Latest news with #MichelleLin
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I found a bacteria-eating virus in my loo - could it save your life?
I'm on the hunt for a microbial saviour – a type of virus that can treat infections rather than cause them. We all know the viral bad guys – Covid, flu, norovirus, herpes, chicken pox, measles… the list goes on. But there's a type of virus that's not interested in infiltrating our bodies, instead it preys on bacteria. They're known as bacteria eaters, or bacteriophage, or commonly as phage. Capturing them could give us new ways of treating infections, including superbugs that are becoming incurable. So, how to catch a killer? I've been promised it's surprisingly easy. The team at the Phage Collection Project sent me some vials to collect samples, along with a pair of gloves. All I need to do is hunt for some dirty water, the dirtier the better, dip the vials in and screw on the lid. I tried a couple of ponds, the juice from a worm-composting bin and then I needed my dirtiest sample. I didn't flush the toilet after a poo and left it for a couple of hours. I pop on a glove and hold my breath as I go in for the final sample. Strict hygiene instructions, including vigorous hand-washing, were followed, at all times. The vials were packaged up for collection and then three days later I headed off to the University of Southampton to see what was inside. "They were a bit dirty when I received them," phage scientist Michelle Lin tells me as we don our blue lab-coats and matching gloves to go into the Containment Level 2 microbiology laboratory. We grab my samples from the fridge, which look much clearer now they have been filtered of any… debris. "It's fine, it's needed," Michelle, who had the unpleasant job, reassures me. Filtering is the first step in looking for phage, next they get served dinner – a cocktail of yummy bacteria - to help them grow in number. Now comes the really cool bit – finding a useful phage. The scientists have been working with the local hospital to collect bacteria from patients with troublesome infections. Michelle grabs a petri dish that's growing bacteria from a patient with a painful, urinary tract infection that keeps coming back. And to my amazement – one of the phage I collected from my toilet was able to kill this infection in the lab. "The way to see that the phage has infected bacteria is you get these zones where the bacteria are not growing and that's because they've been killed by the phage," says Michelle. You can see the leopard print pattern in the petri dish where the phage have been making light work of a bacterial infection that modern medicine was struggling to shift. "As crazy as it sounds, well done to the toilet sample," says Michelle with great delight. And when I was offered the chance to name the phage, well of course it's the Gallagher-phage. "Sounds amazing to me," says Michelle. So far this is all good fun in the laboratory, but could my phage ever be given to a patient? "Yes and I hope so," says associate professor Dr Franklin Nobrega as we look at images of my phage captured with an electron microscope. "Your phage, already in just 24 hours, we were able to get in a high concentration and able to be a very good killer, which means this is very promising for patients, so thank you," said Dr Nobrega. Phage remind me of a moon lander – a big capsule on spindly legs – just instead of landing on the surface of the moon they use their legs to select their victim. They then hijack the bacteria and transform it into a mass-production factory for more phage, which burst out of their host, killing it in the process. There are pros and cons to phage. They reproduce as they go along so you don't need constant doses like you would with drugs. They are also very picky eaters. You need a precise match between phage and the strain of bacteria you're trying to treat whereas antibiotics tend to kill everything good and bad. So it is harder to find the right phage, but if you do it comes with fewer side effects. Dr Nobrega tells me infected wounds are a "very good application" for phage because you can apply them directly to the injury, but they can also be inhaled via a nebuliser to treat lung infections or to target urinary tract infections "which is our target currently". Phage science may sound new and exciting, but it is actually a century old idea stemming from the discoveries of Felix d'Hérelle and Frederick Twort in the 1910s. Bacteriophage therapy was a branch of medicine and the idea was compelling. Even as late as the 1940s there was an active pharmaceutical industry in western countries trying to produce phage-therapy to defeat bacterial infections. However, it was rapidly eclipsed by the wonder-drug of the 20th century. "Antibiotics were working so well that most people said 'why bother'," says Dr Nobrega. Work on phage therapy continued in places like Georgia and there are individual accounts of it working wonders; but there hasn't been the same depth of medical research and clinical trials as there have for drugs. But just as the initial success of antibiotics suppressed phage research, the failure of antibiotics is reigniting excitement at their potential. More than a million people a year are already dying from infections caused by microbes that