Research in the field of medical microbiology.

The research of Surbhi Malhotra has focused on the molecular epidemiology and genetics of resistance to antimicrobials in oral streptococci. Applying molecular biological techniques on oro-pharyngeal streptococcal flora in healthy individuals as a model, she demonstrated that antibiotic use is the single most important driver of antibiotic-resistance in vivo, that antibiotics belonging to the same class can differ widely in resistance gene selection, and that differences in predominance of certain resistance genes in geographically distinct areas might be linked to the preferential use of specific antibiotic subclasses. Her current research interests include studying the impact of antibiotic use on the naso-oro-pharyngeal and intestinal microflora, mechanisms of biofilm formation, bacterial pathogenetic mechanisms, and developing rapid diagnostic assays for pathogens causing community-acquired and nosocomial infections.

Keywords:MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY, ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, MICROBIOLOGY

Disciplines:Microbiology, Systems biology, Laboratory medicine