Molecular and Cellular Biology Seminar | Samantha Hunter, Oct. 17

The Molecular and Cellular Biology Seminar series (MCB7410) features Samantha Hunter discussing "The Rise of the Hollow Fiber Infection Model " on Oct. 17 at 3:30 PM in Porter Hall Room 104.

Hunter is with the Ohio University Biological Sciences Department, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program.

Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance is becoming one of the largest concerns in healthcare. Last line of defense medications are no longer working. There is a fear that resistant microbial populations could grow out of control and obstruct currently effective treatment of infectious disease. Understanding the interactions between the host system, the microbe, and the medications are imperative for improving treatments for resistant species. With the hollow fiber infection model (HFIM), it’s possible to do just that. Designed in the 1980s, it provides an area for the microbes to grow, be exposed to antimicrobials, and be sampled all without compromising the integrity of the system. The HFIM has been used for studying antimicrobial resistance in bacteria and finding the lowest effect doses of medications for treatment of HIV. The use of this model allows researchers to test medications against microbes in a manner that mimics the in vivo environment of the host by creating a closed loop that minimizes outside interference. This model works well as a standalone model or together with animal models. As seen in the research done by Garimella et al., 2019, the HFIM can be used to test multiple medications and obtain the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics using those drugs in combination. Hope et al., 2019 uses this model to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of current guidelines for the antifungal medication fluconazole for treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. Overall, this in vitro model has been an incredible advancement in studying the emergence of resistance and reviewing current guidelines of medication dosing of microbes.  

Garimella N, Zere T, Hartman N, Gandhi A, Bekele A, Li X, Stone H, Sacks L, Weaver JL. Effect of drug combinations on the kinetics of antibiotic resistance emergence in Escherichia coli CFT073 using an in vitro hollow-fibre infection model. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Apr;55(4):105861. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.105861. Epub 2019 Dec 13. PMID: 31838036. 

Hope W, Stone NRH, Johnson A, McEntee L, Farrington N, Santoro-Castelazo A, Liu X, Lucaci A, Hughes M, Oliver JD, Giamberardino C, Mfinanga S, Harrison TS, Perfect JR, Bicanic T. Fluconazole Monotherapy Is a Suboptimal Option for Initial Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis Because of Emergence of Resistance. mBio. 2019 Dec 3;10(6):e02575-19. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02575-19. PMID: 31796539; PMCID: PMC6890991.