Clinical Microbiology: Open Access

Multiple approaches to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a global human opportunist and multiple-drugresistant bacterial pathogen

Joint Event on 8^th Annual Congress on CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES & 13^th World Congress on VIROLOGY, INFECTIONS AND OUTBREAKS

December 05-06, 2018 | Vancouver, Canada

Joanna S Brooke

DePaul University, USA

Keynote: Clin Microbiol

Abstract:

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a bacterial pathogen found in moist environments in nature and hospitals. In humans, S. maltophilia can cause various infections including those of the respiratory tract, bloodstream, soft tissue and bone, eye, heart and the brain. In susceptible patient populations, this pathogen is associated with a significant mortality rate. S. maltophilia forms biofilms on moist surfaces and we have observed clinical isolates to form biofilms on the glass and different plastics. S. maltophilia can form biofilms on tissues and devices implanted in humans; biofilm infections are difficult and costly to treat. This pathogen is intrinsically drug resistant and is able to acquire resistance across various antibiotics including beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, polymyxins, macrolides, carbapenems, chloramphenicol and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole. The steady rise in drug resistance of this pathogen worldwide necessitates using new alternative approaches to the treatment of S. maltophilia infections. One goal of our laboratory is to study the molecular mechanisms used by this pathogen and subsequently identify suitable targets for therapies designed against S. maltophilia. We are investigating multiple interactions of S. maltophilia with its natural habitat to further our understanding of how this organism survives and persists inside/outside the clinical setting. We have observed that this habitat can provide novel sources that inhibit growth and biofilm development of S. maltophilia. Data acquired from our laboratory demonstrate how multiple approaches used in combination may be used against S. maltophilia. These studies may provide insight into developing new therapies and improving our use of already established antimicrobials against this bacterium.

Biography :

Joanna S Brooke is a Professor in the Department of Biology at DePaul University. She holds a Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario, with focus on bacterial lipopolysaccharide assembly and bacterial cell ultrastructure, respectively. Her Postdoctoral research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center investigated the interactions of diphtheria toxin with its receptor. Her current research examines S. maltophilia and its biofilms. She also studies other potential bacterial pathogens. She has published 21 papers in peer-reviewed journals. She has been a Guest Associate Editor for a Frontiers Research Topic on S. maltophilia.

E-mail: jbrooke@depaul.edu