How to bust up a bacterial biofilm

An NIH lecture explores how bacterial biofilms contribute to chronic infections and strategies to disrupt them.

How to bust up a bacterial biofilm Air date: Wednesday, March 27, 2019, 3:00:00 PM Category: WALS - Wednesday Afternoon Lectures Runtime: 00:50:39 Description: NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series The Bakaletz laboratory’s research focus is attempting to understand the pathogenic mechanisms operational in the highly prevalent pediatric disease, otitis media (OM) (or middle ear infection). Specifically, we are interested in elucidating how upper respiratory tract viruses predispose the middle ear to invasion by any of the three predominant bacterial pathogens of OM (nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae). We are also interested in understanding how bacterial biofilms contribute to the recurrence and chronicity of OM, chronic rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, chronic cough and exacerbations of both COPD and CF. With this enhanced understanding, we then attempt to identify potential molecular targets for the design, development and pre-clinical testing of novel vaccine candidates or therapeutics using an animal model of viral-bacterial superinfection that closely mimics the polymicrobial nature of OM in children. Our long-term goal is to develop novel methods to more effectively treat or preferably, to prevent, otitis media and other respiratory tract infections where there is a biofilm component to the disease course. For more information go to oir.nih.gov/wals/2018-2019/how-bust-bacterial-biofilm Lauren O. Bakaletz, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Otolaryngology, Vice President for Basic Sciences, Director, Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Permanent link: videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?27402