Kylie Webber
Shrout Lab
Biography
My primary focus is studying bacterial interactions involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa and exploring alternative treatment strategies for cystic fibrosis patients that minimize antibiotic use. Currently I am testing anti-Pseudomonas compounds aimed at disrupting the production of virulence factors such as pyocyanin and pyoverdine, pivotal in P. aeruginosa's pathogenicity. I will be screening and optimizing these compounds under conditions that mimic the unique conditions found in cystic fibrosis lungs to develop therapies that are specifically tailored to combat infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Additionally, I am examining how bacterial species enhance each other's survival in the presence of antimicrobial agents.