Small World Iniative -an initiative that emerged at Yale University in 2012 to encourage the discovery of new antibiotics and promote scientific culture- has held its first closing gala. In total, more than 200 students from 9 schools in Navarra took part in this edition: IESO Elortzibar, IES Navarro Villoslada, Sagrado Corazón, Maristas, Luis Amigó, Hijas de Jesús, Nuestra Señora del Huerto, Ikastola san Fermín and Instituto Askatasuna. In addition, 50 students from the degrees of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, and 8 professors and doctoral students from the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology of the University of Navarra have collaborated.

All of them have worked with the students, throughout the course, to take up to 1,760 bacterial isolates from different soils. Of all the samples, 75 have shown antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and one of them also shows bactericidal activity.

In addition to the discovery of new bacteria that can become new antibiotics, the main objective of this project is to awaken scientific vocations among young people and raise awareness of the serious problem of the inappropriate use of antibiotics and the growing emergence of super-resistant bacteria.

As a result of this first edition, two students from the Faculty of Sciences have developed their Final Degree Projects on the initiative and next year they will carry out the isolation of the bacterial strains that have demonstrated antimicrobial activity. "In general, the participants have indicated that they would recommend this activity to other colleagues and centers and want to know how the research continues. In addition, they have highlighted that they are now more aware of the problem of antibiotic resistance. Likewise, the teachers have pointed out that the students have acquired, through their participation in SWI, new practical skills", highlights the head of SWI, David González, professor of Microbiology at the University of Navarra.