Abstract: Burkholderia are a diverse group of antimicrobial resistant Gram-negative bacteria. This talk will cover their ugly and bad traits as transmissible and virulent lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis, plant pathogens, and as problematic contaminants for industrial manufacturers. This will be contrasted to the good side of Burkholderia bacteria that within the natural environment can protect plants and insects from attack by fungal pathogens, degrade a range of man-made pollutants, act as biopesticides and are being harnessed as producers of novel antibiotics.

Biography: Eshwar Mahenthiralingam is a Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University. His current research focusses on Burkholderia and Pseudomonas bacteria, and their multiple interactions from infections to biotechnology and antibiotic discovery. He has studied cystic fibrosis lung infections for over 25 years, moving forward from an understanding of Burkholderia and Pseudomonas as pathogens, to developing a holistic microbiome-based view of this polymicrobial lung disease.