Understanding Biotechnology

What is Biotechnology

Overview of Biotechnology

History of Biotechnology

Why do we do biotechnology?

Biotechnology for the environment

Biotechnology for food and agriculture

Antibiotics are produced and secreted naturally by bacteria and fungi. Biotechnology is also used to produce antibiotics in forms and quantities that allow safe administration to people suffering from bacterial infections.

The first antibiotic discovered was penicillin. Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming and was widely used on large numbers of patients in World War II (1939–45). Howard Florey (from Australia) and Ernst Chain (originally from Germany) later discovered how to collect and purify penicillin from the fungus that produces it.

Antibiotics commonly used to fight infections include:

• erythromycin – obtained from Streptomyces erythreus
• ampicillin – a semisynthetic penicillin which acts against more bacteria than penicillin. It is used to treat gonorrhoea and infections of the intestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts.
• novobiocin - produced by Streptomyces nivens

Antibiotic Resistance

If not enough of the drug is given to overwhelm the bacteria, or if it is not taken for long enough, then the resistant bacteria survive and outgrow the majority of bacteria who are susceptible. Over time, this leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus, also known as Golden Staph, is an antibiotic-resistant bacterium causing concern in hospitals. Although it is a common bacterium found on the skin, it can cause infection after surgery. S. aureus has built up resistance to common antibiotics such as penicillin, methicillin and gentamycin.

Bacteria called Enterococci live in most people’s lower gastrointestinal tract, and are normally harmless. But, they can sometimes cause wound infections, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and urinary tract infections.

The antibiotic vancomycin is often used for the treatment of serious, life-threatening infections caused by gram-positive bacteria that are unresponsive to other less toxic antibiotics. Some strains of Enterococci have become resistant to vancomycin, meaning different antibiotics are needed.

In order to control the spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), hospitals have stringent infection control procedures and guidelines about the careful use of antibiotics.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is a government body responsible for providing advice to government on all health issues. They provide guidelines for hospitals on infection control.

A group of experts has been set up to advise the government on how to reduce the risks of antibiotic resistance in agriculture and human health. The group is called the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGAR).