Lucie Valentová

Towards phage therapy against antibiotics-resistant P. aeruginosa

Lector: Mgr. Pavel Plevka, Ph.D.

Institution: Masaryk University, CEITEC MU

Field: Life sciences - Structural Biology

 

About the project

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a human pathogen that causes acute and chronic infections, which can lead to life-threating septic shock. Treatments of the infections are further complicated by frequent antibiotic-resistance of P. aeruginosa biofilm. This project aims to explore the ability of Siphoviridae phages to penetrate through biofilm, infect and kill Pseudomonas cells using methods of fluorescent and cryo-electron microscopy. The results will enable development of phages into therapeutic tools

 

Why science?

After my Ph.D. I would like to use all the knowledge and skills I gain during the studies and I would like to help to bring the phage therapy into clinical practise to save human lives and make the world better place. I imagine my future job in a research department of a medical company dealing with the development of new drugs and treatments or in an organization such as World Health Organization.

 

What do I like most about Brno

What do I like the most about Brno? I like sunsets on Medlánecké hills, grilled ribs in one restaurant near the Svratka river and electron microscopes.