Superbug series -#2 Antimicrobial resistance due to Superbugs

Hello one and all !! I am delighted to inform you that I have started my first job at National council of science museums, in association with the Government of London. My job role is to work as a Science communicator and raise awareness among the general public against Antimicrobial resistance worldwide. It is a moment of pride to have been selected among the top 10 candidates from over 300 applicants; and this was only possible because the interview panel was impressed by my blog and recent article of Superbugs. So continuing the series, here’s the second article of the series on Superbugs.

As a science communicator, I am working at Nehru Science center in Mumbai, India to raise awareness against antibiotics and am starting this series to raise awareness on AMR worldwide for the ones new to this term and also the ones who will not be able to make it to the exhibition on AMR.

SUPERBUG OVERVIEW AND THE EXHIBITION :

The term “Superbugs” can be defined as bacteria that have evolved genetically and become resistant to most of the antibiotics available worldwide. Superbugs are bacteria - single celled prokaryotic organisms with existence dating back to the origin of planet earth. They are often considered to be harmful but as a matter of fact, not all bacteria are harmful. Human body runs efficiently due to proper cell and organ system function but it is the good bacteria as well which act beneficially. To begin with a brief introduction to the world of microbiology, bacteria are of two types : Good bacteria and Bad bacteria.

Good bacteria are the ones that act in a beneficial way for efficient functioning of the human body; whereas bad bacteria are the ones that harm the regular body functions. Our skin is the first protective layer of the human body that prevents bacteria from entering our body and the moment the protective layer is breached by either a wound or a bruise, bacteria enter our system and multiply quickly, resulting in bacterial infections. Not only bacteria can enter the human body through skin wounds, but also by consuming contaminated water or food.

An efficient way to treat bacterial infections is by consulting a doctor and consuming antibiotics after a legal prescription but when illegal practices are followed, misuse or excessive use of antibiotics result into the rise of ‘Superbugs’.

‘Superbugs’ are microbes that have evolved genetically and become resistant to most of the antibiotics available worldwide. They are considered to be a global threat and major cause responsible for deaths by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). According to Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time and fighting this threat is a public health priority that requires a collaborative global approach across sectors. CDC is working to combat this threat along with several health organizations worldwide. In India, AMR is reported to be rising in public and becoming a social and economic crisis.

Lack of knowledge about the rising medical, social and economical problem due to superbugs, illegal practices by pharmacists and the customers, misuse or excessive use of antibiotics by people, and their excessive use in animal farming has caused antimicrobial resistance in the public, animals and environment in India.

The main attraction of this exhibition is the superbug monster that depicts how microorganisms are evolving into superbugs due to misuse and excessive use of antibiotics.

The “Superbug : end of antibiotics ?” the traveling exhibition is being held in Mumbai from December 18th, 2019, which will be in place till 16th February, 2020. The main objective of the exhibition is awareness about antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics among the general public. With proper insight on the reality of antimicrobial resistance in India and worldwide, the exhibition aims to run successfully.

ZOOM ONTO THE WORLD OF MICROBES :

Microbes are prokaryotic cells that are present everywhere. They are so tiny that they are not visible by naked eyes and need to be observed under the microscope. The term ‘everywhere’ includes inanimate objects, our surroundings, farm animals, pet animals, water, soil as well as the human body ! Microorganisms are tiny and measured using the scale microns. 1 micron is 10000 micrometer.

For an overview on how small microbes are, let's ‘Zoom into the world of microbes’. Imagine you're zooming into the world of microbes using a wheel that has an ability to spin as an image of a Human zooms down all the way to the smallest part of the body - the phosphate ion present in the DNA. As mentioned earlier that microbes are present everywhere, this exhibit started with zooming into the scalp of a human to view the human scalp and hair followed by the skin cells, red blood cells, bacteria, virus (bacteriophage), proteins, deoxyribonucleic acid and the phosphate ion.

Bacteria are 75 times thinner than a human hair and 7 times smaller than red blood cells. Average size of bacteria is 1 micron. The largest bacteria found in the world is Thiomargarita namibiensis which measures about 0.75 mm (750 μm) in diameter; whereas the smallest is Mycoplasma genitalium that measures about 0.2–0.7µm in diameter.

Microbes are beneficial and even harmful. The microbes present in the human body are mostly beneficial but when they become virulent or travel from one organ to the other, they can cause infections that can result in death.

Tiny the microbes, huge are the problems caused because of them !

I hope that by now, you have an idea of what a microbe is and what exactly are superbugs.

- Rachna Jadhav

@theresilientresearcher