Phage Therapy Targeting Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria | Paul Turner | TEDxBinghamtonUniversity

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Published 2022-04-15
We have used antibiotics for decades to fight off infections and diseases, drastically improving the quality of life. However, this use has now caused bacteria to evolve to resist penicillin and antibiotic drugs. Paul Turner recognizes this issue as a looming threat to humanity, and is working on new methods to fight infection. Phage therapy, the main focus of this talk and his studies, addresses the concepts of evolutionary tradeoffs and how we can influence the microenvironment in different ways, so that our medicines do not become obsolete. Paul Turner is the Rachel Carson Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, and microbiology faculty member at Yale School of Medicine. He obtained a BA in biology (1988) from the University of Rochester, a PhD in microbial evolution (1995) from Michigan State University and did postdocs at National Institutes of Health, University of Valencia in Spain and the University of Maryland-College Park, before joining Yale in 2001. Turner studies evolutionary genetics of viruses, particularly phages (bacteria-specific viruses) that infect bacterial pathogens and RNA viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, and researches the use of phages to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. He is very active in science-communication outreach to the general public, and is involved in programs where faculty collaborate with K-12 teachers to improve STEM education in underserved public schools. Turner’s service includes the National Science Foundation’s Bio Advisory Committee and he is president-elect of the International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (18)
  • @mjphilip5824
    I'm a biomedical student student in Uganda doing some research with phages. This is very helpful
  • @austinroberson8
    Superbugs aren’t coming people, they are here. It’s beautiful how Mother Nature has given us a way to combat everything that’s thrown at us, yet tragic how we try to find ways to monetize it. Especially something as important as this. The pure greed of drug companies will trump what’s right.
  • @ip3931
    I rarely find topics I'm interested in but this Phage is definitely something I'd like find out more about.
  • @aviatornic2839
    This was incredibly informative, and reassuring at the same time.
  • @taylorlaster714
    Soo... My husband was recently diagnosed with CLL leukemia... We are currently homeless, uninsured... He is terrified of dying ultimately from painful infections... I'm spending all day and night researching anything that might give him more time. These phages give me hope even though we'd have to move mountains to travel out of the USA to get treatment. If anyone has information that would be helpful to my situation, please, I need all the help I can get...
  • @michaelperez965
    I been obsessed with phages because of all they can do for us
  • @tcf70tyrannosapiensbonsai
    I'm surprised, that Dr. Turner is telling us about the limitations of phage therapy, as if the whole world would have used bacteriophages generally since their recovery. He may be right about their limitations, but the research he's talking about sounds fishy like making patents for the pharma industry, while finding phages isn't profitable.
  • @dulynoted2427
    Is this the same idea as letting your children play in the dirt, being exposed to the environment, having pets and being handled by different people as a baby to diversify and strengthen their gut biome?
  • @innocentagaba7076
    There is beauty in using biodiversity to solve huge problems. Normal things solving abnormal problems
  • @AestheticLinesUrdu
    I have done pharmD from Abbottabad University. I am interested in working on phage therapy.
  • @yogastfan
    Im glad phage therapy is still going on with reasearch
  • @Thestudents9020
    I am from Pakistan and working on e. coli phages i have isolated two bacteriophages
  • @vikkiprevette2934
    How about focusing on minerals/ vitamins… etc… The food we consume blocks SO much if this… like copper kills viruses.. /bacteria.. It’s in supplements..
  • @duaneelliott5194
    Sounds like this guy just learned about it, and didnt realize that its been used effectively for almost a 100 years.
  • @Wfb_DVM
    If bacteria mutates against phases, wouldn't that inevitably cause phages to mutate to bypass those factors? 🧐🤔
  • @OriginLinear
    What is the likelyhood that a wondering phage could lead to the evolution of a phage that kills good bacteria causing unintended consequences?