are resistant to treatment – it's known as the "silent pandemic". By 2050, that figure is projected to reach 10 million a year. This "antibiotic apocalypse" would mean common infections could kill again and undermine modern medicine. The drugs are also used to make organ transplants, open surgery and chemotherapy possible. "The predictions around antibiotic resistance are very frightening, but the reality is we're seeing it now and it's only going to get worse," says Prof Paul Elkington, the director of the institute for medical innovation at the University of Southampton. He is also a doctor with a speciality in lung medicine and is already at the point where - after a year of treatment and turning to ever more toxic and less effective antibiotics - "in the end you have to have a conversation [and say] 'we can't treat this infection, we're really sorry'". He says we can't rely solely on antibiotics in the future and phage are a potential alternative. But he warns the steps needed to get from the laboratory and into patients are "uncharted". Things are changing. Phage therapy is available in the UK on compassionate grounds when other treatments have failed. And the drugs regulator – The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – has published its first official rules to support the development of phage therapy. "If one looks 15-20 years into the future, with the emerging methodologies, it's going to be possible for them to be much more widely available and for doctors to prescribe phage instead of antibiotics for some infections," says Prof Elkington. If you want to see if you can find a friendly virus too then The Phage Collection Project are launching their new sampling kits at the Summer Science Exhibition taking place this week at the Royal Society and through their website. "Antimicrobial resistance is something that could affect all of us," says Esme Brinsden from the Phage Collection Project, "when the public get involved they may just find the next phage that can help treat and save a patient's life". Photography by the BBC's Emma Lynch
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Phage therapy: I found a bacteria-eating virus in my loo
I'm on the hunt for a microbial saviour – a type of virus that can treat infections rather than cause all know the viral bad guys – Covid, flu, norovirus, herpes, chicken pox, measles… the list goes there's a type of virus that's not interested in infiltrating our bodies, instead it preys on known as bacteria eaters, or bacteriophage, or commonly as them could give us new ways of treating infections, including superbugs that are becoming how to catch a killer?I've been promised it's surprisingly easy. The team at the Phage Collection Project sent me some vials to collect samples, along with a pair of gloves. All I need to do is hunt for some dirty water, the dirtier the better, dip the vials in and screw on the lid. I tried a couple of ponds, the juice from a worm-composting bin and then I needed my dirtiest sample. I didn't flush the toilet after a poo and left it for a couple of hours. I pop on a glove and hold my breath as I go in for the final sample. Strict hygiene instructions, including vigorous hand-washing, were followed, at all vials were packaged up for collection and then three days later I headed off to the University of Southampton to see what was inside."They were a bit dirty when I received them," phage scientist Michelle Lin tells me as we don our blue lab-coats and matching gloves to go into the Containment Level 2 microbiology grab my samples from the fridge, which look much clearer now they have been filtered of any… debris. "It's fine, it's needed," Michelle, who had the unpleasant job, reassures me. Filtering is the first step in looking for phage, next they get served dinner – a cocktail of yummy bacteria - to help them grow in comes the really cool bit – finding a useful phage. The scientists have been working with the local hospital to collect bacteria from patients with troublesome grabs a petri dish that's growing bacteria from a patient with a painful, urinary tract infection that keeps coming to my amazement – one of the phage I collected from my toilet was able to kill this infection in the lab."The way to see that the phage has infected bacteria is you get these zones where the bacteria are not growing and that's because they've been killed by the phage," says Michelle. You can see the leopard print pattern in the petri dish where the phage have been making light work of a bacterial infection that modern medicine was struggling to shift."As crazy as it sounds, well done to the toilet sample," says Michelle with great when I was offered the chance to name the phage, well of course it's the Gallagher-phage."Sounds amazing to me," says far this is all good fun in the laboratory, but could my phage ever be given to a patient?"Yes and I hope so," says associate professor Dr Franklin Nobrega as we look at images of my phage captured with an electron microscope. "Your phage, already in just 24 hours, we were able to get in a high concentration and able to be a very good killer, which means this is very promising for patients, so thank you," said Dr remind me of a moon lander – a big capsule on spindly legs – just instead of landing on the surface of the moon