On June 12, 2025, the second session of the Frontier of Biomedical Seminar series at Tsinghua University was successfully held in Room B323 of the Medical Science Building.

Hosted by the School of Basic Medical Sciences, this seminar was honored to invite Professor Scott James Hultgren, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, for an academic exchange.

Professor Hultgren delivered a lecture titled “Molecular Blueprint for Antibiotic-sparing Therapeutics to Transform Treatment of Infectious Diseases.”

Professor Zhang Jingren chaired the session.

Prof. Scott Hultgren is the director of Center for Women's Infector Diseases in Washington University. He was elected into the National Academy of Sciences in 2011, the National Academy of Medicine in 2017, the National Academy of Inventors in 2021 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023.

In his presentation, Professor Scott Hultgren shared in detail his latest research findings on the pathogenesis and prevention strategies of urinary tract infections (UTIs). He pointed out that UTIs are among the most common infections worldwide, caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), and affect approximately 150 million people each year. Although traditional antibiotic treatments are effective, the problem of antimicrobial resistance is becoming increasingly severe.

By targeting bacterial virulence mechanisms rather than viability, his team aims to reduce antibiotic resistance while preserving the host microbiome. Hultgren's research provides a molecular blueprint for next-generation infectious disease therapeutics, shifting the paradigm from bactericidal antibiotics to anti-virulence therapies that disarm pathogens without killing them, reducing selective pressure for resistance. This could revolutionize treatment for millions, especially in the era of escalating antimicrobial resistance. He provides a roadmap for anti-virulence therapies that could replace or complement antibiotics, addressing the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.