Mathematics Meets Superbacteria
Antibiotic resistance is a global challenge, defined by the WHO as one of the major threats to public health. However, our battle against superbugs may be an uphill struggle. Antibiotics block bacterial growth, but their excessive use creates opportunities for resistant bacteria. Current strategies involve developing new drugs and imposing usage restrictions, but innovative solutions are needed.
Mathematics and theoretical biology, enabling the prediction of resistance and the design of targeted interventions, are paving the way for a new chapter in our history of coexistence with bacteria. In this narrative, there are no losers or winners, but rather partners in a delicate balance.
Fernanda Pinheiro, Group Leader at Human Technopole’s Computational Biology Research Centre, discussed this at the TEDxLakeComo XIII in Cernobbio on November 11, 2023.
