Science Matters issue 11 by Science Matters, University of the West of England

LATEST RESEARCH

ACHIEVEMENTS

DATES

SCIENCE MATTERS CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN BIOSCIENCES ISSUE

Rainforest resurrection How the humble birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest fern could boost biodiversity

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SCIENCES

EARLY TEST FOR CEREBRAL PALSY ARTIFICIAL MOUTH MAKING BREATH FRESH

Professor Aniko Varadi, Director of the Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB)

Welcome The Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB) is a vibrant multidisciplinary community which provides exciting opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage in cutting-edge research with a strong focus on real-world problems. Our research areas include cancer, genetics and genomics, human chronic diseases, environmental challenges, plant stresss and disease and biosensing, diagnostics and analytical sciences. You can see a snapshot of some of our research in this issue of Science Matters. 2

SCIENCE MATTERS

Our students have an opportunity to work alongside CRIB academics on research projects funded by UK Research Councils, the European Commission, Innovate UK and other funding bodies during their final year BSc project and during their Master and PhD studies. CRIB also links with over 100 industrial companies, NHS organisations, government agencies and other stakeholders. You can also find out more about our reseach here: https://bit.ly/2NUmN19 Professor Aniko Varadi, Director of the Centre for Research in Biosciences

CONTENTS

11 12

8 18

New early detection technique for cerebral palsy

Super-sensitive detector can detect ammonia in breath

In search of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Zenkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a living fossil, on the island of Bioko

Detector can quickly sniff out boar taint in pigs

How birds nest ferns can help to overcome the environmental threat of oil palm

Research project investigates antibiotic use

Science Matters issue 11 Department of Applied Sciences sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Seeking an early test for cerebral palsy GENETIC LINK TO BRAIN CONDITION COULD LEAD TO EARLIER DIAGNOSES AND MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS BY: DAVID REVILL

clock starts ticking the moment a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Time eats away their physical capabilities, so the earlier that diagnosis is made the better their chances of leading a normal life. Around one in 400 children born in the UK has cerebral palsy and about 40% of these children are born premature. However, the susceptibility of premature babies to neurological disabilities like cerebral palsy is difficult to predict. Now a simple screening test developed by Professor Aniko Varadi, together with colleagues at the University of Bristol and several hospitals in the South West, offers a breakthrough in detecting susceptibility in even the most premature babies, within hours of birth. “Currently there’s no way to tell whether a premature baby has cerebral palsy,” says 4

SCIENCE MATTERS

Professor Varadi, Director of the that produces a particular Centre for Research in protein known as EAAT2. The Bioscience (CRIB). Diagnosis of protein removes glutamate, a cerebral palsey is typically made neurotransmitter chemical that around two years old when transports messages between symptoms first become neuron cells in the brain. apparent, by which time the Glutamate is an important they are already difficult to treat. chemical, driving a range of “There is a distinct clinical need cognitive functions, but when for accurate early diagnostics to it’s present in too high enable early interventions in concentrations, it can damage cerebral palsy,” says Professor Varadi. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the parts of the brain involved in muscle control and movement, and can occur because of an injury or abnormal changes whilst the brain is developing – before, during or after birth. Professor Varadi and colleagues looked at a potential genetic link to the condition, focusing on Professor Aniko small variations in the Varadi genetic code of a gene

PHOTO CREDIT: GDJ, PIXABAY

“There is a distinct clinical need for accurate early diagnostics to enable early interventions in cerebral palsey”

PROFESSOR ANIKO VARADI

and kill neurons, causing lasting brain damage. A change in a single nucleotide – the basic structural unit of DNA – on the gene’s genetic code is known to affect the functioning of the EAAT2 protein. During periods of high stress – such as a premature birth – when oxygen levels in the brain can reduce, the presence of the genetic variation can cause EAAT2 to operate in reverse, releasing glutamate into the extracellular space between neurons, increasing the risk of overloading. The researchers screened blood

spot samples and umbilical tissue from 471 very premature babies – born before 32 weeks and therefore at greatest risk of developing neurological disabilities – and looked for the presence of these small genetic variations. The screening data was then compared with diagnoses taken when the children were two years old. The results were notable: “The results showed that a particular variant of the gene in premature babies increases the chances of developing cerebral palsy fourfold”, says Professor

Varadi. This is the first study to demonstrate a genetic link to the condition and a connection to elevated glutamate levels in premature babies. Such an early and accurate diagnosis offers the possibility of a dramatic change in how the condition is treated. Further research is needed to confirm the genetic link, but the work of Professor Varadi is a first step towards a future where effective targeted treatments are developed. The research is published at: https://bit. ly/2QNBge6 SM

sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Ammonia breath test to make needles needless COMPACT AND SENSITIVE DEVICE COULD TRANSFORM LIVER AND KIDNEY TREATMENT, WRITES CHARLOTTE MARTIN

ewer blood tests may become a reality for children with liver and kidney disease thanks to new sensor technology. Some patients, such as those needing transplants, cannot effectively remove ammonia from their blood and ammonia is toxic to the brain at high concentrations. Now a new detector that can measure ammonia levels in patients’ breath has been developed that is small enough to move between beds in hospitals and, perhaps more importantly, could even be used in these patients’ homes. The AmBeR ammonia sensor used within the detector is the work of Professor Tony Killard and colleagues 6

SCIENCE MATTERS

in the Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB). Measuring ammonia levels using a patient’s breath has certain advantages. Blood tests are the current method of monitoring blood ammonia concentrations, but are not a pleasant experience for children. Machines that measure ammonia in a gas do exist, but they are too large to be used in hospitals. Some are

not sensitive enough to be able to detect the vanishingly small concentrations of ammonia in breath and others require breath to be captured and stored first, introducing the possibilty of human error slipping in when samples are being collected and stored. Professor Killard’s research has led to the development of a detector that is smaller than a shoe box – or roughly the size of

Professor Tony Killard with the sensor from his detector

a large book. A patient breathes straight into a tube connected to the sensor so no sample collection is required. The AmBeR sensor detects ammonia using a sensor covered with a layer of a conducting polymer. This polymer is a plastic-like material, but can conduct electricity. Electrons flow easily through it, giving it its conductivity, like a metal. The polymer also responds chemically to the presence of other molecules. This is central to AmBeR’s detection of ammonia. “The response of the polymer to the ammonia changes its ability to conduct electricity,” says Professor

Killard. So a specific change in conductivity corresponds to a certain concentration of ammonia. The polymer behaves as liquid when it is in nanoparticle form, allowing a thin film of it to be applied to a surface to increase the sensor’s sensitivity. The sensitivity is what sets it apart from other sensors of ammonia in gas. Unfortunately, while it makes sense that a gas in your blood will also be in your breath, there has never been a study that confirms a direct link between the concentrations of ammonia in the two. “The first thing we want to do is confirm the relationship,” says Professor Killard.

What else might be detectable in breath? One in four people in the UK suffer from halitosis, so detecting causative hydrogen sulphide producing bacteria could be big business. Professor Killard is also exploring whether the detector could be used in the management of diabetes, by providing an indirect measurement of blood glucose concentrations. A student of Professor Killard’s is investigaing if acetone in breath can be measured. Acetone may have a relationship with blood glucose concentration, but direct evidence is needed. SM sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

“As far as we know, nobody has seen these animals alive” RODENT HAS EVADED BEING SPOTTED BUT GENETIC ANALYSIS IS UNLOCKING SOME OF ITS MYSTERIES, WRITES MIRIAM GOOCH

or over a century biologists have known about an elusive species of scaly rodent endemic to West Central Africa, but so far, this tiny enigma has escaped being seen alive. Now Dr David Fernandez, a wildlife conservation biologist, is making some intriguing discoveries that are revealing that the ‘Zenk’ is actually a living fossil – virtually unchanged for nearly 50 million years. “As far as we know, nobody has seen these animals alive,” says Dr Fernandez who has been searching for Zenkerella insignis on Bioko, an island 32km off the west coast of Africa. Very little is known about Zenkerella. “We don’t know anything about what Zenk eat, where they live, or how many there are left,” he says. What is known has been found from looking at deceased specimens. Zenk is small and 8

