Pathogenic evolution of bacteria
I will extend our published work (Science 2016, Science 2021, Nature Micro 2021, Nature Micro 2022) to describe how bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Mycobacteria, can evolve from environmental saprophytes into specialist lung pathogens through discrete (and generalisable) steps involving (i) saltational evolution of virulence in specific environmental clones driven by horizontal gene transfer; (ii) allopatric, within-host adaptation during chronic infection; (iii) constrained evolution while transmission is via environmental intermediaries; and eventually (iv) accelerated pathogenic evolution once direct person-to-person transmission is established.
I will discuss how innate immunity may drive host-specific adaptations through transcriptional rewiring and provide targets for host-directed therapy.
Date: 18 September 2023, 14:00 (Monday, -2nd week, Michaelmas 2023)
Venue: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road OX1 3RE
Venue Details: EPA Seminar Room
Speaker: Professor Andres Floto (Heart Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge)
Organising department: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
Organiser: Jo Peel (University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology)
Organiser contact email address: jo.peel@path.ox.ac.uk
Host: Professor Matthew Freeman (Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford)
Part of: Dunn School of Pathology Research Seminars
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Jo Peel