Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Plasma Physics meets Microbiology to Fight Infectious Diseases

A lecture by Dr Roddy Vann, York Plasma Physics Centre & Dr Marjan van der Woude, Centre for Immunology & Infection, University of York

One of the big healthcare challenges is bacterial resistance to antibiotics.  Devising novel therapeutic approaches for dealing with bacterial infections is therefore important. Traditionally, problems such as this would have been attacked within the confines of a single discipline paradigm in which, for example, biologists work on biology and physicists work on physics. At the University of York, researchers are increasingly embracing new ways of interdisciplinary working.  This can lead to exciting ideas and advances, but at the same time brings interesting methodological challenges. In this presentation, Dr Roddy Vann from the York Plasma Institute (Physics) and Dr Marjan van der Woude from the Centre of Immunology and Infection (Biology and HYMS) will describe a joint project studying the antimicrobial activity of plasmas, present some initial results, and discuss the realities of working across discipline boundaries.

 Report

One of the big healthcare challenges is bacterial resistance to antibiotics.  Devising novel therapeutic approaches for dealing with bacterial infections is therefore important. Dr Van der Woude began this joint presentation by outlining the global health threat; with 12.5% of global deaths due to infectious disease. The cost in the UK alone is estimated at £30 billion.  These infections may be bacterial, from a virus or a parasite.This work at York University is discovering new ways to explore bacteria (Prokaryotes). Scientists can study these incredible small, (if we imagine they are a pea then a human being would be the size of York), through the electron microscope as a group, but then lose a lot of information.  The Imaging Facility at York Physics Department enables the videoing of the incredible doubling time of these individual bacteria. Developing this research further brings the possibility of new treatments in areas such as dentistry and cancer treatment.

Dr Roddy Vann continued the presentation by giving an introduction to plasma physics explaining and demonstrating plasma, the 4^th state of matter, which makes up the vast majority of the observable universe.  One project supported by The Wellcome Trust is researching the use of plasma in medicine. Dr Vann also explained an important area of plasma physics: fusion, where nuclei colliding produce a lot of energy. Some of the large-scale fusion physics experiments taking place worldwide were outlined, and the potential uses of fusion, including as a future source of electricity.

Dr Vann then turned to biomedical plasma and the aim of scientists to understand the fundamental processes at play both in the plasma discharge and in the interaction of the plasma with biological material. This involves biologists and physicists beginning to understand each other’s discipline. Dr Vann described experiments they are undertaking together such as applying plasma treatment to culture plates and observing bacterial growth over a day.  In this example dark areas indicated bacteria that did not grow when plasma was applied.

Both speakers outlined some of the issues they are exploring in partnership including for the physicists the ratio of components for plasma delivery and plasma safety issues, and for the biologists’ possible biological resistance to plasma, and the effect on cells of differential toxicity.

Both speakers provided us with a fascinating insight into the potential immense value to medical research of their collaboration.

Catherine Brophy