Bacteriophages; killing bacteria to save lives - Professor Martha Clokie (University of Leicester)

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security today. A growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, sepsis and diarrhoea – are becoming harder to treat as a result, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.

Professor Martha Clokie is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Leicester and the director of the UK’s newly founded Centre for Phage Research. Her research investigates the identification and development of bacteriophages that kill human and animal pathogens in an effort to develop new antimicrobials. She encompasses all aspects of phage therapy development – from unravelling fundamental biology to product development, and commercialization. Much of her research employs genomic, structural, bioinformatic and AI approaches to identify key traits associated with phage efficacy in clearing infections and currently she is developing phages for major gut pathogens including clostridial and Salmonella species, respiratory pathogens and for antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. Her work is regularly and recently featured on the BBC, for example the Life Scientific the iconic Infinite Monkey Cage’, and the Today Programme.