SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

The target bacteria that we are studying are Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter sp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and we’ve been conducting research on colistin and carbapenem resistance against those target bacteria. Especially, I’m anticipating the results from research such as the colistin-dependent A. baumannii, the reversal mechanism of colistin resistance in P. aeruginosa, persisters in A. baumannii and the various pathways to colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae. However, the results do not always draw from what was expected. I keep thinking about the fact that really beneficial and important research can come out from anywhere. That is why the minor studies that graduate students are conducting, which look as if they are not very important, can produce incredible results later. I hope that my research can help researchers in this field to understand antibiotic resistance mechanisms. A firm understanding of the mechanism can postpone the emergence of antibiotic resistance and prevent the bacteria from spreading. Also the development of new classes of antibiotics is essential. It is impossible to know how much I can contribute to this research field, but I will keep doing my research as if I’m laying down the stepping stones towards a major discovery.