PhD defence K.R. (Kirby) Lattwein

A bacterial infection within the heart is a life-threatening disease. Current treatment is difficult, lengthy, and costly because bacteria on the heart valve embed themselves in a biofilm protecting them from antibiotics and the immune system. Additionally, these infections often lead to secondary infections and clots all over the body by traveling throughout the cardiovascular system. This doctoral research focuses on developing a new therapy called Sonobactericide by using tiny gas bubbles that can travel to and/or attach themselves to the biofilm. The gas bubbles are smaller than a red blood cell so they can get to the heart valve after being injected in for example a vein in the arm. The gas bubbles vibrate under the influence of ultrasound which allows them to be seen, identifying an infection, and in the same setting are able to directly kill bacteria and dramatically break apart these biofilms. With this treatment we expect a major breakthrough in the treatment of bacterial infections within the heart and throughout the body.

Due to corona, the PhD defences do not take place publicly in the usual way in the Senate Hall or in the Professor Andries Querido Room. The candidates will defend their dissertation either in a small group or online.