Perspective: Non-antimicrobial based strategies in the treatment of infectious diseases
23 May 2003
Venue: ,Representation of the Country of Baden-Württemberg, Square Vergote 9B ,1200 Brussels ,23.5.2003 from 9:00h-12:30h
Resistance of micro-organisms against antimicrobial drugs can be seen as one of the most important challenges in human as well as in veterinary medicine in the beginning of the 21st century. The emergence of antimicrobial resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in the US and in Europe, the largely increasing population of extended spectrum ß-lactamase producing bacteria (ESBL) and the spread of methicillin resistant, multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are only a few of the current threats for the population.
The increasing amount of resistant microbial strains circulating in the population raises the question of new drugs on one hand and/or alternative, non antimicrobial methods for treating infectious diseases on the other hand. Besides the fact that the pipelines of the companies are virtually empty, newly developed drugs bring along the risk of resistance development by it's target organisms. In contrast, alternative methods like therapeutic vaccines or immune modulating molecular therapeutic approaches are highly promising candidates for advanced treatment options. Immune modulating therapeutics provide the advantage of strengthening the host's immune system specifically rather than attacking the micro-organism directly, therefore circumventing the risk of resistance development. The post genomic era provides excellent opportunities for exploring the possibilities of and for developing non-antimicrobial based therapeutic approaches. For instance, the genome of man and the genome of Staphylococcus aureus is already available, enabling researchers to analyse highly complex aspects of molecular interaction between host and pathogen. The knowledge in the field of immune modulating therapeutic approaches is limited at this time. However, immediate action is necessary.
Speakers: ,- NOLTE, OLIVER (Hygiene-Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany). ,- POPA, VIRGILIA (Pasteur Institute; Bucharest Romania),- EMANUELE, MARIA CHIARA (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, Italy). ,- HECZKO, PIOTR (Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland),- LJUNGH ASA (Lund University, Lund, Sweden). ,- KAEMPFER, RAYMOND (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem -HUJI-, Jerusalem, Israel),- BASALP, AYNUR (TUBITAK; Research Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; Gebze-Kocaeli; Turkey)
Venue:,Representation of the Country of Baden-Württemberg, Square Vergote 9B,1200 Brussels ,23.5.2003 from 9:00h-12:30hYou may contact the co-ordinator either by E-mail: oliver_nolte@med.uni-heidelberg.de) or by Fax (+49/6221-565627) or by Phone (+49/6221/5637832)
Resistance of micro-organisms against antimicrobial drugs can be seen as one of the most important challenges in human as well as in veterinary medicine in the beginning of the 21st century. The emergence of antimicrobial resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in the US and in Europe, the largely increasing population of extended spectrum ß-lactamase producing bacteria (ESBL) and the spread of methicillin resistant, multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are only a few of the current threats for the population.
The increasing amount of resistant microbial strains circulating in the population raises the question of new drugs on one hand and/or alternative, non antimicrobial methods for treating infectious diseases on the other hand. Besides the fact that the pipelines of the companies are virtually empty, newly developed drugs bring along the risk of resistance development by it's target organisms. In contrast, alternative methods like therapeutic vaccines or immune modulating molecular therapeutic approaches are highly promising candidates for advanced treatment options. Immune modulating therapeutics provide the advantage of strengthening the host's immune system specifically rather than attacking the micro-organism directly, therefore circumventing the risk of resistance development. The post genomic era provides excellent opportunities for exploring the possibilities of and for developing non-antimicrobial based therapeutic approaches. For instance, the genome of man and the genome of Staphylococcus aureus is already available, enabling researchers to analyse highly complex aspects of molecular interaction between host and pathogen. The knowledge in the field of immune modulating therapeutic approaches is limited at this time. However, immediate action is necessary.
Speakers: ,- NOLTE, OLIVER (Hygiene-Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany). ,- POPA, VIRGILIA (Pasteur Institute; Bucharest Romania),- EMANUELE, MARIA CHIARA (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Palermo, Italy). ,- HECZKO, PIOTR (Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland),- LJUNGH ASA (Lund University, Lund, Sweden). ,- KAEMPFER, RAYMOND (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem -HUJI-, Jerusalem, Israel),- BASALP, AYNUR (TUBITAK; Research Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; Gebze-Kocaeli; Turkey)
Venue:,Representation of the Country of Baden-Württemberg, Square Vergote 9B,1200 Brussels ,23.5.2003 from 9:00h-12:30hYou may contact the co-ordinator either by E-mail: oliver_nolte@med.uni-heidelberg.de) or by Fax (+49/6221-565627) or by Phone (+49/6221/5637832)