Could the Roman Baths help us develop new antibiotics?
Our researchers are hoping to make ground-breaking discoveries within one of the UK’s most popular tourist sites
The are famous the world over.
Located at the heart of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Baths regularly rank among the 10 most visited tourist attractions in the UK, with more than one million people touring the hot springs and other collections each year.
But could the Baths be much more than a historical marvel and tourist attraction?
Our researchers are hoping microbial isolates from the Roman Baths could help them discover new antimicrobial compounds. Their hope is these compounds could form the basis of a new generation of antibiotics, urgently needed to stem the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
What does the project involve?
This research is co-funded by the
School of Biomedical Sciences and the
School of Biological and Marine Sciences . It was originally led by
Dr Lee Hutt , working with
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science students, which resulted in a 2024 study that uncovered never-before-seen microorganisms living with the Roman Baths complex.
Read more:Could the Roman Baths help scientists counter the challenge of antibiotic resistance?
While many visitors see the Roman Baths as a stunning historical site, as a researcher, I recognise its potential as a rich source of natural products that could address the pressing global challenges we face today.
Josephine Prole
PhD student
The work is now being taken forward by Dr Hutt and PhD researcher
Josie Prole . They regularly visit the Roman Baths to collect biofilm, sediment, and water samples from the Great Bath, the King’s Spring and the connecting channel, and to see what bacteria are living within them. They also measure the temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, pH and salinity of the water to fully understand the conditions in which particular bacteria thrive.
The samples are transported back to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ where they are analysed in our laboratories. They are subjected to techniques including DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and next generation sequencing analysis, and the results are assessed using bioinformatics techniques to see whether they have the potential to form new antibiotics.
What has the research found so far?
For the 2024 study, published in the journal , researchers isolated around 300 distinct types of bacteria across the Roman Baths site – among them the key candidate groups, Actinobacteria and Myxococcota, known for antibiotic production.
Throughout the project, over 50 bacterial isolates belonging to the phylum Actinomycetota, have been tested against a panel of antibiotic-resistant pathogens known as the ESKAPE pathogens. This internationally recognised group includes bacteria capable of causing life-threatening infections, making the search for effective antimicrobial compounds a global priority.
Our isolates have demonstrated activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, highlighting their potential in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The waters of the Roman Baths have long been regarded for their medicinal properties. Now, thanks to advances in modern science, we might be on the verge of discovering the Romans – and others since – were right.
Dr Lee Hutt
Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Principal Investigator
Meet the researchers
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![Josephine Prole]( "Josephine Prole")
Josephine Prole
PhD student
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![Dr Lee Hutt Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences]( "Dr Lee Hutt")
Dr Lee Hutt
Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences
What is AMR and why is it an issue?
AMR is one of the biggest threats to human health.
Since Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have been essential for treating bacterial infections and enabling life-saving medical procedures such as transplants, surgeries, and childbirth.
However, bacteria and other pathogens are slowly evolving so drugs such as antibiotics are becoming less effective at killing them. A lack of proper regulations around their use is placing their effectiveness at risk, increasing the spread of drug-resistant infections.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand the drugs designed to eliminate them, posing a severe threat to global health. The problem has been exacerbated by excessive antibiotic misuse and overuse in both healthcare and agriculture.
Predictions show that as many as 10 million people a year could die by the year 2050 if we do not discover new antibiotics we can use to replace these drugs.
Without such action, we risk returning to a pre-antibiotic era where even routine medical procedures become life-threatening. Fleming himself warned of antibiotic resistance as early as the 1940s – a prediction that is now becoming a reality. Yet, despite decades of expert warnings, many countries and industries still lack effective policies to regulate antibiotic use, accelerating the spread of resistant infections.
Our role in fighting antimicrobial resistance
"If new, powerful antibiotic drugs are not discovered, we 'may' return to the pre-antibiotic era." – Professor Mathew Upton
The PLymouth ANtimicrobial EngagemenT (PLANET) Initiative unites researchers from across the University to highlight the issue of antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance. Our programme of drug discovery is helping to realise the next generation of powerful antibiotics to treat and prevent drug-resistant infections.
Sharing our findings with Roman Baths visitors
In 2025, Josie and Lee secured funding through the
Explore Awards for a public engagement project educating on the dangers of antimicrobial resistance and the importance of responsible antibiotic use. Its objectives included fostering curiosity, increase awareness, and inspire a greater appreciation for microbiology and its impact on public health.
As part of British Science Week in 2025, they showcased the research and highlighted its importance in tackling antimicrobial resistance. Visitors got hands-on by swabbing everyday items to discover the bacteria they unknowingly carry with them. These swabs were later cultured in the lab, and the results were both fascinating and eye-opening.
Participants also had the chance to observe microorganisms found at the Roman Baths – such as blue-green algae – under a microscope, offering a closer look at the hidden microbial world. The event opened conversations about antimicrobial resistance and gave visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with microbiology, exploring the unseen world around them with curiosity and enthusiasm.
Why public engagement?
In addition to novel antimicrobial discovery, raising public awareness is essential to slowing the rise of AMR. When more people understand AMR, they are more likely to take medication properly, reducing misuse and easing the pressure on doctors to overprescribe antibiotics.
Increased awareness also encourages policymakers to take stronger action, particularly in regulating large-scale antibiotic use in agriculture.
Our goal is to educate people about AMR – what it is, why it matters, and what they can do to help combat it.
Partnered with
Researching at the Roman Baths has inspired my future
"Working at the Roman Baths has granted me much-needed experience and knowledge which has helped me tremendously in finding direction in my life and career."
