Bacteria and Antibiotics: Revenge of the Microbes

The Royal Institution 1.21M subscribers What are bacteria? How do antibiotics work? And what can we do about increasing antibiotic resistance? Jenny Rohn, scientist and novelist, investigates the fascinating world of bacteria in this Friday Evening Discourse event from the Ri. Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Watch the Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdAAv... Bacteria are our ancient enemies, evolving ever more clever ways of outmanoeuvring our natural defences and scientific technologies. For millennia, a simple cut or cough could kill. With the development of antibiotics, it seemed we would reign supreme. But now the bacteria are again gaining ground. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, and the development of new drugs having stagnated for decades, we humans might be in a lot of trouble very soon. Why are bacteria so insidious, what tricks do they employ to get the upper hand, and what can we do to stop them? Join Dr Jenny Rohn to explore these questions. Dr Jenny Rohn received a BA in Biology from Oberlin College, Ohio, where she developed an interest in viruses and cancer before moving to the University of Washington for her PhD research into the evolution of feline leukaemia virus. After working as a researcher at Cancer Research UK and working in the biotechology industry in The Netherlands, Jenny gained a Wellcome Trust fellowship to study cell shape and architecture at University College London. She is now head of a cell biology lab where she studies how the cells of our body interact with invading bacteria. This event took place at the Royal Institution on Friday 30 January. Find out about more events taking place at the Royal Institution in London: http://www.rigb.org/whats-on Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-po... Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter Buy The Royal Institution merchandise $15.08 Teemill $25.14 Teemill $25.14 Teemill $50.27 Teemill $18.85 Teemill $25.14 Teemill 102 Comments rongmaw lin Add a comment... the deeliciousplum the deeliciousplum 6 years ago Among Ri's talks there are knowledge gems. This is one such gem. Jenny Rohn's research and thoughts are a joy to explore. 3 TooMuchTruth TooMuchTruth 6 years ago What an awesome lady Dr Rohn is, fantastic presentation. Her enthusiastic demeanour is truly infectious... 12 Pushkar Carlotto Pushkar Carlotto 1 year ago This was wonderful! And such a wonderful person too! Humility, the foundation of a true scientist! Thank you. 1 Zubair Kamal Zubair Kamal 4 years ago Very entertaining and informative, thanks, Dr. Rohn. 1 adhipmitra adhipmitra 2 years ago What a brilliant talk. She is really passionate about her work. 2 Taylor Davies Taylor Davies 7 years ago I love these videos so much. i only got a B at GCSE but science is one of the most fascinating things in the world :) thank you for these videos. 6 Drew Fisher Drew Fisher 3 years ago This amazing lady's lecture is the difference of giving facts and bestowing understanding. D D 6 years ago We have to understand without bacteria we couldn't survive. They are not our ultimate enemy. They are our friends and an absolute part of our immune system. Instead of trying to destroy them we need to learn how to work with them. Humans have to change the way we see things and each other. The future of our existence depends on changing our views on ourselves and our relationship to our environment 26 Juni doesn’t have a last name Juni doesn’t have a last name 3 years ago LOVED this talk but I have one tiny gripe: Selman Waksman did not singlehandedly discover streptomycin and several other actinomycete antibiotics. A lot of the work was done by his students and assistants, and there was actually a vicious legal battle in 1950 when he tried to deny his graduate student Albert Schatz credit as the co-discoverer of streptomycin Waksman and his lab associates did make an enormously significant contribution to human medicine (especially by discovering the first working tuberculosis treatment, streptomycin), and microbiological history. I go to Rutgers and I feel humbled and awed having the opportunity to learn microbiology in the place where those tremendous discoveries were made. iliasasdf iliasasdf 7 years ago I feel like you didn't give enough gravity to the part where sometimes literally kilograms of antibiotics are used per animal in livestock. And not for disease treatment, but for growth acceleration. 