Andrew Berti, a research fellow in the lab of Warren Rose, associate professor (CHS) in the Pharmacy Practice Division, has been selected to deliver a platform slide presentation at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), the American Society of Microbiology’s premier meeting.

Berti’s research explores how different combinations of antibiotics affect the host response and can lead to better patient outcomes. At the conference, Berti will present his work detailing how the addition of antibiotics without activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can influence the development of resistance to a primary, MRSA-active antibiotic (daptomycin). By adding different antibiotics without MRSA activity, one can alter the pattern of genetic mutations that result in daptomycin resistance. This work may be applied to improve patient care and extend the use of current effective antibiotics.

In addition, Berti was selected for the ASM ICAAC Infectious Diseases Fellows Grant Program, which offers ID Fellows a unique opportunity to attend ICAAC and participate in an experience specifically tailored to their educational development needs, including the opportunity to hear keynote talks targeted to them, participate in mentored poster walks, receive overviews of recommended sessions for attendance, interact with ICAAC Program Committee members, and be given personalized attention, including daily discussions to help them maximize their educational and career development experience. Recipients receive registration and travel support to attend.