Although, over the course of human history, more people have died from infectious disease than any other means, including all war and famine, the development of modern antibiotics and vaccines consigned many microbial killers to the past.  This even led some to conclude that the battle against infectious disease had been won. In recent years, however, the emergence of viruses such as HIV and SARS, the increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA, and the problems of hospital acquired infections such as C. difficile, has demonstrated that infectious disease remains an ongoing challenge for the medical profession and society.

Scientists and doctors are expending tremendous efforts to understand why infectous disease is still such a problem and to develop methods to control and treat microbial disease.  Modern technologies such as genome sequencing, proteomics and molecular biology are providing tools to reserachers in their battle against pathogenic microbes. This lecture will provide the interested public with an opportunity to hear first-hand some of the new approaches and novel findings in this area.

The lecture will be delivered by Professor Brendan W. Wren of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on the theme of “Genes, Germs and Genomes: The Battle against Emerging Infectious Diseases.” To illustrate recent developments, Professor Wren will focus on selected important pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni (the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis), Clostridium difficile (the most prevalent hospital superbug) and the pathogenic Yersinia (including the plague bacillus).  Brendan Wren is Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis and Head of the Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  He has had a distinguished research career in medical microbiology and is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He is highly regarded both for the quality of his scientific research and for his capacity to explain his research to non-scientists.

The Royal Irish Academy is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. The Academy's network of committees draws its expert membership from universities, research institutions, government agencies and other relevant bodies throughout the island of Ireland. The committees provide a strategic vehicle for academic disciplines and act as a national forum providing input into areas of strategic importance such as government policy, international research priorities and issues of public concern. Several Academics from UCC are elected members of the RIA, and Professor Fergal O’Gara, Microbiology Department UCC, was recently elected to the RIA Council representing the Committee of Science and appointed vice-president of the Academy.

This public lecture takes place in conjunction with a major microbiology conference that is taking place at UCC on April 23rd and 24th.  This international conference, on the theme of “Innovative models and systems to explore microbial pathogenesis” is organised by the Irish Division of the Society for General Microbiology (SGM), Europe’s largest microbiology society. The SGM conference, organised locally by Dr John Morrissey of UCC’s Microbiology Department, brings together over 140 scientists to present research findings in the area of medical microbiology.  Juxtaposing this research conference and a public lecture illustrates the relevance of scientific research in medical microbiology and provides an opportunity to showcase the importance of biomedical research to society.
 
For further information contact Professor Fergal O’Gara, Biomerit Research Centre and Microbiology Department,UCC. Email: f.ogara@ucc.ie

Photographed at the event were: Dr Michael Murphy, President UCC, Professor Brendan W. Wren, Professor Nicholas Canny, President RIA and Professor Fergal O’Gara, Microbiology Department UCC.

1060MMcS

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