be alive today that information could have
alive today that information could have
alive today that information could have helped the treating doctors provide
helped the treating doctors provide
helped the treating doctors provide faster and more effective treatment
faster and more effective treatment
faster and more effective treatment either to improve the quality of life
either to improve the quality of life
either to improve the quality of life following infection or maybe to prevent
following infection or maybe to prevent
following infection or maybe to prevent the infections from occurring in the
the infections from occurring in the
the infections from occurring in the first place
first place
first place we need to get this sort of technology
we need to get this sort of technology
we need to get this sort of technology into hospitals now to help people when
into hospitals now to help people when
into hospitals now to help people when they’re at their most vulnerable we
they’re at their most vulnerable we
they’re at their most vulnerable we could be taking samples from every
could be taking samples from every
could be taking samples from every patient that comes through the door so
patient that comes through the door so
patient that comes through the door so we know exactly what they’re carrying
we know exactly what they’re carrying
we know exactly what they’re carrying and what they could be at risk from
and what they could be at risk from
and what they could be at risk from some hospitals overseas are already
some hospitals overseas are already
some hospitals overseas are already trailing this approach and they’re
trailing this approach and they’re
trailing this approach and they’re seeing huge improvements in the number
seeing huge improvements in the number
seeing huge improvements in the number of infections and the fatalities
of infections and the fatalities
of infections and the fatalities resulting from them so I’ll finish by
resulting from them so I’ll finish by
resulting from them so I’ll finish by asking this why aren’t we doing this yet
asking this why aren’t we doing this yet
asking this why aren’t we doing this yet and what do we need to do to make sure
and what do we need to do to make sure
and what do we need to do to make sure that we can thank you
”
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