Eight Westminster students in collaboration with Dr Manal Mohammed, Senior Lecturer of Medical Microbiology at Westminster, have conducted research about superbugs and have launched a campaign to raise awareness of these antibiotic resistant bacteria.
The emergence of superbugs is a global health problem and if no action is taken, it is expected that antibiotic resistant superbugs could cause million deaths each year by 2050.
The Superbug project was funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT), enabling the recruitment of Westminster Design and Film students to work with their Life Science peers to generate posters and videos to raise awareness of superbugs, such as the video Superbugs: a Growing Threat.
QHT supports the advancement of education for students at the University of Westminster by funding a broad range of projects and activities proposed by University staff and students.
Uzma Limbada, a final year undergraduate student on the Graphic Communication Design BA Honours (now Graphic Design BA Honours) course, said: “I have gained valuable knowledge about superbugs and the challenges they pose in healthcare settings. Through research, discussions with team members, and hands-on work, I have deepened my understanding of this critical issue and developed important skills in problem-solving, and communication. […] I have enjoyed the chance to contribute to cross-functional projects and see how different departments' work fits together to achieve common goals.”
The Superbugs team members also raised awareness of superbugs at a booth at the Difference Festival which is an annual, week-long celebration that honours the history and roots of the University whilst showcasing the work of Westminster colleagues, students, alumni and friends. They provided advice to Westminster students, academics and the public on how to prevent infection by superbugs. Looking to the future, the team is in the process of making high quality films and videos aimed to show in NHS waiting rooms.
Sherdil Asif, a graduating BSc Honours Medical Sciences student, said: “Attending the Difference Festival was a great opportunity to engage with my fellow peers and the general public to raise awareness about the global issues surrounding antibiotic resistance. It was a very insightful experience, and I am thankful to the University of Westminster for hosting such events. Through this experience, I honed my verbal and non-verbal communication skills and teamworking skills while developing good listening skills and the ability to explain complex scientific concepts in concise and easy-to-understand language that is free of scientific jargon.”
Elaheh Behrouzinia, International Planning and Sustainable Development MA student, said: “Contributing to the Difference experience by generating posters to raise awareness about superbugs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been an eye-opening journey. Through this project, I've deepened my understanding of these critical global health issues and honed my design skills to craft visually compelling messages. Collaborating with other passionate students has been a valuable experience, as we combined our ideas and teamwork to create impactful posters that resonate with the public. It's inspiring to know that our efforts may inform the world about the dangers of antibiotic resistance and the importance of responsible antibiotic use."
Supporting academic Dr Manal Mohammed said: “The overuse of antibiotics, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in the emergence of ‘superbugs’ which are bacterial strains that have become resistant to most antibiotics. Superbugs can spread easily to affect anyone, of any age, in any part of the world. No one person or organisation can fight superbugs on their own and we all have a responsibility. The global threat of antimicrobial resistance requires that we work together across borders and sectors to tackle this silent pandemic. We are very grateful for the funding received from the QHT Research and Knowledge Exchange to recruit undergraduate and MSc students to work together raising public awareness about superbugs and providing advice on how to stop their spread.”
Dr Mohammed has recently led a research project investigating the basis of interaction between bacteria and bacteriophages which are viruses that can be used to treat superbugs. The study titled Genomic Analysis of Anderson Typing Phages of Salmonella Typhimrium: Towards Understanding the Basis of Bacteria-phage Interaction was carried out in collaboration with colleagues from Leicester University, University of Utah and the UK Health Security Agency. It was published in the Scientific Reports journal on 28 June 2023.
Dr Mohammed is carrying out research projects at the University looking into the incidence of superbugs in the UK and other countries and she is also investigating the efficacy of bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of superbugs.
Learn more about Biological and Biomedical Sciences courses at the University of Westminster.
