Departmental Seminar: Dr. Eric Brown

Students, Faculty, and Postdocs are invited to attend the MoGen seminar below: 

Speaker: Dr. Eric Brown
Institution: McMaster University
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM 
Hosts: Dr. Brenda Andrews & Charlie Boone
Location: Lassonde Mining Building MB 128

Title:
 "Starving Bacteria to Find New Antibiotics.” (Download Seminar Poster)

Abstract:
Antibiotic discovery typically studies bacteria in nutrient-rich laboratory media that poorly reflect conditions during infection. In the host, pathogens face nutrient stress that reshapes metabolism and changes which genes and pathways are essential for survival. Exploring bacterial physiology under these conditions reveals metabolic vulnerabilities that conventional screens miss. Nutrient stress also exposes hidden costs of antibiotic resistance, creating opportunities to exploit resistance mechanisms therapeutically. By recreating aspects of the host nutritional environment, we can uncover new antibacterial targets, discover compounds that act only under infection-relevant conditions, and identify strategies to turn resistance itself into a liability for bacterial pathogens.