It has been revealed that a significant percentage of antibiotics sold in the US (80%) and globally (70%) are utilized on farmed animals rather than humans. Scientists at Texas Tech University were able to identify genetic material of antibiotic resistance downwind from a cattle feedlot, which was not present in air samples collected upwind.

Although the development of new antibiotics is necessary, conversations about addressing the root cause of antibiotic resistance and zoonotic diseases were held at BPS2023, which is encouraging. According to Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the World Health Organization, a post-antibiotic era would lead to the end of modern medicine as we know it.

Biophysicists and structural biologists who are well-versed in protein expression, characterization, and modeling are best suited to tackle this issue, as no one understands protein structure and function better than they do. By utilizing their knowledge of proteins to develop alternative proteins, they can revolutionize our current food system, which contributes to antibiotic resistance and zoonotic diseases.

Avian flu outbreaks, such as the one that occurred last year, will continue to happen as long as our current food production methods remain unchanged. Alternative proteins, including plant-based and cultivated meat, can assist in this endeavor in various ways. Plant-based proteins do not require antibiotics to produce, unlike traditional animal agriculture, which relies heavily on antibiotics to prevent and treat bacterial infections in animals.

Cultivated meat is created using cell cultures, negating the need for antibiotics entirely. The use of antibiotics in animal agriculture contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and avoiding the use of antibiotics in the production of cultivated meat can aid in the prevention of their spread.

Finally, alternative proteins can aid in addressing the underlying causes of antibiotic resistance by reducing the demand for animal products. The excessive demand for animal products may lead to zoonotic diseases and overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture, resulting in the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 

As someone who has attended many BPS meetings in the past, I was very encouraged and glad to see discussions around this topic at this year's conference!