For the organic/inorganic seminar this Friday, Professor DeRose is hosting Lynette Cegelski from Stanford University. Come check it out. Listed below is an abstract of the talk and all pertinent details.

Lynette Cegelski
Stanford University

2:30 pm, 331 Klamath Hall
Coffee Reception 2:00PM in Klamath 377

Title: Structure, Function, and Inhibition of Bacterial Biofilms: Lessons from Small Molecules and a Big Magnet

Abstract:
Bacterial biofilms are complex multicellular assemblies that exhibit resistance to antibiotics and contribute to the pathogenesis of serious and chronic infectious diseases. As insoluble and non-crystalline materials, biofilms pose a challenge to analysis by conventional methods. We are working to transform vague biofilm descriptors from terms like slime and glue into quantitative parameters of chemical and molecular composition. We recently developed an approach that integrates non-perturbative preparation of the extracellular matrix with electron microscopy, biochemistry and solid-state NMR spectroscopy to define the chemical composition of the intact and insoluble extracellular matrix of a clinically important pathogenic bacterium–uropathogenic E. coli. Our data permitted a sum-of-all-the-parts analysis. In our chemical biology efforts, we have also discovered small-molecule biofilm inhibitors of E. coli biofilms and we are examining their influence on biofilm composition and architecture. I will discuss these results and our emerging discoveries in biofilms formed by Vibrio cholerae.

Website: http://cegelskilab.stanford.edu/

Refreshments will be served at 2:00pm in 377 Klamath
Seminar will begin at 2:30PM in 331 Klamath.
Hosted by Prof. Vickie DeRose