Superbugs under the microscope as international experts gather at Queen's University Belfast

Scientists from across Europe who are leading the fight against superbugs will gather at Queen's University Belfast next week (14-15 September 2016).

They will join researchers from Queen's who are pioneering a new approach in the 'arms race' against antibiotic resistant infections.

Queen's scientists are working towards the development of new therapies to boost the body's own defenses against infection, rather than trying to beat the bugs by attacking them directly with antibiotics.

The approach is called 'host directed therapeutics' and it focusses on identifying the 'achilles heel' within the immune system that allows infection-causing microbes to take hold.

It is one of the approaches that will be discussed during the two-day event, hosted by Professor Jose Bengoechea, Director of Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queen's.

Professor Bengoechea's research into combatting the multidrug-resistant microbe Klebsiella pneumoniae - is recognised worldwide.

The conference marks the end of the four-year INBIONET programme (Infection Biology Training Network), which is led by Queen's and funded by the Marie Curie Initial Training Network Scheme as part of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme.

More information:
www.qub.ac.uk/sites/INBIONETInfect-ERAConference/

Provided by Queen's University Belfast