Events in The Medical School

Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease seminars

Wednesday 1st April 2020 **POSTPONED**

Speaker: Dr Pedro Moura Alves, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford.

Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre 3, F Floor Medical School.

Title: "Spying on bacterial communication: AhR sensing of bacterial quorum and infection dynamics.”

Abstract: The interaction between a bacterial pathogen and its host can be viewed as an “arms race” in which each participant continuously responds to the evolving strategies of the other partner. A mechanism allowing bacteria to rapidly adapt to such changing circumstances is provided by density-dependent cell-to-cell communication known as Quorum Sensing (QS).

QS involves a hierarchy of signaling molecules, which in pathogenic bacteria is associated with biofilm formation and virulence regulation. Notably, some QS molecules are detected by the host, and these can provoke specific immune responses. However, the receptors and their signaling pathways that the host uses to eavesdrop on bacteria remain poorly understood.

We hypothesized that if a host sensor can detect and differentiate between bacterial QS molecules and their expression patterns, it will allow hosts to customize their immune responses according to the stage and state of infection. We have previously discovered that the host aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) directly recognizes bacterial pigmented virulence factors, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) phenazines.

Currently, our results demonstrate that infected hosts show differential modulation of host AhR signaling over the course of P. aeruginosa infection in zebrafish, mice, and human cells. Further, modulation of AhR signaling depends on the relative abundances of several classes of P. aeruginosa QS molecules. In vitro and in vivo studies show that the AhR not only detects P. aeruginosa QS molecules in a qualitative way but also quantifies their relative abundances.

Quantitative assessment enables the host to sense bacterial community densities that may have distinct gene expression programs and infection dynamics, and thereby to regulate the scale and intensity of host defense mechanisms, which can range from induction of inflammatory mediators to immune cell recruitment and bacterial clearance. We propose that by spying on bacterial quorum, the AhR acts as a major sensor of infection dynamics, capable of orchestrating host defense according to the status quo of infection.

Tuesday 30th June 2020

Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Title: A multi-omics approach to cardiovascular disease

Venue: Lecture Theatre 3, F Floor Medical School.

Speaker: Professor Manuel Mayr, King's College London.

Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases result from a complex interplay of genes and environmental factors. A clear picture of how these different factors impact on individuals is yet to emerge. While studying individual molecules has been a research focus for many years and has provided important insights, the attention has since shifted towards a more integrative -omics approach. By applying different -omics technologies to samples from human biobanks and preclinical models, our aim is to demonstrate how a multi-omics approach can contribute to a better understanding of cardiovascular diseases.

Neuroscience seminars

There are currently no upcoming seminars.

Oncology and Metabolism seminars

Friday 20 March 2020 - CANCELLED

Hosted by 'Oncology'

Time: 1.00pm - 2.00 pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre 3, F Floor, Medical School

Speaker: Dr Katherine Bridge, University of York

Title: 'Reprogramming HIF-1 in blood cancer: converting an oncoprotein into a tumour suppressor'

Click here to view bio/abstract

Friday 26 June 2020

Dr Andrew Blackford, University of Oxford, Title: TBC, Lecture Theatre 3, F Floor, The Medical School, University of Sheffield

Internal seminar series

The department also holds internal seminars - for more information, see the full programme.