SCIENCE MATTERS

Dr David Fernandez with a Zenk specimen

slender, with a tail almost as long as its body. It is covered, head and body, in a soft, ashy grey fur, with a fuller, black bushy tail. Thought to be nocturnal, it has a patch of ‘scales’ on the belly-side of its tail that is presumed to help with grip when climbing trees. Zenk is one of seven species of ‘scaly-tailed squirrel’, but despite sharing their name,

these rodents are not closely related to your familiar squirrels, or in fact to flying squirrels. Six of the seven ‘scaly-tail’ species are adapted with thin membranes between their bodies and limbs to glide between trees – that is, all apart from Zenk. An international team of researchers, including Dr Fernandez, were intrigued by

The European eel is critically endangered

Bioko, home to the Zenk, is volcanic and mountainous

“We don’t know anything about what Zenk eat, where they live or how many are left”

DR DAVID FERNANDEZ

this anomaly – what could Zenk tell us about the evolution of gliding in scaly-tailed squirrels? To start to build a picture, the team set out to discover if Zenk had lost the ability to glide, or never had it. What they discovered showed that Zenk is not only remarkable among ‘scaly-tails’, but also among mammals. Before Dr Fernandez’s involvement with the research, only 11 specimens had been found from equatorial areas in West Africa, including Bioko island. The first was described in 1879 and the last was found more than 20 years ago. When Dr Fernandez went to Bioko, he showed pictures of Zenk to local people. “Only a handful knew what it was – certainly nobody had seen it alive.” Zenk was only familiar to locals who had found a dead

animal accidentally trapped in a ground snare. These traps are set to hunt larger mammals, such as small antelopes or forest rats, for food. Zenk has too little meat to be valued as food. “My guess is that they are caught regularly, but [locals] just throw them out,” says Dr Fernandez. After providing equipment to preserve any accidental snares, he managed to recover three new deceased specimens in 2014 and 2015. These three new finds were preserved in alcohol, which made genetic analysis possible for the first time. By comparing DNA sequences to other ‘scaly-tails’, the team discovered that Zenk had never had the ability to glide. They found that other ‘scaly-tail’ species were more closely related to each other than to

Zenk, and that the Zenk species had branched off before gliding evolved. In fact, by also comparing skull and teeth structures to ancient fossils, they found that the Zenk species has been virtually unchanged for 49 million years. That’s around seven times longer ago than when we last shared a common ancestor with chimpanzees, and even pre-dates the last common ancestor of all primates. It is just the start to understanding the basic biology of Zenk. Since the initial study, five more specimens have been found on Bioko, but despite efforts to catch a glimpse of these elusive rodents alive, even in camera traps, Zenk still manages to avoid being seen. SM sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Coating could transform bone implant longevity SIMPLE COATING COSTING JUST TENS OF POUNDS COULD ENHANCE THE LONGEVITY OF EXPENSIVE PROSTHESES WORDS: JENNIFER PARTINGTON

ith ageing populations in many countries around the world, diseases associated with age such as arthritis are on the rise. That means more joint replacements – among other things. However, one in 10 titanium joint replacements currently fail when the bone doesn’t join firmly to the implant – a problem costing £300 million a year in the UK. However, Dr Jason Mansell, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science, is investigating how new coatings for bone implants could improve their lifetime within the body. He has found that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), helps to encourage the maturation of bone forming cells when vitamin D is present. It means that coating implants in LPA can lead to better integration with the bone and a longer lifetime within the body and this could reduce the failure rate of 10

SCIENCE MATTERS

implants. LPA naturally binds to titanium so no pre-treatment of the implant is required for bonding. Pilot studies on animal ribs have shown LPA can survive the physical stresses that occur with implantation. It is resistant to washing and gamma irradiation, used to sterilise the implants. The LPA coating remains stable when stored at room temperature for nine months. While this is good – helping to make LPA a practical option for surrgical procedures, more research is needed into how long it can be stored for. “We ideally want it to last for two years,” says Dr Mansell. Arthritis is not the only field that will benefit from the use of LPA. Dr Mansell’s research could also have applications in dental care – he is working with Cardiff University School of Dentistry to investigate the effectiveness of coating

dental implants in LPA. He is also working with an orthopaedic vet as vetinary implants could potentially benefit from the use of LPA too. The coating is relatively cheap, it would add just tens of pounds to the cost of a typical hip replacement which can cost over £2,000. “If everything slots into place smoothly, then in theory, within the next three to five years we could be looking at clinical trials,” says Dr Mansell.

