Phage Therapy Targeting Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria | Paul Turner | TEDxBinghamtonUniversity

We have used antibiotics for decades to fight off infections and diseases, drastically improving the quality of life. However, this use has now caused bacteria to evolve to resist penicillin and antibiotic drugs. Paul Turner recognizes this issue as a looming threat to humanity, and is working on new methods to fight infection. Phage therapy, the main focus of this talk and his studies, addresses the concepts of evolutionary tradeoffs and how we can influence the microenvironment in different ways, so that our medicines do not become obsolete. Paul Turner is the Rachel Carson Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, and microbiology faculty member at Yale School of Medicine. He obtained a BA in biology (1988) from the University of Rochester, a PhD in microbial evolution (1995) from Michigan State University and did postdocs at National Institutes of Health, University of Valencia in Spain and the University of Maryland-College Park, before joining Yale in 2001. Turner studies evolutionary genetics of viruses, particularly phages (bacteria-specific viruses) that infect bacterial pathogens and RNA viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, and researches the use of phages to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. He is very active in science-communication outreach to the general public, and is involved in programs where faculty collaborate with K-12 teachers to improve STEM education in underserved public schools. Turner’s service includes the National Science Foundation’s Bio Advisory Committee and he is president-elect of the International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx