Next-Generation Sequencing for Detecting Antimicrobial Resistance
Kaitlin Searfoss:
Hi everyone, welcome to this podcast from Cambridge HealthTech Institute for the molecular diagnostics for infectious disease conference, taking place March 7-9 in San Francisco as part of the molecular medicine tri-conference. I'm Kaitlyn Searfoss, associate conference producer. We have with us today one of our speakers, Dr. Romney M. Humpries, who is an assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and the section chief of clinical microbiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California. Dr. Humpries thank you so much for joining us.
Romney Humphries:
My pleasure.
Kaitlin Searfoss:
First question, how has NGS changed the way you detect anti-microbial resistance?
Romney Humphries:
I think that we are starting to use next generation sequencing technologies with more and more frequency. In particular to identify new or emerging resistance mechanisms that we may not be able to detect by routine conventional single prox ptrs or even sub-stability testing performed in the lab. In my clinical lab where we've used this technology was to identify novel [carbahedamines 00:01:03] to the United States which would serve an unexpected finding. It allows us to captivate broad nets and look for resistance mechanisms we may not otherwise expect or seek.
Kaitlin Searfoss:
What would you say is the biggest challenge scientists are facing in anti-microbial resistance?
Romney Humphries:
We feel like there's an awful lot of anti-microbial resistance and it seems to be evolving at a very quick rate and further it is ... The diversity resistance mechanisms is very astounding. Even if we have new anti-microbial agents approved for the first time in several years for example depositing 80 [backtams 00:01:41] or some of the other new agents, we are starting to detect resistance already. Again, using [inaudible 00:01:47] technologies we're better able to understand the mechanisms behind this resistance as well as predict where resistance may occur.
Kaitlin Searfoss:
What are you most looking forward to learning about at the molecular diagnostics for infectious disease conference?
Romney Humphries:
I'm really excited to hear about what the other investigators are doing with next generation technologies. Molecular technologies in the microbiology lab has become more and more standard and people are doing some very interesting and exciting things. I think one of the biggest hurdles for us as a community is to learn how to interpret the results of molecular testing from a clinical standpoint where we've had years and years of data on how to interpret culture based methods. I think this is going to be a big challenge for us going forward. I know many of the speakers will be addressing these issues and so I'm excited to learn from my colleagues.
Kaitlin Searfoss
Excellent. Thank you for your time today Dr. Humpries.
Romney Humphries:
No my pleasure. Thank you.
Kaitlin Searfoss:
That was Dr. Romney M. Humpries, assistant professor, pathology and laboratory medicine and section chief of clinical micro-biology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California. She'll be speaking at the molecular diagnostics for infectious disease conference taking place March 7-9 in San Francisco as part of the molecular medicine tri-conference. If you'd like to hear her in person go to TriConference.com for registration information and enter the key code podcast. I'm Kaitlyn Searfoss, thank you for listening.