The Pneumococcal Social Network

The Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester is delighted to announce that Dr Luisa Hiller, Carnegie Mellon University, will give the 2022 Dorothy Jones Lecture.

'I will discuss work on cell-cell communication strategies employed by the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. I will review mechanistic and functional features of secreted peptides. These peptides contribute to carriage and pathogenesis via control of genetic diversity, microbial competition, biofilm development, and environmental adaptation. Studies by us and collaborators reveal a complex network of interacting signaling systems where multiple peptides are integrated into the same signaling pathway, allowing multiple points of entry into the pathway and extending information content in new directions. In addition, since peptides are present in the extracellular milieu, there are opportunities for crosstalk, quorum sensing (QS), as well as intra- and inter-strain and species interactions. Finally, I will present the argument that knowledge of these population-level behaviours and their contribution to disease provide avenues for the design and development of anti-infective strategies'

Dr Luisa Hiller’s research program examines microbial molecular mechanisms associated with disease. She studies how the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae switches from commensal coexistence to pathogenesis. To address this overarching question, her lab focuses on three interconnected areas: cell-cell communication, adaptation to host-environments, and genomic variability and lineage-specific adaptations.

Open to all University of Leicester graduates, students and staff. Enquiries to Alison Brown (email: ajb64@le.ac.uk)

Online joining instructions will be included in your e-ticket and confirmation email.

This annual lecture is organised by the Department of Respiratory Sciences to honour Dr Dorothy Jones’ contribution to science under the Athena Swan initiative that aims to promote and highlight achievements of women in science. Dorothy Jones was a distinguished microbiologist, who joined the University as a Research Biologist in 1965, before becoming a Senior Research Fellow in the Microbiology Department. She was an Honorary University Fellow from her retirement in 1995 until 2009.