Insects at root of ‘LEGO-like’ antibiotics research
Carl Lowenberger, 778.782.3985; carl_lowenberger@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
Simon Fraser University biology professor Carl Lowenberger – better known on campus as Dr. Mosquito – is investigating how insects can help in the creation of better antibiotics. Funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will now push that work further.
His is one of 65 projects selected from more than 2,400 proposals to receive a Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant, which support innovative global health research.
The $100,000 grants help scientists around the world “explore bold and largely unproven ways” to improve health in developing countries.
Lowenberger studies insect anti-microbial peptides, essentially, antibiotics used by insects to eliminate their own parasites and disease causing agents. “The idea is to identify regions of these peptides that bind to specific human pathogens, such as the tuberculosis bacterium or the drug resistant bacterium that shows up in hospitals (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA).
“We want to add small peptides to these binding regions that will effectively poke holes in the bacterium and kill it,” says Lowenberger. “In the bigger picture, these peptide killing regions can be exchanged with other killing peptides to prevent or slow the development of resistance.”
His goal is to develop building blocks of antibiotics that can be made, broken apart and realigned and constructed. It’s a lot like playing with LEGO blocks.
“It’s like taking two blue pieces and replacing them with a yellow and red piece that produce a lethal peptide, with a different structure and enhanced activity against specific bacteria that cause human disease,” Lowenberger describes.
Lowenberger is a Canada Research chair in parasites and vectors of disease. His research addresses the molecular interactions between the immune system of the vectors and their parasites, and how parasites and pathogens avoid being killed by their host’s immune system.
“The grant will allow us to take on some high risk research that, if we are right in our design, would help us identify targets and molecules to combine in the creation of more effective antibiotics,” he says.
Lowenberger has also played a key role in SFU’s contribution to the Spread the Net student challenge, resulting in the university winning gold in March for raising the most funds among Canadian universities.
-30-