As bacteria evolve to outsmart antibiotics, once-reliable treatments are becoming less effective.
For biochemistry professor Stephanie Bishop, the search for solutions begins with understanding how bacteria adapt and survive. Named Western’s newest Canada Research Chair (CRC), she is investigating the metabolic changes associated with antibiotic resistance – and whether those changes could reveal new ways to fight back.
The federally funded CRC program recognizes some of the world’s “most accomplished and promising minds,” supporting research excellence in engineering, natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences.
Bishop’s appointment brings Western’s total number of CRCs to 63. Three other Western CRCs were renewed or advanced as part of the government’s latest investment in Canadian research.
Her team is particularly interested in a biological trade-off. Genetic mutations that make gonorrhea-causing bacteria resistant to antibiotics can also interfere with their ability to grow.
Some bacteria, however, find a way around that disadvantage, adjusting their metabolism to compensate for the effects of the mutations. Understanding these adaptations could reveal new vulnerabilities for researchers to target with drugs.
“The goal of my research program is to identify new targets for drug development, helping ensure gonorrhea remains treatable in the years to come,” said Bishop.
The new CRC position draws on Western’s existing strengths and specialized infrastructure for infectious disease research, including the new Pathogen Research Centre, the Imaging Pathogens for Knowledge Translation (ImPaKT) facility and advanced technology dedicated to metabolomics research.
“Western has made strategic investments in research infrastructure and people to create a world-class environment for researchers to engage in globally impactful research,” said Bishop.
Finding new ways to fight resistance
As the Tier 2 CRC in Microbial Metabolomics at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Bishop will focus on the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted infection that is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Gonorrhea affects an estimated 82 million people worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization. The emergence of strains resistant to existing antibiotics is raising concerns about the future effectiveness of available treatments. Bishop’s research uses metabolomics to map the small molecules involved in bacterial activity, offering a window into how bacteria function, grow and respond to their environments.Stephanie Bishop
