1st Speaker: Megan Nas, Graduate Student, Cianciotto Lab
Seminar Title: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Has A Type IV Secretion System That Promotes Competition With Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Topic: The multi-drug resistant, gram negative bacterium, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, is increasingly recognized as an important opportunistic and nosocomial pathogen. Despite the rise in incidence of S. maltophilia infection, there is little known about its virulence. We have determined that S. maltophilia has a type IV secretion system that uniquely confers multiple cell type dependent effects. Studying this virulence factor is critical to achieving full understanding of S. maltophilia pathogenesis and ultimately to developing antibiotic targets against this opportunistic infection. This talk will focus on the S. maltophiliatype IV dependent antibacterial activity we have documented, particularly relevant in the context of the Cystic Fibrosis lung, an environment that S. maltophilia co-colonizes with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria. Pursuit of this phenomenon can contribute to the characterization of an unidentified T4SS antibacterial effector.
2nd Speaker: Lubov Grigoryeva, Graduate Student, Cianciotto Lab
Seminar Title: Surface and Endosomal TLRs Required for the Cytokine Response of Human Macrophages to Legionella pneumophila Infection
Topic: Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative bacterium that causes a severe form of pneumonia known as Legionnaire’s disease. This project seeks to understand the mechanisms of innate immune signaling in human macrophages after Legionella pneumophila infection. Toll-Like Receptors and downstream elements involved in human macrophage Legionella pneumophila recognition will be discussed.
Host: Nicholas, Cianciotto, PhD
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/93113129745
Meeting ID: 931 1312 9745