Speakers
Plenary Session
Dr Bart Eijkelkamp examines how what we consume influences what bacteria can do once they enter the body. His work traces how metals and fatty acids shape membrane structure, virulence and the ability of pathogens to resist antibiotics. Using models of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, he shows how nutrients can weaken or strengthen bacterial survival during infection. The talk highlights how dietary components can shift the balance in favour of immune clearance and improve the performance of existing treatments, offering a practical angle on microbial solutions in a world where resistance keeps climbing.
A/Prof Bart Eijkelkamp completed his Master's degree in Biomolecular Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2007. In the following year he commenced his PhD at Flinders University, investigating the antimicrobial resistance and virulence features of Acinetobacter baumannii, a highly significant human bacterial pathogen. Upon completion of his PhD in 2012, Bart took up a position as a post-doctoral researcher in the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases at the University of Adelaide. He continued his research into the resistance and virulence features of major bacterial pathogens, with a strong focus on the role of metal ions and host lipids on bacterial fitness. Whilst at the University of Adelaide, Bart was awarded a Beacon Research Fellowship which allowed him to establish his own research group. In 2019, he returned to Flinders University where he continued as a Research Academic in Microbiology. The Eijkelkamp Laboratory (www.EijkelkampLab.com) examines how the host nutritional status affects bacteria during infection.