BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Competition and conjugation: the tale of antibiotic resistance spr
 eading in three colours - Pakpoom Subsoontorn\, Jim Haseloff Lab
DTSTART:20151217T130000Z
DTEND:20151217T140000Z
UID:TALK61180@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:38889
DESCRIPTION:DNA transfer via conjugation plays a major role in the dissemi
 nation of antibiotic resistance among medically significant bacterial spec
 ies. In this study\, we developed a technique for visualising spatial dist
 ribution of conjugating bacterial population on a solid surface. Populatio
 ns of donor\, recipient and transconjugant cells can be distinguished usin
 g three different fluorescent reporters. We show that the fractal dimensio
 n of the interface between donor and recipient populations determines popu
 lation-level conjugation efficiency.  Additionally\, competition for nutri
 ents available at colony borders results in stochastic loss of cell divers
 ity and increases variability of observed conjugation frequencies across d
 ifferent colonies. Our ability to monitor the dynamics of conjugation espe
 cially in the context of growth and competition within bacterial populatio
 n would lead to better understanding of how antibiotic resistance spreads 
 and how we might prevent it.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR