Could viruses help fight diabetes related foot ulcers?

New research by South Australians and funded by Diabetes Australia will look at how bacteriophages – viruses that infect and kill bacteria – could be used to treat diabetes-related foot ulcers.

The research, led by Dr Peter Speck at Flinders University, is one of five new research grants across South Australia announced by Diabetes Australia today.

A/Professor Greg Johnson, CEO of Diabetes Australia, said the organisation was committed to funding research that helped improve the lives of people with diabetes and the Australian health system.

He pointed to the work of Dr Peter Speck and his team at Flinders University as an example of how research can transform the lives of families across Australia.

“There are more than 4,400 amputations every year in Australia as a result of diabetes and many of those amputations begin with small sores or ulcers,” A/Professor Johnson said.

“Dr Speck’s research into bacteriophages to treat diabetes-related foot ulcers is a new frontier in reducing the impact of diabetes-related amputations.”

“Many of the bacteria that infect diabetes-related foot ulcers, including staphylococcus aureus, are resistant to antibiotics so there is hope that bacteriophages – viruses that infect and kill bacteria – could provide a more effective alternative to antibiotics.”

A/Professor Johnson said the grants would support research across a range of subjects encompassing all types of diabetes.

“We are excited to be able to support researchers at leading South Australian institutes including Flinders University, University of Adelaide and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute,” he said.

“Diabetes is the single biggest challenge confronting Australia’s health system and research into how we can prevent and manage the condition is critical to meeting the challenges we face.”

The Diabetes Australia Research Program was established in 1987 to support and develop diabetes related research across Australia. The program provides funding towards the prevention, management and cure of all types of diabetes, as well as enabling and fostering young and upcoming researchers in the field of diabetes research.
Each year outstanding research projects are selected through a merit based, competitive, peer review process.

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