Dr. Julie Renwick

Antimicrobials are critical resources for human, animal and plant health. With emergence of antimicrobial resistance and lack of new antimicrobials, we face an unprecedented global environmental, food security and human health threat. Applying a multidisciplinary approach, the team including 4 PhD projects and expertise from plant scientists, clinical and environmental microbiologists, geneticists, antimicrobial resistance specialists, computer scientists/statisticians, bioengineers and sociologists, will study environmental and human 'resistomes' from agricultural and clinical settings and analyse agricultural stakeholders' practices and policies to identify institutional reform implications.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of infection in people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Colonisation with P. aeruginosa occurs early in life and once established is very difficult to eradicate. Up to 95% of morbidity and mortality in CF occurs as a result of chronic airway infections. In people with CF, airway damage begins early in life and the course of infection and inflammation in childhood can influence future prognosis. P. aeruginosa is independently linked to worsened prognosis for CF patients and has the ability to rapidly develop resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics including Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Aminoglycosides, Quinolones, Polymyxins and Carbapenems which are the leading antibiotics used to treat P. aeruginosa infections currently. P. aeruginosa acquires resistance genes and specific mutations that enhance its survival in the presence of antibiotics. New therapeutic avenues for treatment of P. aeruginosa infections in CF are imminent and early eradication is vital to prevent establishment of chronic infection. We have identified a molecule produced by Aspergillus fumigatus (a fungus that commonly co-colonises the CF airways with P. aeruginosa) that can inhibit P. aeruginosa growth in planktonic and biofilm forms. We aim to explore the therapeutic potential of this molecule.

AIM CF is a branch of the larger Study of Host Immunity and Early Lung Disease in Cystic Fibrosis (SHIELD CF) biobanking project established by Prof Paul McNally and Dr Barry Linnane. I am co-PI on the AIM CF project where we have developed protocols for isolating DNA and RNA from CF patient BAL samples and optimised an assay for detected viable bacteria using molecular methods. We have employed a 16S rRNA microarray, 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina MiSeq to characterise the upper and lower CF airway microbiome and compare it to healthy controls. This is an ongoing longitudinal study.

Incorporating a new antimicrobial technology into the hospital setting to reduce bacterial bioburden and thus prevalence of resistance in the hospital environment. Internationally collaborative project lead by scientists and clinicians in Kastus, Trinity College and Tallaght hospital.