they use their legs to select their then hijack the bacteria and transform it into a mass-production factory for more phage, which burst out of their host, killing it in the process. There are pros and cons to phage. They reproduce as they go along so you don't need constant doses like you would with are also very picky eaters. You need a precise match between phage and the strain of bacteria you're trying to treat whereas antibiotics tend to kill everything good and bad. So it is harder to find the right phage, but if you do it comes with fewer side Nobrega tells me infected wounds are a "very good application" for phage because you can apply them directly to the injury, but they can also be inhaled via a nebuliser to treat lung infections or to target urinary tract infections "which is our target currently". Phage - the friendly virus Phage science may sound new and exciting, but it is actually a century old idea stemming from the discoveries of Felix d'Hérelle and Frederick Twort in the therapy was a branch of medicine and the idea was compelling. Even as late as the 1940s there was an active pharmaceutical industry in western countries trying to produce phage-therapy to defeat bacterial it was rapidly eclipsed by the wonder-drug of the 20th century."Antibiotics were working so well that most people said 'why bother'," says Dr Nobrega. Work on phage therapy continued in places like Georgia and there are individual accounts of it working wonders; but there hasn't been the same depth of medical research and clinical trials as there have for just as the initial success of antibiotics suppressed phage research, the failure of antibiotics is reigniting excitement at their than a million people a year are already dying from infections caused by microbes that are resistant to treatment – it's known as the "silent pandemic". By 2050, that figure is projected to reach 10 million a "antibiotic apocalypse" would mean common infections could kill again and undermine modern medicine. The drugs are also used to make organ transplants, open surgery and chemotherapy possible."The predictions around antibiotic resistance are very frightening, but the reality is we're seeing it now and it's only going to get worse," says Prof Paul Elkington, the director of the institute for medical innovation at the University of Southampton. He is also a doctor with a speciality in lung medicine and is already at the point where - after a year of treatment and turning to ever more toxic and less effective antibiotics - "in the end you have to have a conversation [and say] 'we can't treat this infection, we're really sorry'".He says we can't rely solely on antibiotics in the future and phage are a potential he warns the steps needed to get from the laboratory and into patients are "uncharted".Things are changing. Phage therapy is available in the UK on compassionate grounds when other treatments have failed. And the drugs regulator – The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – has published its first official rules to support the development of phage therapy."If one looks 15-20 years into the future, with the emerging methodologies, it's going to be possible for them to be much more widely available and for doctors to prescribe phage instead of antibiotics for some infections," says Prof you want to see if you can find a friendly virus too then The Phage Collection Project are launching their new sampling kits at the Summer Science Exhibition taking place this week at the Royal Society and through their website."Antimicrobial resistance is something that could affect all of us," says Esme Brinsden from the Phage Collection Project, "when the public get involved they may just find the next phage that can help treat and save a patient's life".Photography by the BBC's Emma Lynch
Vogue Singapore
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
The in-flight beauty routines of 3 stylish jet-setters
@ As the season of summer travel kicks into high gear, plane-bound beauty aficionados will be faced with an entirely first-world problem. How to master the art of the perfect in-flight beauty routine, and how to ensure one's beauty upkeep is maintained à l'étranger while still keeping things chic and convenient? Allow us to point you in the direction of three stylish jet-setters for inspiration: Michelle Lin, a globetrotting content creator based between London and Valencia; Iman Fandi Ahmad, Singaporean singer-songwriter and artist; and Li-Chi Pan, South African-based art director and photographer. For these personalities, traversing the globe is a pleasure in the name of both work and play. As is somehow always looking good while doing so—how exactly do they manage? All three agree that in-flight hydration is key, courtesy of nifty essentials like a trusted lip balm, rejuvenating facial mask and concentrated moisturiser. Opting for a clean complexion allows the full benefits of said skincare to soak in. However, for a dose of pre-arrival glamour, look to the likes of a quick brow touch-up, multi-tasking beauty stick across the face's high points, or a few drops of fragrance to make a polished impression upon landing. Peruse the in-flight beauty secrets of Michelle, Iman and Li-Chi below: @ 1 / 3 Michelle Lin Instagram: @ | TikTok: @ Tell us about any exciting