Siderophores are essential for bacterial pathogenesis—does that make them a weakness for researchers to exploit?

The arrival in the US of plasmid-mediated resistance to colistin antibiotics, a last line of defense against many gram-negative bacilli, and a quorum sensing system in a eukaryote are topics of this episode hosted by Vincent, Michael, and Michele.

Dr. Blaser speaks about his book "Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics is Fueling Our Modern Plagues."

Recent success in joining the 30S and 50S bacterial ribosomal subunits into a single, functioning entity and the implications of that work in terms of making specialized proteins and for studying antibiotics that target the ribosome.

Antibiotic stewardship programs, which promote the appropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals and other healthcare centers, can not only lead to reduction in antibiotic use with no adverse effects but can also lead to significant savings, over $600,000 annually in the case of one New York Hospital. Participants will discuss case studies of two such programs.

Mastoparan, a natural, highly positively charged AMP derived from the venom of wasps, is a highly effective antibacterial agent and is therefore a potential alternative to currently antibiotics. Participants discuss the potential of this new compound as well as the increasing understanding of the role antibiotics play in nature.

Participants discuss variables involved in the development of the infant microbiome and how it affects adult metabolism and body composition in mouse models.

Program Committee member Karen Bush will overview of new drugs and clinical trial data being presented this years highlighting the more promising compounds and will discuss the overall state of the antibiotic pipeline.

Martin Blaser studies Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that live in the stomachs of billions of people. Blaser has shown that H. pylori has a strange double life inside of us. On the one hand, it can cause ulcers and gastric cancer. On the other hand, it can protect us from diseases of the esophagus, allergies, asthma, and perhaps even obesity.