Associate Professor Jason Mansell

PHOTO CREDIT: TIM GEERS, FLICKR

Sensor to spot pork smell NEW TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES EFFECTIVE BOAR TAINT DETECTION ew sensor technology capable of detecting and measuring the compounds responsible for boar taint has been developed by researchers within the Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB) in collaboration with industry. Pork and pork products play an important role in people’s diet across the world, particularly in Europe. However, production faces an increasing concern about product quality, one of the reasons being boar taint – a strong, unpleasant taste and odour found in pork from some non-castrated male pigs. Prevention of boar taint has been extensively researched in the last few years, but current techniques to identify the odour in pig carcasses are expensive and time-consuming. However Professor John Hart, Professor Olena Doran and Dr Adrian

WORDS: MARCELLA USMARI MORAES Crew have been working on sensor technology that can provide immediate detection and measurement of the compounds responsible for boar taint. This would mean that tainted carcusses could quickly be removed from the production line in abattoirs. “Some people don’t understand why they don’t like pork, and this has much to do with the smell released when it is cooked,” says Professor John Hart. “Women are more sensitive to the odour than men, which may be due to one of the compounds being a male pheromone related to sexual maturity.” The sensor technology measures the concentration of two chemical compounds which are the primary causes of the odour – androstenone and skatole. When pigs reach sexual maturity, androstenone

is produced in the testis and, upon release, a significant portion may accumulate in the fat tissue. Skatole can also accumulate in the fatty tissue. In some markets, particularly in the UK, castration of piglets has been banned due to animal welfare concerns and other methods have been put in place to prevent boar taint. Pigs are often slaughtered prior to sexual maturity, greatly decreasing the chance of those chemical compounds building up and therefore reducing the incidence of the taint. The European Union (EU) has also been exploring plans to ban surgical castration. “The idea is to address the problems arising as a result of the ban on the castration of pigs and for that there is a pressing need for a reliable tool to identify boar taint,” says Professor John Hart. The research team have filed a patent for the sensor technology. sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Rainforest ‘organ transplant’ will boost biodiversity ADDING BIRD’S NEST FERNS TO OIL PALM TREES COULD BE THE KEY TO RESTORING INVERTEBRATE AND MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES

ainforests ravaged by oil palm plantations could have their biodiversity restored, thanks to a familiar technique – organ transplants. Palm oil production is a huge industry, with the west the biggest consumers. “It’s in everything – lipstick, shampoo, porridge,” says Dr Farnon Ellwood, Associate Professor of Conservation Science. Millions of hectares of oil palm have replaced rainforest in Southeast Asia, causing biodiversity to plummet. Borneo has been transformed from 75% rainforest to 75% oil palm in just 30 years. “This is now the greatest threat to biodiversity in Southeast Asia, if not the world,” says Dr Ellwood. He and his PhD students Julian Donald and Josie Phillips, are looking into rebuilding

SCIENCE MATTERS

biodiversity in Borneo by Josie. “You put it in an oil palm transplanting one crucial plantation which isn’t running species from the rainforests as effectively as it could be, into the plantations. Drawing and you might be able to on work at the Eden Project improve things.” in Cornwall, the team Julian is studying the is recruiting Asplenium dynamics of the organisms nidus, the bird’s nest fern. living in the ferns’ clumps of Commonly used as a houseplant in the UK, its more natural habitat is on tree branches in the rainforest canopy where it grows to enormous sizes and is home to an abundance of invertebrate life. The idea is to transplant PhD student Josie these bundles of Phillips (right) in biodiversity onto oil Borneo collecting palms. “A bird’s nest bird’s nest ferns with MSc student fern is a healthy Holly Dillon functioning organ in the rainforest,” says

