1. Envisioned Disaster
My Idea
Invention of Biotherapy and Suppressant
Avoid misuse of antibiotics
Area
Disaster prevention and response
A presentation by Shirley Xiang
the University of Hong Kong , China

2. Why I choose the “Superbugs”
◆Several years ago, I first got to know the term “superbug” when I read Scientific
American(2009, July). ）Here was a true story quoted from Squashing Superbugs--The
Race for New Antibiotics.
A 12-year-old Brooklyn boy, Omar Rivera, died after a wound he received on the basketball
court became infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), a bacterium
that has become resistant to one of the most potent drug classes in the current antibiotic
arsenal.”-- By Christopher T. Walsh and Michael A. Fischbach
◆I was shocked at that time. More and more kinds of superbugs will emerge in the
future. Human beings will confront severe problems caused by misusing of antibiotics.
What is worse, scientists have not found out effective treatment of superbugs.
◆ Since the world’s economy grows fast, human kinds focus more on healthcare. The
disaster of superbugs will be inevitable. That is why I choose the “Superbugs”.

3. The history of discovering superbugs
2010.
NDM1 was discovered in Britain, America and India.
1992
CA-MRSA was discovered in Britain.
1961
MRSA was discovered in Britain.
Reference: http://baike.baidu.com/view/1024062.htm
The current situation
NDM1 now is world spread and has caused many deaths.
There are about 80,000 Chinese people dying for misusing of antibiotics
The superbugs problem is severe all over the world.
Scientists are still searching for the treatment.

4. My Supposition
▶no effective treatment will be invented
1. The world’s population will drop
Since babies’ immune system is vulnerable, the superbug s are fatal. As a result,
more newly born children will die for the infection of superbugs.
2.Hospital will become a more dangerous place
Since hospitals are the places where antibiotics are used most, it is most likely that
the new superbug will break out. Doctors and patients are exposed in this kind of
environment. Humans will live in a panicky life, because the death will come anytime.
Humans will become hopeless once they are infected.
▶ effective treatment will be invented
Since creatures have adaptability, superbugs will become resistant to the new
treatment, which was actually cause of the breakout of superbugs. It is possible that
super superbugs will break out, which is harder to treat.

5. Treatment
Biotherapy
Study and search for the microbe that can wipe out superbug. This kind of
microbe should be not harmful to our body and compatible with our own
immune system.
Suppressant
Since the superbugs have a special character-they can “sew” other bacteria to
their own DNA, new suppressant can be invented to stop the process.
Prevention
Avoid the misuse of antibiotic-overuse and abuse of antibiotic
When treat ordinary maladies, no need to prescribe antibiotics.
Strengthen disinfection in hospital

6. ▶ If the breakthrough can be achieved, it will be possible
to fight with superbugs.
▶ Though it relies much on the development of science, it
is more effective than developing new antibiotics to treat
new superbugs. It is a vicious circle and infinite. New
antibiotics can motivate new superbugs. We will be
caught in the circle for centuries.
▶ The suppressant can stop the new superbugs’ breakout
fundamentally.

7. The main difficulty is the possibility of achieving the
breakthroughs. It may take decades, during which many
patients who are infected by superbugs will die hopelessly.
The uncertainty of the achievement seems to be costly. But I
think we need to have a try. Before we discover the effective
treatments, we need to keep on developing new antibiotics to
help the poor patients.
The financial aid is essential. It must call for a large number of
money. So the researches should gain support from
governments, companies and NGOs.

8. Treatment
☀The success of discover effective Biotherapy and Suppressant will give
help to human beings. But we need to be aware of the potential side effects
of the new treatments. For example, the discovery of the special microbe
may cause new problems in field of environment or health.
☀ Large amount of money may lead to the problem of governments’
spending. Citizens will get less welfare, which may cause social problems,
like protests, especially in poor developing countries. Maybe the developed
countries can bear the responsibility of research. Whether the developed
countries would like to share the success with other poorer countries is
another issue.
Prevention
☀ Hospitals will become a safer place for doctors and patients. Patients will
depend less on the antibiotics. People will focus more on the healthy life
styles so that they will have a stronger immune system.