Valencia, June 12, 2023 – During her participation in the Cicerón Program, M. Carmen Collado, renowned researcher at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), emphasized the relevance of the human microbiota in relation to bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Collado shared key insights from her research, highlighting how the microbiota influences various aspects of human health.
The Cicerón Program, an initiative of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), consists of a series of thematic sessions aimed at political leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, and other social agents. These sessions aim to showcase the science being developed in CSIC laboratories and its commitment to addressing contemporary social challenges. Among the topics discussed are bacterial resistance to antibiotics, healthy eating, and the generation of sustainable materials and energy.
Collado’s research focuses on the impact of antibiotics on the human microbiota, covering everything from the mother/baby environment to different populations in diverse regions of the world, both in the Global South and the Global North. The microbiota, composed of microorganisms such as fungi, yeasts, and phages, plays a crucial role in human health.
Collado explained that the microbiota significantly influences metabolism, physiology, and the immune system of the individual. She also emphasized the importance of the maternal microbiota as the initial source of the human microbiota, transmitting not only genes but also bacteria, including genes for antibiotic resistance.
“The use and abuse of antibiotics in our society is causing an increase in the number of resistance genes that we are detecting in the maternal-infant environment,” Collado warned. “It is crucial to adopt a comprehensive approach to health that considers the use of antibiotics, the microbiota, and human, animal, and environmental health. This approach is essential, and we must work on it in the coming years,” she concluded.
The Cicerón Program continues to be an essential platform for scientific outreach and raising awareness about the importance of research in solving critical social issues.