PHOTO CREDIT: (TOP RIGHT) SCIENCE MUSEUM, LONDON, WELLCOME IMAGES

WORDS: EMILY-JANE GALLIMORE

Bird’s nest ferns are a crucial source of Josiebiodiversity Phillips inside a tree fern

soil. With 10 tonnes of soil per hectare suspended in the rainforest canopy, it sustains a huge community of insects and microorganisms. “You can begin to look at the intricacies of which insects are living inside a fern and how they influence the microbial community,” says Dr Ellwood. Meanwhile Josie is predicting which insects will survive the move, using atmospheric imprints – isotopic signatures in the exoskeletons of insects left by different environments – to tell whether they’re from a humid environment, a dry one, or both. Those from a humid environment will be vulnerable in the dry oil palm. Luckily, the ferns act like air conditioning units, controlling their own temperature and their surrounding climate. Species which would dry out in the high canopy of the rainforest live inside the ferns

and are protected by them, which will hopefully aid their transition to the oil palm. A next step is to look at how many ferns are needed to sustain an insect community and this will involve some trial and error. “If you don’t have that sweet number, the whole thing will collapse,” says Josie. “It’s like organ donation,” says Dr Ellwood. “You need to do a lot of research on transplanting hearts before you just take one out and stick it somewhere else.” With pressure on plantation owners to improve their biodiversity and sustainability practices, this work will help to achieve that. “It’s too late to try and wind the clock back, but in 2 or 3 years’ time, we’ll finally be in a position to influence the management strategies of

oil palm,” says Dr Ellwood. “If we can do this, we will have basically helped to give the greatest threat to biodiversity a second chance – a second life.” SM

Associate Professor Farnon Ellwood with Josie Phillips

sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Artificial mouth finding better breath treatments PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES USING LIFE-LIKE SYSTEM TO DEVELOP NEW TOOTHPASTES AND MOUTHWASHES

ral healthcare is big business. Researchers at UWE Bristol have stolen a march on the rest of the world by developing a human mouth model which is now used by leading companies in the consumer products industry. This laboratory model system replicates conditions in the mouth so effectively that researchers here and several large healthcare companies are using it to test new mouthwashes and toothpastes aimed at tackling oral malodour more effectively. Dr Saliha Saad is a Senior Research Fellow of oral microbiology. When it comes to understanding the microbiology of the human mouth and controlling the odours that microbes produce, there are few more qualified than Saliha and her team. By developing a cellulose matrix embedded in a saliva-like medium which mimics the tongue’s surface, the team has come up with the in vitro perfusion biofilm 14

SCIENCE MATTERS

Words: BEN SYKES

PHOTO CREDIT: BENNETT, FLICKR

system that goes a long way to replicating the real conditions in the mouth – but in a much more controllable way. The consumer products arms of big pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson, GSK and Philips use this model to test both existing and new oral care products. They are looking for three effects: odour-masking, inhibition of bacterial growth or outright bacterial kill. Since oral malodour is mainly a numbers

game rather than a species game, inhibition and killing of microbes are priorities. Not that oral malodour is necessarily unhealthy or life-threatening. Perfectly healthy individuals can suffer from halitosis all their lives, live to old age, and not know about it. The microbes in our mouths have evolved to be there and are a normal part of our microbiome. Whether you have the numbers that cause bad breath is based on what you inherited from your mother during birth, the immediate environment after birth and the genetic cards you’ve been dealt. Since oral malodour can be distressing, dealing with it has become a focus of research. So, what’s next for Saliha’s research? “Improving and perfecting the model with new ideas,” she says. There is potential to attract more healthcare companies, and the team’s close collaboration with industry looks set to continue.

Nursing and acting students work together in Careful

Space seeds used in PhD STUDY INVESTIGATES WHETHER SEEDS ‘REMEMBER’ RELATIVELY HIGH RADIATION IN SPACE, WRITES GEORGE MCNAMARA

n a combined effort between the UK Space Agency (ESA) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), a small sample of E. sativa seeds – commonly known as, Rocket – spent six months orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS). After being delivered back to Earth by British Astronaut Tim Peake, a quantity of the seeds were under the care of postgraduate researcher Nicol Caplin, who was supervised by Professor Neil Willey. They were grown under controlled conditions to

learn more about how their time in low Earth orbit may have changed their ability to adapt to different conditions on Earth. Many of the ISS seeds were sent out to schools so pupils could grow them in their classrooms and see how well they would develop compared to seeds from the same batch that had not been in space. Nicol, who has now completed her PhD, took a different tack. She grew her plants in soil with Caesium-137 added, which exposes them to low-dose radiation levels, similar to that found in parts of Chernobyl

