Monday, August 24, 2020, 11:30 AM – 1 PM EDT
Bill Wuest, GRA Distinguished Investigator & Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
“When Bugs Outsmart Drugs: The Effects of America’s Antibiotic Obsession”
Bacteria are everywhere. By sheer numbers, their cells outnumber human cells 2 to 1. The good news is that most bacteria are helpful; for instance, they allow us to digest delicious foods. But hype about a few disease-causing bacteria has fueled mass “germaphobia,” leading us to overuse antibacterial disinfectants to the point that some are failing. Is bacterial resistance a slippery slope? Just how effective is Lysol? What is the future of our relationship with bacteria? At this Emeritus College Lunch Colloquium, Emory University Chemistry professor Bill Wuest will discuss potential chemical and biological solutions, many inspired by Mother Nature, for both combating and better understanding Earth’s most numerous living organisms. He will also let us know whether we should drink Clorox . . . or not.