Abstract:
We will present biofilm models enabling antimicrobial penetration and killing to be tracked over time. Examples of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus mutans as mono and polymicrobial biofilms on abiotic or biotic surfaces will be used. Inclusion of novel optical nanosensors enables monitoring changes in these environments in real time on a single cell level. Key questions:
– What happens to pH during antimicrobial penetration?
– How do antimicrobials penetrate biofilms?
– Do antimicrobials kill bacteria as they penetrate biofilms?
Dr. Hardie is an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and a leading authority on autotransporter proteins, bacterial secreted proteins found to act as virulence factors.