Exclusion Zone and aboard the ISS. She was investigating whether plants grown from the seeds that had spent time in space would grow better than seeds that had spent all their time on terra firma – somehow ‘remembering’ the relatively high radiation conditions of low Earth orbit and using this to be able to grow more strongly under elevated radiation conditions on Earth. After leaving UWE Bristol, Nicol has become a Research Fellow at European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands. sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

A new way to keep golf courses healthy ... Words: Siobhan Fairgreaves

nless you are a golf fan, you could be forgiven for having never heard of Michrodochium nivale infection. Otherwise known as pink snow mould, this pathogen affects 100% of golf courses in the UK every year. Golf course managers must spend thousands of pounds on chemicals to tackle this problem or risk their courses becoming unplayable. Dr John Dempsey, supervised by Professor Dawn Arnold, has dedicated years to researching methods of suppressing pink snow mould for his PhD studies at UWE Bristol and has developed a new technique which is receiving international acclaim. The new method sees phosphite, a salt formed from phosphorous acid, applied to the grasses. Fortunately for John, his full time job as course manager at Royal Curragh Golf Course in Ireland, allows him plenty of grass to experiment on. With a hectare of land at his disposal, the research involved three different species of grass that are used commonly in golf greens. Despite finding the lab work “tricky,” and even needing to set up a laboratory in his 16

SCIENCE MATTERS

home due to his commitments outside of UWE Bristol, John was pleased to discover that the results showed even more positive side effects than expected. “When [phosphite] encounters the fungus it reduces the growth of the fungus in the plant and stimulates the defence processes as well, so it’s a two pronged attack,” says John. Other side effects, apart from reduction of diseases, included improved grass quality and greater levels of resilience to cold and drought. “There are other side effects, long term, from applying large amounts of phosphite. It can get into the soil and cause a build-up of phosphorus which

is not beneficial. That’s one negative of it,” says John. Some countries, such as America, tackle these issues by banning all types of phosphorous input but John and his team developed a method of combining phosphite with potassium hydroxide to produce potassium phosphite which produces the same effects but all with a neutral pH. “What I’d like to see is that phosphite is being incorporated into maintenance programmes and is helping to reduce this disease. Since we started, about 10 years ago, a huge number of golf courses around the world have incorporated phosphite into their winter programmes.” Dr John Dempsey is keeping golf greens healthy

... and a new way to keep swimming pools healthy Words: Kate Turton

tchy eyes and that distinctive ‘swimming pool smell’ may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a more environmentallyfriendly way to keep water crystal clear that promises to replace the need for disinfectants like chlorine. Clearwater Revival, a company based on UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus, specialises in the design and installation of natural swimming pools. Their innovative three-stage biofiltration system keeps the water clear and clean. Clearwater’s bio-filtration system stops the growth of algae and bacteria by removing nitrates and phosphates from the water. It also balances the levels of minerals in the water, keeping it perfectly clear and safe to drink, even. Chlorine has been used as a disinfectant in public swimming pools for many years. But it has a strong smell and can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and skin. Switching to natural methods of controlling water quality will not only bring relief to swimmers but could

sciences. Promising results also have benefits for the from his work to remove the environment. gut bacterium E.coli from Natural ways of controlling contaminated water have led the growth of algae could be to a BBSRC-funded project with used to treat polluted rivers Professor Darren Reynolds. and streams. Eutrophication Over the next three to four occurs when fertilisers, years, Adam would like to study detergents or sewage run for a PhD in water sciences, into a body of water, causing and hopes his time working at a build up of nitrates and Clearwater Revival will give him phosphates. The effect is the experience to go on and uncontrolled growth of plants achieve this. “It’s so rewarding and algae, which use up the to work with a company that has oxygen in the water, killing off such a strong focus on research the plants and animals that and development,” says Adam. normally live there. Water quality researcher, Adam Gregg, UWE graduate studied bacterial growth Adam Gregg now works at as part of a collaborative Clearwater project between UWE Bristol and Clearwater Revival. “We’re looking for biological or ‘green’ solutions to a range of environmental problems,” he says. Adam graduated from UWE Bristol in 2016 with a BSc in Environmental Science. He started his degree expecting to specialise in plant science, but a summer placement in the university’s microbiology labs whet his appetite for water sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Survey reveals antibiotic use without prescription STUDY SHOWS HOW STUDENTS ARE USING ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE DRUGS CAN BE USED FOR

