Seminar: Dr. Som Chatterjee

Title: Novel signaling mechanisms that lead to resistance of cell wall reactive antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus

Speaker: Dr. Som Chatterjee (Assistant Professor, UMB-IMET)

Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is an important bacterial pathogen that can cause severe infections to humans. Cell wall reactive antibiotics, such as beta-lactams, is one of the gold standards for treatment of bacterial infections due to their efficacy and safety of use in clinics. Resistance to beta-lactams makes it often very difficult for it to be used for therapy.  We have recently identified that the second messenger Cyclic-Di-AMP (CDA) and a Serine-Threonine Kinase (STK) signaling system play a crucial role in beta-lactam resistance in S. aureus.  Currently the lab is focused to determine the mechanisms through which CDA and STK mediate resistance against beta-lactam drugs.