Chris Thomas, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist, is a professor at Birmingham’s School of Biosciences. Indeed, no one has done more than him to advance the fight against antibiotic resistance. His current research involves plasmid curing, a process that seeks to rid bacteria of antibiotic-resistance genes through displacement. Since then, throughout his career, Professor Thomas has spent decades researching this important space. His diligence led to the invention of a patented and cost-effective process for eliminating undesirable plasmids that carry resistance genes.
To realize this goal, University of Massachusetts professor Thomas engineered novel “multi-copy” plasmids specifically for the plasmid curing. These achievements have given us a valuable genetic code that will prove essential for the successful displacement of harmful plasmids. His research utilized F plasmids within E. coli bacteria as a model target system, enabling a clearer understanding of the mechanisms involved in plasmid curing.
The problem with the earlier efforts at plasmid curing mostly came from targeted regions of the F plasmids. After careful analysis, Professor Thomas was able to devise a more effective approach to identify which segments need potentiation for proper curing.
“We have identified the part of the plasmid that is absolutely essential for it to work in plasmid displacement, and built a completely new ‘curing cassette’ that does not need to be potentiated.” – Professor Thomas
Professor Thomas and his research team are currently studying the spread of plasmids in animal models. One way they’re doing that is by zeroing in on gut microbiome in their research. He collaborates with esteemed institutions such as Harper Adams University, Surrey University Veterinary School, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. This partnership was born with the goal of designing ingestible probiotics. These probiotics, some of which are in commercial use already, will help tackle antibiotic resistance in both animals and humans.
Professor Thomas explained how critical it is that we track how antibiotic-resistance genes move from animals to humans.
“We know that animals are reservoirs of antibiotic-resistance [genes] that can be transmitted to humans, and we now understand better how to make curing [plasmids] that work in a real context.” – Professor Thomas
The work was published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research. These discoveries showcase the power of creative new approaches to address a critical global health challenge. The collaboration is currently looking for commercial partners to help develop and bring these probiotics to market, offering consumers a proactive way to help mitigate antibiotic resistance.