OPEYEMI AWOLOPE Identifying Novel Antibiotics

Addressing the global problem of antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has previously been described as a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO). AMR is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics) from working against it. As a result, standard treatments are becoming ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.

Opeyemi Awolope, a research student at RGU’s School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, is hoping to identify novel antibiotics to combat the resistance that has emerged, causing infectious diseases.

Opeyemi, who is also a practicing pharmacist, was drawn to the subject because of the global effort in the industry to combat antimicrobial resistance with new drugs, as well as the multidisciplinary nature of the project.

“Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally but it is facilitated by the inappropriate use of medicines, for example, using antibiotics for viral infections such as the cold or flu, or sharing antibiotics,” she explained. “When we use antibiotics, some bacteria die but resistant bacteria can survive and even multiply. The overuse of antibiotics makes resistant bacteria more common.

“It may come as a surprise, but up to 70% of all antibiotics in clinical use are derived from bacteria. Several bacterial species produce antimicrobial substances active against other microbes in their environment to gain competitive advantage – it’s a dog-eat-dog world!

“Scientists have exploited this to develop clinically useful antibiotics. However, the task of identifying bacterial strains that are likely to produce novel antibiotics has historically been a difficult one. As a result, many projects had led to the rediscovery of known antibiotics.”

“It is a classic example of how science is a force for good.”

The recent surge in affordable genome sequencing platforms coupled with robust bioinformatics tools has served to make the discovery of novel antibiotics less difficult.

Opeyemi is using a bioinformatics approach on bacterial isolates that she hopes will be antibiotic producers.

“It is now possible to scan bacterial genomes for genes that are likely to encode novel antibiotics, and then employ bioinformatics tools to predict or expedite the prediction of conditions that would favour gene expression. We have adopted this approach and, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham and the University of Glasgow, have sequenced the genomes of bacterial strains obtained from soil samples.

“We have identified genes that are likely to encode novel antibiotics and are currently working on strategies to activate these genes. Once activated, the enzymes they encode are anticipated to enable the production of novel metabolites with antimicrobial activity”

“It is a classic example of how science is a force for good.”

He said: “This project is part of an international effort to address the very urgent need to identify the next generation of antibiotics. Opeyemi is a very capable and enthusiastic PhD student, and has generated some really interesting results. We are very grateful to Tenovus Scotland for supporting her research project.”

Opeyemi said her interest in research started during her undergraduate years in pharmacy school in Nigeria.

“Pharmacy is one of the few courses that expose you to many disciplines and

offer several career paths,” she said. “Pharmaceutical chemistry was my favourite subject, but little did I know I was being equipped to do much more.”

Opeyemi took up a clinical pharmacist role after graduating from pharmacy school and spent the following 14 years working in clinical settings or retail pharmacies across three countries – but her passion for research endured.

Genome mining strategies for the discovery of new antibiotics

She continued: “It wasn’t until 2016 that I felt the time was right to pursue my ambition – it’s never too late! I now study part-time while practicing as a pharmacist. Juggling full-time work and study is challenging but doable with the right support, which I’m very fortunate to have from my supervisory team and my research degree coordinator.

“I cannot overstate how thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling undertaking this research has been. I look forward to a long career in research in whatever capacity. There are many opportunities out there for us all to impact our society for good, through science.”