University of Helsinki
In Search for Novel Antibacterials
Bacteria are single-celled ancient creatures that are invisible to the human eye due to their small size. Nonetheless, millions of them surround us and inhabit our bodies in the same way that humans inhabit planet Earth. They are an integral part of human health, performing many important tasks such as aiding the digestion of food and processing nutrients. They also generate vitamins and form a protective layer on our skin.
On the other hand, harmful bacteria can cause serious diseases. Antibiotic overuse over the last 80 years has resulted in the rapid emergence and spread of harmful, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making common infections difficult, if not impossible, to treat. New bacteria-eliminating drugs and treatment methods are desperately needed.
The Bioactivity Screening group at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Pharmacy employs high throughput screening to aid the discovery of antimicrobial drugs. We can test thousands of chemical compounds and natural products for their capacity to kill bacteria within days using multi-well plates and laboratory automation. In our lab, we also develop research tools. For example, the co-culture of bacterial and mammalian cells allows us to model the infection process and test novel ways to prevent infections.
Learn more about Dr Polina Ilina from Professor Päivi Tammela’s bioactivity screening group.
- Adding compounds to a 96 multi-well plate using a multi-channel pipette.
- Agar plates containing bacterial cells.
