Description:

Title: Fusobacterium nucleatum: an oral commensal turned gut oncomicrobe 

Topic:  There is growing evidence that microbiome dysbiosis contributes to the development, progression, and treatment responsiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC). Fusobacterium nucleatum is a member of the oropharyngeal microbiome and opportunistic pathogen that is strikingly enriched in mucosal and fecal samples from CRC patients. Currently, there is controversy as to whether F. nucleatum is a driver or passenger in colon tumorigenesis. Our translational work on F. nucleatum utilizes clinical samples, mouse models, and bioinformatics to address key open questions about F. nucleatum pathogenesis in the context of CRC.

Speaker:Jessica Queen, MD, PhD, Professor, Johns Hopkins

Host: Karla Satchell, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology