In 2019, the World Health Organization identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the most serious threats to global health. AMR occurs when microorganisms, like bacteria, change and develop resistance to the medicines designed to kill them, making once-treatable infections increasingly difficult to cure. Without urgent action, this problem is expected to worsen, posing a significant risk to global health.
One key strategy in tackling AMR is to develop new ways of treating bacterial infections. This begins with understanding the essential processes inside bacteria and identifying molecules that can disrupt them.
Dr Emily Furlong’s research focuses on uncovering the inner workings of bacterial cells and the specialised tools they use to cause disease. Using high-powered microscopes, X-ray beams, and artificial intelligence, she can “see” the detailed structures of bacterial proteins — tiny molecular machines that help bacteria survive and infect their hosts.
By revealing what these machines look like and how they function, Emily and her team can work out how to stop them. This knowledge is vital for designing new antibacterial therapies and developing better strategies to prevent bacterial infections.
Her work brings us one step closer to staying ahead in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, safeguarding the effectiveness of medicines for future generations.