Medical Wire & Equipment (MWE) is proud to support Swab and Send, a citizen science antibiotic discovery programme led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) through the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON).
MWE has generously donated swabs to support the programme, helping researchers investigate microorganisms collected from a wide range of environments as part of the ongoing search for new antimicrobial compounds.
Bringing citizen science into antibiotic discovery
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major global healthcare challenges of our time. As bacteria and other microorganisms become resistant to existing treatments, the search for new antimicrobial compounds is increasingly important.
Swab and Send invites members of the public to contribute to this research by sampling the world around them. Participants can collect samples from a wide variety of sources, including soil, plants and everyday objects such as mobile phones and light switches, as well as less familiar environments.
These samples are then sent to the research team at LSTM for investigation, giving scientists access to a diverse range of microorganisms that could hold potential for future antimicrobial discovery.
By involving the public in sample collection, Swab and Send helps researchers explore microorganisms from environments beyond those typically accessed through laboratory-based research alone.
From environmental samples to potential discoveries
Once the swabs arrive at the laboratory, researchers culture microorganisms from the collected samples and isolate individual microorganisms for further investigation.
The isolates are screened for antimicrobial activity against indicator microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Candida auris. Researchers look for zones of inhibition: clear areas around an isolate where the growth of an indicator microorganism has been inhibited.
Isolates that demonstrate promising antimicrobial activity are classified as ‘hit’ isolates. These can then be investigated further to understand their activity and identify the compounds responsible.
Although identifying a hit is only one stage in a much longer research process, these findings can help scientists explore potential sources of new antimicrobial compounds.
Supporting reliable sample collection
The quality of sample collection is an important part of the Swab and Send programme. Microorganisms need to be collected successfully and remain viable for subsequent laboratory investigation, making the performance and reliability of the swabs an important consideration.
The Swab and Send team highlighted the value of MWE’s contribution:
“The quality and reliability of the swabs supplied by MWE Products have been extremely valuable to our Swab and Send programme, enabling us to collect environmental samples from a wide range of locations and support our ongoing search for microorganisms with antimicrobial activity.”
MWE’s donation of swabs helps support sample collection on a substantial scale, providing researchers with more opportunities to investigate environmental microorganisms and identify promising candidates for further study.
Agar plates Swab and Send Team have recovered from with MWE swabs, and location of where the swabs were taken from
As a UK manufacturer of specimen collection and transport systems, MWE is pleased to contribute to research that addresses an important global health challenge. Supporting Swab and Send is an opportunity to put our products to use in an innovative programme that brings together public participation and scientific research.
We are proud to play a part in the programme and look forward to following its progress.
Find out more about Swab and Send
Visit the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s Swab and Send project page to learn more about the programme and how members of the public can get involved.
Working together to support research
From environmental sampling to laboratory research, reliable specimen collection is an important part of the research process.
If you’re working on a research project and looking for specimen collection solutions, MWE would welcome the opportunity to discuss your requirements and explore how our products could support your work.