15 DazMode DazMode 7 years ago Great presentation. Thank you. 2 Snipersight00 Snipersight00 7 years ago Super interesting talk. Enjoyed it a lot. Anthony Barbera Anthony Barbera 7 years ago Very well done! Alexander Engel Alexander Engel 1 year ago I've survived an infecetion with a multi resitent strain of salmonella as a baby. that bug only peed it's pants from laughing when they tried every antibiotic they had on stock. the only thing that actually worked were the phages but it was like the last straw. We should be very carefull with antibiotics they are our first and often our last line of defense against bacteria and any misuse of them is weakening it. Katie Jo Katie Jo 7 months ago (edited) "We claim to know facts", as old as I am now, this is my motto. James Dolan James Dolan 2 years ago Great presentation Dr. Jenny. Rajendra Angara Rajendra Angara 1 year ago 40:32 She raised curiosity over vancomycin by saying it’s a flick of an accident, long story, I wont tell it 😂 is she planning a series? Do we need to wait for next release 🤔 Haripandit Paranjpe Haripandit Paranjpe 2 years ago Very good. Can u upload E.coli changing shape in bladder on a full screen? massimo tosco massimo tosco 2 years ago wonderful enlighten presentation Waseem Khan Waseem Khan 6 years ago excellent presentation Mickeyislowd Mickeyislowd 3 years ago I took antibiotics for a tooth infection and the last three tablets were spoiled when they got wet and dissolved away in the packet. This happened last yr and now I'm worried I will be resistant and die the next time I need them for something serious. Holy shit infections are a horrible way to die from. Erwin Müller Erwin Müller 7 years ago What we need is finally some nanotech that can mechanically identify and destroy bacteria. But I guess that is still science-fiction. 1 Rahul Gupta Kodarapu Rahul Gupta Kodarapu 3 years ago Dr.Rohn, the first mistake of yours, you mention that bacteria is present in us and then separately mention their presence in animals. (Aren't we animals too?) You say, we are highly evolved, and we are at the top of the food chain. (We aren't, we just act as we did.) 2 Rick Hanover Rick Hanover 6 years ago Some very ignorant comments here, by some. The correct antibiotic used appropriately for specific bacterial infections (not the common cold or flu) can be life saving. Empirical use of antibiotics usually at the GP level without bacterial culture and sensitivity testing may be a style of treatment that is coming to an end as the problem of increased bacterial resistance escalates. Avoidance of antibiotic treatment should be based on sound clinical judgement, not by a decision that antibiotics are harmful as many in the community believe, as late stage treatment of most infections becomes that much more difficult. Over use of antibiotic therapy is still an issue but from the point of view of resistance to antibiotics non compliance with a treatment course is a disaster. 1 RPdigital RPdigital 1 year ago 34:28 The antibiotics have failed. The right thing is to eat healthy and natural foods. Erik Žiak Erik Žiak 7 years ago 14:40 I'm honored to stand here, where he once stood. Now that is a statement that does not need any comments. Not for Flemmings' sake, but for us all. I am very sad and lonely and drunk (two bottles fo red wine). A big THANK YOU to the Royal Institutuions for these videos. They keep me from suicide, even thought I should really kill myself, beind so sad and lonely and such an ASSHOLE of a person..... I want do die. Ia m crying...... AAnd it feels bad... And good... And bad... . And olmny the dog is hearing me crying... Barking there... I will not watch the vieo to the end... I am too sad. 3 Tetsuo Shima Tetsuo Shima 7 years ago She is so cute and smart is all I can say 7 Mad Men Mad Men 3 years ago Why so many people knows so little of biomedicine trying to out smart the speaker in the commentary area is really astonishing. Common people is really good at simplifying things from 10 years study to 10 minutes hearsay. Stop reading face book news and tweeters , read three books on a topic before we claim we know something, please 3 chris milbank chris milbank 1 year ago There is no known resistance of pathogens to Ozone therapy, plenty of research on Pub Med and medical journals, invest your research money there. Very interesting video thankyou Maurice Upton Maurice Upton 2 years ago You don't get that resistance if you use bacteriophages. Glenn Harrison Glenn Harrison 7 years ago So, bacteria can spread by all sorts of ways ... including "The nurse that didn't wash HIS hands" (26:30). There you have it, bacterial spread is caused men; they are the culprits. scottseptember1992 scottseptember1992 7 years ago (Bacterio) Phage Therapy people. Start using it in the US. 2 Anand Vadlamani Anand Vadlamani 4 years ago those tubers occured OVER 9000 years ago. Cyphermunk Cyphermunk 4 years ago What happened to vincamiacin? 2 herauthon four herauthon four 2 years ago how to let bacteria fight bacteria... to just be so.. handy William A. William A. 6 years ago alright... so the bacteria is on revenge mode, and the oly solution is throw money at the problem.... sounds good. Builder Builder Builder Builder 7 years ago 3:24 you mean " the observable universe". Thanks 3 gianigd gianigd 3 years ago why you never have a Q and A session????? Theresa Geiger Theresa Geiger 7 months ago LAXATIVE ABUSE TOOK ME OUT Systemrat2008 Systemrat2008 7 years ago Brilliant TheChats02 TheChats02 6 years ago Yes, it takes money to make these new drugs. How much more money would we have for drug research if taxpayers didn't bail out banks? The very rich think they have it made with so much money, but when they get an infection and there's no antibiotic, they could die like anyone else. roger abernathy roger abernathy 2 months ago I do need more evidence than this rambling BS verioffkin verioffkin 7 years ago I've quite strong feeling women will take more of what they never taken before in history, especially they will in this century. It's not matter of any discrimination, it's matter of "sex" as something different or opposite, a barrier. I guess. Interesting. I apologize for mentioning it in a view of science things. Just another stupid newbie male comment. Thx. roger abernathy roger abernathy 2 months ago Apears to Impart? Did she really say that? coweatsman coweatsman 2 years ago We need more public participation in pharma. The corporate profit model is not going to solve antibiotic resistance. The "market" will decide there is no money in antibiotics. Some things are better done by the government. Boralt Boralt 3 years ago cool roger abernathy roger abernathy 2 months ago Ohhh??? If she would stop grasping for breath, may possible could understand . . Slow down . . This is ages old, not going away anytime soon . . according to your narrative 3nr1BAE 3nr1BAE 7 years ago I'm scared. :( 2 roger abernathy roger abernathy 2 months ago Untold what?? roger abernathy roger abernathy 2 months ago Okay urinary track of a woman is abt 5 inches shorter than a man. Is that that prob? Doctor of Medicine, Princeton; 1989. Did they teach wrong? roger abernathy roger abernathy 2 months ago Reek untold??? Rizzle Riz Rizzle Riz 2 years ago The earth is only 4.6 billions years old? (:-) I guess I stopped here. Nobody can know that...these time predictors, a no-no. dr strange dr strange 6 months ago Is hawking there Jay Kay Jay Kay 3 years ago Bacteria ain't real! Silly globe heads thinking all this bacterial mumbo jumbo is real. The earth is definetly 6k years and the only proof iz need is gal darn common sense. The earth is flat and hollow, nd now I have to rewind this video because I wasn't listnin. Also she is def cute and smart! 1 Muhd Doud Muhd Doud 2 years ago niNe thousand yees old wow Muhd Doud Muhd Doud 2 years ago Bebop Ammar Keylani Ammar Keylani 3 years ago It is not "out at the coast of Israel" but "occupied Palestine"!!! A scholar of no ethical background has no scientific credibility as well! Please correct your geographical history in your next lecture!!!!! Thomas Benoy Thomas Benoy 7 years ago so she is basically asking for more funding by scaring the public Keith Richard Keith Richard 2 years ago Dont fool yourself--God created all things! Joe Nelson Joe Nelson 5 years ago Why worry,at the end of the day our soul's will alway's exist.We no nothing?. 1