Month: May 2024

New book explores the impact of the COVID pandemic on animals

Author Prof Tony Killard | Posted on

Prof. John Hancock, Dr. Tim Craig and Ros Rouse discuss the impact that the pandemic has had on animals around the world

While the COVID pandemic has had a devastating impact on humanity across the globe, less consideration was given to its impact on animal populations. Prof. John Hancock (Professor of Cell Signalling), and Dr. Tim Craig (Associate Professor of Neuroscience), members of the Centre for Research in Biosciences and Ros Rouse, Research Governance Manager at UWE and wildlife artist have come together to discuss this important theme in their new book “Animal welfare in a pandemic: What does COVID-19 tell us about the future?“, published in April 2024 by CRC Press.

The book gathers together multiple aspects of COVID on animal welfare. It sets out which animals were infected by the virus. It draws upon the authors’ particular expertise in establishing whether molecular biology can be used as an approach to predicting species susceptibility to the virus. It also examines the relevance of vaccination as it pertains to animals. The book goes on to discuss the challenges encountered by zoos and animal conservationists during this period and finishes with a consideration of what can be learned and how we can respond more effectively to future pandemics.

The book is based on original research that Hancock, Rouse, and later Craig undertook together during the pandemic, as well as a review of the scientific literature. Rouse also brought her unique talents to the book, which includes several works of art and photographs by her, including the front cover. The book is a part of the CRC One Health One Welfare series which ‘recognises the interconnections between human wellbeing, animal health and welfare, and the environment’. The three authors are already planning further projects in this space.

New method for detecting ‘flesh-eating’ contaminants in illegal drugs developed by CBR researchers

Author Prof Tony Killard | Posted on

Picture: Tsz Yan Joyce Chan and Dr. Kevin Honeychurch

Dr. Kevin Honeychurch, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Chemistry and member of the Centre for Biomedical Research and his student Tsz Yan Joyce Chan have published a novel method for measuring Levimasole adulteration in cocaine

Levamisole is a drug that was previously approved for the treatment of parasitic infections such as worms, but was withdrawn from human use in 2000 due to side effects such as  abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, and dizziness, and increased risk of infection. However, in recent years, Levimasole has been widely used as a ‘cutting agent’ in cocaine, where it is believed to enhance its effect. It also leads to a condition called Levamisole induced necrosis syndrome, which results in the destruction of skin tissue and can lead severe facial disfigurement.

As an adulterant of cocaine, Levimasole is difficult to identify, and there is increased interest in the development of new methods for its measurement. Common analytical approaches such as UV spectroscopy are hampered by its low absorbance maxima, while direct electrochemical detection suffers from interference from cocaine. However, the method developed by Dr. Honeychurch and his student, and recently published in the open-access journal Sci, employs a combination of solvent extraction, followed by chromatographic separation with electrochemical detection to effectively measure its concentration in urine. By developing an understanding of the electrochemical properties of Levimasole using Cyclic Voltammetry, as well as its chromatographic behaviour using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the researchers were able to achieve its selective and sensitive detection.

The method has the potential to assist medical professionals to identify and treat Levimasole exposure, and also assist law enforcement in identifying the presence and extent of cocaine adulteration. Dr. Honeychurch is now planning a similar approach to investigate other adulterants in a range of drugs including cocaine, cannabinoids and benzodiazepines.

Having completed her MSc in Forensic Science at UWE,  Ms. Chan is now working as a Technical Specialist in the Centre for PanorOmic Sciences (CPOS), a genomics core laboratory, which is part of the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine.

CBR neuroscientist collaborates with Bristol Fungarium to identify new treatments for dementia

Author Prof Tony Killard | Posted on

Dr. Tim Craig, Associate Professor of Neuroscience in the Centre for Biomedical Research is studying the potentially beneficial effects of mushrooms in combatting neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are rapidly increasing in prevalence. This is partly due an ageing population in the UK, but also potentially due to several different lifestyle and environmental factors. Despite decades of research into these diseases, we have only two licenced treatments available worldwide. Both of these treatments are based on monoclonal antibodies, are extremely expensive and of only limited benefit.

Recently, there has been increased interest in the role of traditional medicines as an alternative/complementary treatment for long-term conditions, especially ones associated with ageing. Interest in this does not come any rejection of modern medicine – the reasoning is that if something has been used for centuries, there may well be some therapeutic benefit to be gained from it. After all, many traditional medicines have given rise to mainstream drug classes, e.g. aspirin, derived from willow bark, was the precursor for an entire family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

Of particular interest to us in the field of neurodegeneration are traditional medicines used to treat cognitive decline in the elderly. One of these is a wild edible mushroom called Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), and which has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. Several recent, peer reviewed research studies in Life Sciences, International Journal of Molecular Sciences and the Journal of Biomedical Science have demonstrated that compounds from these mushrooms can protect neurones from damage. Coupled to this, compounds found in many edible mushrooms have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties.

To further explore the beneficial potential of mushrooms on neuronal health, a research partnership has been established between CRIB and the Bristol Fungarium. Based in Barrow Gurney to the South West of Bristol, the Fungarium specialises in the growth of certified organic, native UK mushrooms in highly controlled environments. As well as providing edible mushrooms for the restaurant trade, it also manufactures extracts of several mushroom varieties. Dr. Craig began a collaboration with the Fungarium over two years ago, where he began investigating the effects of these extracts on our neuronal cellular model systems. This has led to the establishment of a Partnership PhD programme between Dr. Craig and the Fungarium. The research project, which commenced in April 2024, will be undertaken by Katie Turk, who will optimise the extraction process to increase the yield of therapeutic compounds in the resulting tinctures and use these to investigate the effects of several different mushroom extracts on the viability and signalling pathways in neuronal cells.

Dr. Craig said ‘The identification of novel therapeutic compounds is a potential game-changer in the fight against neurodegeneration, and will hopefully pave the way for new treatments for these devastating diseases”.

CBR research explores a new approach to reducing orthopaedic implant infection

Author Prof Tony Killard | Posted on

Picture: Dr. Jason Mansell holding an orthopaedic implant.

Research led by Dr. Jason Mansell, Associate Professor of Hard Tissue Biology at the Centre for Biomedical Research will investigate novel antibacterial titanium surface coatings to help combat the continuing problem of staphylococcal infection in joint replacements

Total Joint Replacement (TJR) is the replacement of joints such as knees and hips with an artificial implant. Titanium is used extensively in implant devices as it has many advantageous properties. While joint replacement is typically very effective, 1 in 250 of these will become infected, and so will need to be replaced. The repeated surgery is challenging for patients, as well as adding £1.5 bn to the NHS budget. The main sources of infection are from species of Staphylococcal bacteria.

A potential solution to this problem is to develop implant coatings that possess antibacterial properties. Ideally, the selected agent will have a natural and robust affinity for the surface which will withstand the rigours of surgery and continue to function after implantation.

Phosphomycin is a small, broad-spectrum antimicrobial that was discovered in 1969. While it is a somewhat forgotten molecule, it exhibits excellent activity against staphylococci, including MRSA. As a coating for titanium it is particularly attractive, as being a phosphonic acid species, it is predicted to have a strong binding affinity for this surface, while also being relatively simple to coat.

The twelve month research project is being funded by Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity through their Orthopaedics Legacy programme, and is a collaboration with Mr. Niall Sullivan, an NHS Consultant in Trauma and Hip Surgery based at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. It will explore the binding of phosphomycin to titanium, assess its antibacterial activity and also identify any potential impact on bone health.

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