Press Release: Cebit 2017: Computational Biologists Predict Antibiotic Resistances Using Biotech
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Curetis /
Press Release: Cebit 2017: Computational Biologists Predict Antibiotic
Resistances Using Biotech
. Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Every year, some 25,000 people die in the European Union from antibiotic-
resistant, hard to treat bacteria. Although there are diagnostic methods in
place to recognize such resistances in advance, these are typically very time-
consuming. Researchers from the Center for Bioinformatics at Saarland
University, in cooperation with the molecular diagnostics company Curetis, are
developing techniques to uncover these dangerous resistances a lot faster. Their
secret weapons: a comprehensive gene database, and powerful algorithms. The
researchers will be presenting their rapid test procedures, and their outlook
for the future, at Stand E28 at the Cebit computer trade show in Hannover,
Germany.
Just a few days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of
twelve antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, which are considered to be the
"greatest threats to human health".
Andreas Keller, professor for Clinical Bioinformatics at Saarland University, is
also studying these bacterial resistances. "If a patient receives faster access
to the treatment best suited to fight the disease in question, it is not only to
the benefit of the patient. It also helps dispensing currently available
antibiotics in a more targeted manner, so that the development of resistances
can be slowed down," Keller explains.
Existing methods to uncover these resistances in bacterial strains are very
time-consuming. First the bacteria are grown in Petri dish nutrient solutions.
Once a culture is visible, its response to antibiotics can be tested. But until
the result is conclusive, the patient's precious time goes by. "It can take some
24 to 72 hours for the doctor to know for sure which antibiotic to use for the
respective treatment. But medical professionals will rarely let a patient suffer
for that long, so they tend to rely on their experience," says the Chief
Commercial Officer of Curetis, Achim Plum. "It's not much use to patients, if
doctors pick the wrong antibiotics. What is more, with every antibiotic use, the
risk of generating resistant pathogens is increased. And since bacteria multiply
very quickly, this is like evolution in time lapse," says Plum. The company from
Southern Germany already offers rapid-test procedures with specialized molecules
that detect pathogens, and their specific resistances, for various conditions
including pulmonary infections, tissue and transplant infections, and infections
of the blood or abdominal cavity. Plum: "We are currently using genetic markers
for antibiotic resistances that have been known for a while. In this manner we
can cover the most common resistance mechanisms. But we are also aware that
there are still resistances that elude us. This is why we are also trying to
decipher those mechanisms that may be uncommon at present, but could become a
major threat in future. But in order to develop more efficient test procedures,
we need studies of hundreds or thousands of pathogens that have been isolated
from patients. We are looking for the complete genetic information of pathogens,
as well as their response to common antibiotics, so that we can establish links
between antibiotic resistances and the genetic changes that prompted them."
For this purpose, Curetis acquired the genetic library GEAR ("Genetic Antibiotic
Resistance and Susceptibility") from the Siemens Technology Accelerator in
September 2016. The database and associated platform were developed in
collaboration with two universities: The Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology
in Kiel was responsible for bacterial gene sequencing, while Andreas Keller and
his working group on Clinical Bioinformatics at Saarland University focused on
the computer-aided data analysis of the 30-terabyte database.
"Bacteria are uncannily clever, and very quick to act upon their genetic
predispositions for resistance. Thanks to GEAR, we can now better understand
their individual strategies," says computational biologist Andreas Keller. The
foundation of this genetic library is a global database comprising several
decades' worth of information. Currently GEAR contains data on 11,000 bacterial
strains, isolated from patient samples from all over the world over the past
thirty years, and their respective reaction patterns to 21 common antibiotics.
With the help of this data, researchers can examine genetic abnormalities
associated with certain antibiotic resistances. "It's like a gigantic puzzle,"
Keller says, and quickly extrapolates that the data collected is equivalent to
about 500,000 Bibles. But his algorithms and first results give him confidence:
"We can already accurately predict resistances 85 percent of the time."
Resistances develop dynamically, no matter how common or novel the antibiotic in
question is. So the GEAR database needs to be adaptable in future as well.
"Antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent health care problems in the
world, and research should be well-coordinated. We are planning to expand GEAR
into a joint research platform for antibiotic resistances, helping to close the
ranks between academic research, public healthcare, and health industry," says
Achim Plum.
Additional Information:
Press photos available here: www.uni-saarland.de/pressefotos
Caption:
Time-consuming: Bacteria have to be cultivated in nutrient media in order to
detect resistances. Special tests and gene data are designed to provide faster
and more reliable results.
Further Inquiries:
Professor Andreas Keller
Chair of Clinical Bioinformatics
Saarland University
Phone: +49 681 302 68611
E-Mail: andreas.keller(at)ccb.uni-saarland.de
Dr Achim Plum
Managing Director
Curetis GmbH
Phone: +49 7031 49195 65
E-Mail: achim.plum(at)curetis.com
Editor:
Gordon Bolduan
Competence Center Computer Science Saarland
Saarland Informatics Campus E1.7
Saarland University
Phone: +49 681 302-70741
E-Mail: bolduan(at)mmci.uni-saarland.de
Media and Investor Inquiries Regarding Curetis:
akampion
Dr. Ludger Wess & Ines-Regina Buth
Managing Partners
info((at))akampion.com
Phone +49 40 88 16 59 64
Phone +49 30 23 63 27 6
Background: Saarland Informatics Campus
The Department of Computer Science at Saarland University represents the heart
of the Saarland Informatics Campus. Seven other internationally renowned
research institutes are nearby: The Max Planck Institutes for Informatics and
for Software Systems, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence
(DFKI), the Center for Bioinformatics, the Intel Visual Computing Institute, the
Center for IT Security, Privacy and Accountability (CISPA), and the Cluster of
Excellence "Multimodal Computing and Interaction".
About Curetis
Curetis (www.curetis.com) is a molecular diagnostics company founded in 2007,
focusing on the development and commercialization of reliable, rapid and cost-
effective products for the diagnostics of infectious diseases. Curetis'
diagnostic solutions allow for faster identification of pathogens and antibiotic
resistance gene markers in a matter of hours. Other currently available
techniques need days or even weeks. The company is based in Holzgerlingen near
Stuttgart.
For further information, please visit www.curetis.com.
Legal Disclaimer
This document constitutes neither an offer to buy nor to subscribe securities
and neither this document nor any part of it should form the basis of any
investment decision in Curetis.
The information contained in this press release has been carefully prepared.
However, Curetis bears and assumes no liability of whatever kind for the
correctness and completeness of the information provided herein. Curetis does
not assume an obligation of whatever kind to update or correct information
contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future
events or for other reasons.
This press release includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be,
"forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes",
"estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", or "should",
and include statements Curetis makes concerning the intended results of its
strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements
are not guarantees of future performance. Curetis' actual results may differ
materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Curetis
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking
statements, except as may be required by law.
20170310_PR_Curetis_EN:
http://hugin.info/171382/R/2086878/787463.pdf
Curetis_logo:
http://hugin.info/171382/R/2086878/787464.jpg
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Curetis via GlobeNewswire
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 10.03.2017 - 12:47 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 529511
Anzahl Zeichen: 10502
contact information:
Town:
Holzgerlingen
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 151 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"Press Release: Cebit 2017: Computational Biologists Predict Antibiotic Resistances Using Biotech"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Curetis (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
