TORONTO, September 20, 2016 – Superbugs are a serious threat to public health, creating bacterial infections that are resistant to most antibiotics, says York University science Professor Dasantila Golemi-Kotra. Not only that, they continue to mutate and outsmart modern drugs. World leaders will discuss ways to combat “antimicrobial resistance” or superbugs when the United Nations’ General Assembly meets tomorrow.

Golemi-Kotra, an expert in bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance in York U’s Faculty of Science, is available to discuss the issue and what can be done, including:

How have superbugs become such a serious global health issue?

How are superbugs so easily mutating their genetic information to outsmart the latest drugs?

How the superbugs share knowledge with other bacteria so more of them become antibiotic resistant, called “cross-talking”?

What biological mechanisms trigger resistance/

Can we treat infections without triggering the superbugs to mutate and become resistant?

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Media Contact:
Sandra McLean, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22097/sandramc@yorku.ca