[Seminar] Vaccine development against antibiotic resistant pathogens

Title: Vaccine development against antibiotic resistant pathogens

Speaker: Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, Head of the Microbiology Division at Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germany

Abstract: The clinical consequences of antimicrobial resistance are therapeutic failures in the treatment of infections we no longer worried about. Therefore, spread of antibiotic resistance is considered a silent pandemic. The global emergence of resistant bacterial pathogens has prompted the search for new antibiotics and alternatives including vaccines, anti-infective monoclonal antibodies and bacteriophages. This lecture will provide an overview on the most relevant pathogens, resistance mechanisms and product developments. It will further address the inherent challenges in the development of alternative prophylactic and therapeutic approaches, their potential use and the expected impact of antimicrobial resistance development.

Short CV: Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding is Head of the Microbiology Division and acting director of the Center for Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics (ZEPAI) at Paul-Ehrlich-Institut. She is Associate Professor at the University of Bonn and holds a clinical specialization in Medical Microbiology, Virology and Epidemiology of Infection, and a research track record in immunology. Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding received Medical School training at the Universities of Heidelberg, Padova (Italy) and Mt. Sinai, New York, and clinical training in Munich and Heidelberg. Before joining PEI she was deputy director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology in Bonn. Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding served as Chair of the Scientific Committee of the IMI2 JU program.