UTS Science in Focus: Worms and honey, the unlikely heroes
Can parasitic worms help to stop MS? Will Australian medicinal honey be the solution to antibiotic resistance? Two UTS scientists explain how their innovative research will significantly advance medical research and our public health.
Could worms be the answer to halting Multiple Sclerosis?
Over 2.3 million people around the world – including 23,000 Australians – are currently living with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis or MS.
MS is a condition of the central nervous system that manifests in various, and often debilitating symptoms, such as muscular spasms; problems with weakness, coordination and balance; fatigue; neurological issues like vertigo; continence problems; memory loss and depression.
Women are three times more likely to be affected than men. There is no known cure at the moment, and while there are several treatment options available, many of these cause adverse side effects.
Associate Professor Sheila Donnelly, a parasitologist from UTS School of Life Sciences has been leading exciting research aimed at stopping the progression of MS using parasitic worms.
In this UTS Science in Focus talk, Associate Professor Donnelly explains how the controlled infection of parasites could be harnessed to slow down, and even stop the progression of MS. She’ll present results from her latest research, funded by MS Research Australia, and discuss the progress in translating these findings to the clinic.
Could honey be the answer to antibiotic resistance?
Imagine living in a world where people could die from infections caused by simple cuts. That’s the potential world we face due to the major global health threat posed by antibiotic resistance. What is antibiotic resistance? What causes it? How can it be prevented?
Scientists from UTS ithree Institute have been focused on solving the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Microbiologist, Dr Nural Cokcetin, is part of a team working on alternatives for treating skin infections.
In this UTS Science in Focus talk, Dr Cokcetin explains how their research has identified Australian honey as a medicinal powerhouse. These findings have put Australian honey on the international radar, and have been described as a “game-changer” for the Australian beekeeping industry—and for clinicians seeking treatments for skin infections and wounds that are not responding to current conventional treatments.
'Worms and honey, the unlikely heroes' is part of Sydney Science Festival during National Science Week.
Find more UTS events at Sydney Science Festival.