ould you prescribe researchers a deeper insight your own antibiotics? into the way students A recent study take antibiotics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; results suggests that some young suggesting that more than people are doing exactly just factual knowledge is that. Just over 200 students needed to choose the correct responded to a questionnaire treatment for common in a study by former illnesses. UWE Bristol student Emma Bellamy supervised by Dr Emmanuel Adukwu and Dr Shona Nelson. The questionnaire asked students about their general knowledge of and attitudes towards antibiotic use, as well as how often they sought treatment with antibiotics. The Dr Emmanuel Adukwu data collected has given the 18

SCIENCE MATTERS

If antibiotics are used incorrectly, for illnesses they cannot treat, it fuels an increase in antibiotic resistance. In many countries it is possible to purchase antibiotics over the counter without a prescription, unlike in the UK. The study has

PICTURE CREDIT: BOTTOM LEFT) TREASURE PHOTO CREDIT: (TOP RIGHT) SCIENCE MUSEUM, LONDON, WELLCOME IMAGES

Words: Hannah Bestwick

PHOTO CREDIT: (TOP RIGHT) SCIENCE MUSEUM, LONDON, WELLCOME IMAGES

shown that many students have bought antibiotics abroad to take when they are ill in the UK, bypassing professional guidance, meaning that when and how to use them was entirely up to their own judgement. Even where prescribed, many admitted not finishing the full course of treatment for reasons ranging from feeling better, to wanting to drink alcohol. Half those that did not finish the course kept their leftover antibiotics for use another time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some gave them to family, or even pets. The research identifies other worrying trends in antibiotic use and

knowledge. On average 40% of respondents gave incorrect answers to what antibiotics can and should be used for, implying that even when individuals have university-level education, there are still many misconceptions surrounding this antimicrobial treatment. To establish whether there was a difference in responses linked to educational background, respondents were separated into two groups â&#x20AC;&#x201C; science and health students, and non-science students. Though this showed that students with science and health backgrounds gave more correct answers in questions testing their antibiotic

knowledge, there was almost no difference in the practices in taking the treatment between groups. Antibiotics are used irresponsibly across the world. The World Health Organisation has recognised resistance as a serious threat to global health, putting our ability to effectively treat diseases at risk. Research such as this aims to identify where knowledge gaps are, and what is driving people to take antibiotics without consultation. Hopefully with enough evidence gathered, research like this can help mould future campaigns to help people make correct choices about self-medication.

sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk

Get involved… KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY CRIB SEMINARS FOR 2018 ALL TALKS 1-2PM 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 Ella Ellcocks – essential oils as antimicrobials (room 2L2).

SCIENCE MATTERS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY: EDITOR

Andy Ridgway

REPORTERS

12 October 2018 Alex Vernon – bridging in vitro and in vivo testing: the utilisation of a novel in vitro threedimensional model of the human bone marrow for toxicity and genotoxicity testing. Ruth Morse – establishment of a UWE Bristol consortium for 3D printing and bioprinting (2L4). 26 October 2018 Natalia Drabinska – mixture of fructooligosaccharides and insulin as a supplement to the gluten-free diet of children with celiac disease (2L4).

David Revill, Charlotte Martin, Marcella Usmari Moraes, Miriam Gooch, Jennifer Partington, Emily-Jane Gallimore, Ben Sykes, George McNamara, Siobhan Fairgreaves, Kate Turton, Hannah Bestwick.

09 November 2018 Carrie Brady – impact of taxonomy on identification and detection of bacterial pathogens (2L4).

All the reporters are students or former students of UWE Bristol.

07 December 2018 Michael Ladomery – targeting cancer through splicing (2L4).

23 November 2018 Tim Craig – Protein SUMOylation – a new angle on Type II diabetes (2L4).

sciencematters@uwe.ac.uk