Administrative Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research for the NIGMS R15 GM126503?01: Investigating pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials against bacteria accumulating resistance Resistance to existing antimicrobial drug classes continues to spread in bacterial pathogens of man and other animals. The pipe-line of new antimicrobials is limited. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated the risk of ?running out of drugs to treat serious Gram-negative infections?. Of these, infections by nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica cause thousands of hospitalizations annually in the U.S. and can be of zoonotic origin. First-line treatment choices for serious human salmonellosis are the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin and cephalosporin ceftriaxone. The current treatment regimens were designed using the pharmacodynamic (PD) data for Salmonella strains that were highly susceptible to the drugs and are ineffective against strains that have acquired reduced susceptibility or resistance. In this project, we investigate how the ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin PD change for the latter strains. The results will enable predictive modeling of possible modifications of the treatment regimens to be efficacious against such strains, to prolong the useful life of these antimicrobials. An opportunity has been pursued within this project to provide a research training and mentored experience, coupled with preparations for matriculating into a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program and career counselling, to an individual from a group underrepresented in the national scientific research work-force. The Administrative Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research will support this individual in an 18-month post-baccalaureate position, during which they will participate in the project and gain training and experience in an array of laboratory-based and analytical techniques, as well as develop skills in research design, conduct, analysis, writing, and presentation. They bring to the project their skills in microbiology and quantitative reasoning. They will lead a research component to investigate whether the ceftriaxone PD changes correlate to the genes that encode the reduced drug susceptibility in nontyphoidal Salmonellae, focusing on the genotypes emerging in the U.S. Their research will support the evaluation of how the treatment regimens could be modified for efficacy against strains of the emerging genotypes, to prolong the useful life of cephalosporins as a critically important antimicrobial class. Treatment regimen modifications depending on the strain characteristics could be an approach for precision medicine, to improve cure rates for bacterial diseases in face of bacterial resistance spread. In addition to the research training, the mentoring plan includes all other components needed to make the individual competitive for matriculating into a U.S. based DVM program. The combination of this 18-month research and career training with the DVM degree will prepare them for their dream career in infectious disease research, and they will be advised on specific opportunities. This supplement will bring this individual into the scientific research work-force and that will expand and strengthen the work-force diversity, as a key component in building a robust and productive scientific enterprise.
Administrative Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research for the NIGMS R15 GM126503?01: Investigating pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials against bacteria accumulating resistance Identifying and supporting individuals whose inclusion will expand and foster diversity in the scientific research work-force is a key component in building a robust and productive scientific enterprise. This Administrative Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research is requested to support such an individual, specifically, to enable a first-generation Mexican American female scientist to pursue her target career in infectious disease research. The funds will support her to acquire mentored research experience in an 18-month post-baccalaureate position, and develop other components of a competitive application for admission to her desired veterinary medical degree program and subsequent career in research on zoonotic pathogens.
| Shakeri, Heman; Volkova, Victoriya; Wen, Xuesong et al. (2018) Establishing Statistical Equivalence of Data from Different Sampling Approaches for Assessment of Bacterial Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance. Appl Environ Microbiol 84: |