travel plans that you have lined up! Right now, I've got a few exciting trips coming up! Ibiza, Santorini, Copenhagen and New York are all on my calendar. What beauty products do you always pack in your carry-on? I always keep it minimal but essential: What's your in-flight beauty routine that keeps you looking and feeling refreshed? I reapply SPF regularly, especially on long flights. Keeping my skin hydrated is the top priority—the Cicaplast Baume B5+ and lip oil come with me every time. I also sometimes carry a mouth refresher spray to feel extra fresh mid-flight. With such frequent travel, how do you stay on top of your beauty game? Post-flight, I love to put on a hydrating face mask like the Gold Hydralifting Mask from Omorovicza to counter the dry cabin air. Honestly, I don't change my skincare routine too often—I like to keep things simple and consistent. Once I find something that works, I stay loyal! My skin thanks me for not constantly switching products. Can you share a beauty lesson from your travels and time spent living amongst different cultures? One thing I've learnt is that less is more, especially when you're on the go. Different climates and water types can affect your skin, so sticking to a gentle, reliable routine helps maintain balance. Also, beauty isn't one size fits all—seeing how different cultures approach skincare and self-care has really opened my eyes to new rituals and ingredients I might never have tried otherwise. What are your favourite local beauty products to stock up on while travelling? Whenever I'm back in Taiwan, I stock up on mascara and mascara primers—they're just made differently in Asia! My go-to products are: Canmake and Kate mascara primers. Mascaras from 1028, Kaibeauty and the Japanese brand Kissme. I've also discovered a Japanese brand called Ahres—their Raw Melt Cleansing Balm Kuro and Boost Pomper X Serum are absolutely amazing. I've stocked up on both! @imanfandi17 2 / 3 Iman Fandi Ahmad Instagram: @imanfandi17 | TikTok: @imanfandi Do you have any exciting trips planned this summer? Yes, I do—in early July I'll be heading for a two-week trip, travelling between London, Bulgaria and Berlin. It will be my first time to Bulgaria and Berlin so I am really excited. What beauty products do you always pack in your carry-on? Please outline your in-flight beauty routine for us—how do you stay looking and feeling fresh? I moisturise really well before my flight and apply sunblock. I've been told that less is more so I always try to just keep my skin hydrated and carry a face mask, especially on longer flights. I like to use Romi Beauty's Glow Getter Treatment Mask if I have time; otherwise, I'll use a face mist like Pixi's Hydrating Milky Mist or the travel-size Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray. What is your favourite travel beauty tip? Always hydrate your skin and protect it from the sun by applying sunblock. I also travel with my own hair curl cream, which I apply after being in the ocean or when my hair is really dry and I want my curls to bounce. I use Fenty Hair's Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment. Where in the world do you feel the most beautiful? Anywhere with a beach. I love travelling to places where I can feel the ocean breeze and sun, and there's just something about dressing up in tropical sundresses that makes me feel beautiful. Even if I happen to go for a more city-like destination, I try to stop somewhere where I can still surround myself in nature. @lichipan 3 / 3 Li-Chi Pan Lin Instagram: @lichipan | Website: Do you have any exciting travel plans lined up this season? Yes, I will be taking a 10-day trip to New York and Boston this summer. My first cousin is getting married so I will be travelling for his wedding. What beauty products do you always pack in your carry-on? When it comes to carry-on essentials, simplicity and hydration are key as well as TSA-approved sizes. My must-haves are: Optional extras would be a silk eye mask, travel hairbrush and essential oil roller. Do you have any beauty or wellness rituals that you maintain to feel at home while travelling? In order to feel grounded and at home no matter where I am, I stick to my skincare routine. I stay consistent with double cleansing and moisturising, using travel-sized versions of my essentials. I usually travel with my Omnilux Contour Face—a red light therapy mask—and use it as downtime once I'm in bed. A warm cup of chrysanthemum or barley tea also helps maintain my internal balance, which can be disrupted during my travels. What beauty product makes for the best travel souvenir? Locally made skincare or fragrance that uses native or local ingredients. A stand-out for me would be Officine Universelle Buly's Baume des Muses. The lip balm is a celebration of natural ingredients and is housed in a compact box where you can have your initials embossed in gilt letters, adding a personal touch. Please share a beauty lesson that you have learnt from your travels. One of the greatest lessons I've learnt from my travels is that beauty is about rituals. Skincare should not be rushed. Cleansing should be mindful and deliberate. As I've gotten older I've realised that it's less about chasing flawless skin and more about embracing the process of caring for your skin with intention.
