Title: Inhibiting the Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance
Speaker: Houra Merrikh, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University
Topic:
Antimicrobial resistance rapidly develops against almost all available therapeutics. New antibiotics target essential processes in bacteria but fail to address the root of the problem: mutagenesis and evolution. We recently proposed that inhibiting the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial evolution is the ultimate solution to preventing drug resistance development. In my seminar, I will discuss our progress on this topic and introduce the first anti-evolution drug that directly targets a critical bacterial mutagenesis mechanism that drives antibiotic resistance development.
Host: Dept of Microbiogy-Immunolgy Bacteriology Postdoctoral Trainees and Graduate Students (coordinating host, Wendy Geslewitz)