Faculty-Invited Speaker: Dr. Jean-Marc Ghigo
April 23 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Dr. Jean-Marc Ghigo from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France will be delivering a talk on April 23, 2025 at 3:00 pm in the MSL seminar room (MSL 102). This visit has been organized by Dr. Carolina Tropini, and will be co-hosted by Dr. Brett Finlay.
Talk title: Causes and consequences of biofilm tolerance to antibiotics
Abstract: In most environments, bacteria predominantly exist as surface-attached or aggregated three-dimensional structures known as biofilms. In these communities, bacteria encounter unique physicochemical conditions and undergo profound physiological changes associated with biofilm-specific properties. One key biofilm-specific trait is their high, but reversible, tolerance to antibiotics. Hence, while biofilms play important roles in many ecological processes, those formed by bacterial pathogens also lead to frequent therapeutic failures and represent a major challenge in both human and animal healthcare. I will discuss how studying bacterial adaptation to surfaces sheds light on the interplay between biofilm tolerance and true antibiotic resistance, bringing new perspectives for mitigating biofilm-associated infections and curbing the development of antibiotic resistance in specific clinical settings.
