Free
External
This webinar and coffee hour is part of the Microbes and Social Equity 2026 Speaker Series.
Mystery at the Membrane: Unraveling Copper's Secret Pathways into Bacteria and the Metal Arms Race in Infection
Copper has long been one of microbiology's enduring enigmas: essential for life yet lethally toxic, how does this metal actually cross the formidable bacterial membrane? In this talk, Professor Michael D.L. Johnson reveals groundbreaking discoveries from his lab that upend longstanding assumptions about metal transport and membrane permeability. Drawing on genetic, biochemical, and structural insights, he elucidates unexpected routes bacteria exploit to manage copper overload pathways that highlight microbial adaptability in the face of host defenses. Professor Johnson further explores copper's starring role in the immune system's arsenal, where macrophages deploy it to intoxicate invading pathogens, and how bacteria counter with sophisticated efflux and resistance mechanisms. These "copper tales" illuminate the evolutionary battleground of infection, offering fresh perspectives on bacterial physiology, host-pathogen dynamics, and promising avenues for copper-enhanced therapies against rising antibiotic resistance.
After the talk, we continue the conversation with an informal social hour. Join us as we chat with the speaker, MSE members, and attendees about research, teaching, our pets, and more!
Programme (Timings are EST)
11:00 Welcome and introduction - Professor Sue Ishaq, Founder and Lead, MSE
11:05 Guest speaker - Professor Michael D.L. Johnson
11:45 Audience question and answer session
12:00 Informal coffee and chat
13:00 Close
Professor Michael D.L. Johnson
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