Erika Handly (YAFFE LAB)

A CRISPR Screen to Identify Combination Therapies for Improved Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death for women in the United States, with only modest improvements in treatment in the past few decades. Primary treatment is surgical debulking followed by a combination of taxane and platinum agents, but relapse and resistance are frequently seen. This talk will introduce a CRISPR-based screen approach to identify new targets that can be combined with conventional therapies to increase drug efficacy and overcome resistance to treatment.

Mia Lieberman (FOX LAB)

Characterization of Multi-drug Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Research Macaques

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Enterococcus faecalis is a common and serious cause of human nosocomial infections due to widespread antimicrobial resistance and persistence in biofilms. We have identified and characterized 15 MDR E. faecalis isolates cultured from cephalic recording chambers of macaques used in neuroscience research. Representative whole genome sequencing identified several antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor genes suggesting that implanted macaques can be used to model human implant-associated enterococcal infections.