Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. A major challenge discussed is the 'AMR Paradox': unlike other drugs, the more antibiotics are used, the less effective they become due to emerging resistance. Currently, there is a market failure where large pharmaceutical companies are leaving the space due to low profitability, leaving non-profits like CARB-X to fund early-stage research. The crisis is compounded by the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture and healthcare, leading to a potential future where minor injuries could once again become fatal.
Australia has specific national strategies and scientific bodies dedicated to monitoring and preventing the spread of resistant bacteria in human health and agriculture.
With traditional antibiotics failing, scientists are turning to nature and the body's immune system for new solutions. One approach involves using plant defensins—naturally occurring peptides that have evolved over millions of years to kill fungi. Unlike fungistatic drugs that only slow growth, these peptides bind to fungal cell walls and rupture them rapidly. Another breakthrough approach uses monoclonal antibodies to target 'biofilms'—protective shields that bacteria build to hide from the immune system and antibiotics. By stripping away these biofilms, chronic infections like recurrent UTIs can be treated more effectively.
Australian universities and research institutes are at the forefront of discovering novel biological compounds and developing them into pharmaceutical products.