KNOXVILLE — Stephen Kania, associate professor of comparative medicine at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will deliver this week’s UT Science Forum lecture, “Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococci: Staying One Step Ahead.” His talk will begin at noon on Friday, March 26, in Thompson-Boling Arena Dining Room C-D.
The UT Science Forum is a weekly event where leading science researchers share their discoveries and discuss the frontiers of their fields in a way that the general public can understand.
UT Science Forum programs are free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches or purchase lunch at the Café at the Arena.
Kania’s research examines the transfer of resistance between different populations of bacteria and explores regional differences in methicillin, a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“Resistance to antibiotics among staphylococci affecting dogs has increased rapidly in the past 10 years,” Kania said. “Methicillin resistance is associated with resistance to many different types of antibiotics. We are particularly interested in knowing how antibiotic resistance is transferred and if there is a risk of transfer between staphylococci on pets and owners.”
Resistance to methicillin can result in several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. By exploring this topic, Kania will discuss how this affects human livelihood with relation to their pets.
The UT Science Forum is sponsored by the UT Office of Research. Upcoming presentations include:
- April 2: No meeting.
- April 9: Bob Hatcher, professor and distinguished scientist of earth and planetary sciences, presents “Evidence for a 25,000-Year History of Earthquake Activity in Eastern Tennessee.”
- April 16: Soren Sorensen, professor and head of physics and astronomy, presents “The End of the Universe.”
- April 23: Forbes Walker, associate professor of biosystems engineering & soil science, presents “Developing Conservation Agriculture Systems in Africa.”
- April 30: Suzanne Lenhart, professor of mathematics, presents “The Power of Optimal Control: From Confining Rabies to Improving CPR.”
For questions about the UT Science Forum, contact Mark Littmann, littmann@utk.edu or 974-8156, or Mike Clark, clarkgmorph@utk.edu or 974-6006.
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C O N T A C T :
Bridget Hardy (865-974-2225, bhardy4@utk.edu)