Recent
research from Michigan State University (1) that demonstrates the rise of
multi-drug resistant bacteria due to overuse of antibiotics in animals is
troubling. It has long been known that flu originates in farms with
multi-species interactions. As mentioned in the article, the swine farms in
China are particularly problematic as they allow easy gene transfers among
bacteria. This, in conjunction with lack of antibiotics research for decades due
to declining commercial economics, could result in a perfect storm.
Bacteria have been dominant all
through the history of the planet. Robust architecture with fast evolution by
sheer numbers, led them to largely supersede any other biological life form on
earth. For the past several decades, they have been put on the back foot, for
the first time, by humans. All they need, however, are sufficient number of
trials to develop resistance against any anti-bacterial agent. Data shows that
they are well on their way, thanks to a variety of experiments afforded to them
by inter-species breeding and the overuse of known agents.
The economics of this indicates
that commercial organizations are unlikely to focus on it till it is too late.
If R&D, commercial or publicly funded, is not focused on this developing problem,
we may be heading toward a regime that may make Ebola look like a household
pet. In a highly connected world of intercontinental travel, it is easy for the
single cell organism to hitch a ride to anywhere they would like to go. Thus,
local efforts are not sufficient and a true global push is needed to compete
against the abundant experience, collected over four billion years.
R&D prioritization at the
societal level needs to take into account the downside risk and value of
investments.
(1) http://esciencenews.com/articles/2016/04/12/antibiotic.resistance.genes.increasing
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