Murphy to Discuss Collaboration with Young on Pathogens in Ventilators, Oct. 30

The Mathematical Biology Seminar series presents Dr. Erin Murphy on “Detecting and Preventing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: Where Math and Microbiology Collide” on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in Morton 219

Dr. Erin Murphy

Murphy is Associate Professor of Bacteriology in the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Abstract: Dr. Murphy will present her recent collaboration with Dr. Todd Young, Professor of Mathematics at Ohio University, in developing a laboratory study on the reliability of identifying bacterial pathogens in ventilator circuit filters.

The long-term goal of this collaborative study is to develop a reliable, fast and non-invasive method to monitor patients on mechanical ventilation for the presence of pathogens that frequently cause Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) prior to the development of VAP.

Students from the Dynamics in Biology research group will join Murphy’s lab and use PCR (polymerase chain reaction) techniques to amplify bacterial DNA from circuit filters and advanced sequencing technology to identify the pathogens. Statistical methods will be used to analyze the experimental data. Concurrently, the group will continue its work on dynamical modeling of the infection/immunity response process in the lungs in order to produce reliable tools for early diagnosis of VAP.