The Antibiotic Hunters 2015
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Sue Ridout
Directed by Bruce Mohun
DVD, color, 44 min., SDH Captions
General Adult
Medicine, Health Sciences, Biology, Pharmaceutical Industry
Date Entered: 12/08/2015
Reviewed by James Gordon, University at Buffalo LibrariesAntibiotic superbugs are killing people. As time passes, strains of bacteria resistant to antibiotics evolve. Scientists play a cat and mouse game trying to find new antibiotics that work against newly evolved resistant strains. Finding replacements for our aging assortment of antibiotics is a challenge that needs more attention.
Here the focus is on scientists who do field work in combination with laboratory tests in the quest to find new antibiotics. With footage from Panama, the film shows many interesting, enticing and dangerous aspects of being a research biologist.
This episode of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s The Nature of Things originally aired in Canada 8/29/2015.
This television program will be of interest to anyone whose life has been affected by a superbug. High school students interested in choosing a career in biology will find this program a window into the life of biologists. Policy makers involved with health care issues will learn much more needs to be done to find new antibiotics.