About our research
Our interdisciplinary research cluster explores the fundamental molecular and cellular determinants that govern the complex interactions between hosts and microbes in diverse biological systems. Our mission is two-fold: to drive foundational discoveries and translate them into real-world solutions. We focus on:
- Human Health: Deciphering the strategies of microbial pathogenesis and developing innovative approaches to circumvent the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
- Environmental Health: Leveraging the power of the plant microbiome to augment crop health, optimize resource use, and bolster food security.
Human pathogen research
The persistent global threat of bacterial infections drives our research. We concentrate on the molecular basis of infection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a crucial group of organisms: Gram-positive bacteria.
Our work provides deep insights into the pathogenesis of clinically significant species, including:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Clostridioides difficile
- Enterococcus faecalis/faecium
To understand bacterial survival, we utilise comprehensive wet lab and genetic approaches to generate and phenotypically screen mutant strains, allowing us to map the molecular pathways involved in resistance and virulence. We accelerate translational research by using 3D tissue-engineered models (e.g., tonsil and skin) to provide a high-fidelity platform for studying host-pathogen interactions under conditions closely approximating the human body.
Microbes, Ecosystems, and a Sustainable Future
Microorganisms are the unseen engineers of our planet, fundamentally driving geochemical cycles and plant health. Our cluster utilizes a blend of experimental and theoretical techniques to decode the intricate ways bacteria and fungi interact to form the complex ecosystems found in nature.
Our research is strategically focused on solutions for environmental sustainability:
- Soil Nutrient Cycling: We have a major focus on soils, studying the microbial control of phosphorus and nitrogen cycling. The ultimate goal is to develop bio-based strategies that will significantly reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with chemical fertilizer application.
Engineering the Plant Microbiome: We investigate the precise mechanisms that dictate how the plant microbiome assembles and functions. This includes researching the role of molecules like polysaccharides in root colonization and identifying 'disease-suppressive' microbes to enhance overall crop health and performance.
Visualising Life at the Nanoscale: Structure - Function Relationships
Our research is powered by state-of-the-art structural biology and biophysics. By visualising biomolecules at the atomic scale, we can establish the fundamental functional relationships that govern microbial behavior.
We leverage powerful international and in-house facilities - including Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and NMR - to determine the precise structures of molecules essential for life and infection, such as:
- Bacterial Surface Components: Polysaccharides, proteins, and transmembrane channels crucial for bacterial survival.
- Virulence Machinery: Structures like S-layers and components of pathogens like the Plasmodium replisome.
- Phages (viruses that infect bacteria).
Furthermore, our biophysics capability uses Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to probe the ultrastructure and rigidity of bacterial cell walls, and Optical Tweezers to precisely dissect the mechanics of DNA/protein interactions.
Phage Biology: From Molecular Mechanism to Therapeutic Application
Bacteriophages are central players in microbial ecosystems, critically influencing population dynamics and acting as conduits for horizontal gene transfer. They also offer a compelling precision antimicrobial strategy to circumvent antibiotic resistance.
Our research cluster draws on our integrated expertise in microbiology, structural biology, and molecular biology to fully deconstruct the phage infection process. Our investigation spans the full infection cycle:
- Initial Engagement: From the molecular recognition of the host cell to successful adherence.
- Intracellular Control: Understanding the mechanisms of host metabolic hijacking and reprogramming.
This comprehensive, molecular-level understanding of phage function is the foundation of our efforts to develop and translate phages for clinical and agricultural therapeutic use.
Visualising the Nanoscale: Advanced Microscopy and Quantitative Analysis
Pathogens, like bacteria, are up to 100 times smaller than human cells, necessitating super-resolution microscopy to accurately study their behavior and characteristics. Our cluster maintains extensive expertise in advanced imaging techniques to probe the microbial world at the nanoscale.
We employ a comprehensive suite of biophysical tools:
- Electron and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
- A full spectrum of Optical Microscopy techniques, including Widefield, Confocal, Airy-Scan, STORM (Super-resolution), Spinning Disk, and TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence).
These techniques allow us to investigate crucial biological structures, including proteins, membranes, the bacterial cell wall, and cell shape dynamics during division, as well as their intricate interaction with host tissues. We are also actively applying these methods to characterise bacteriophage structure and mechanism of action.
Crucially, all our microscopy efforts are coupled with the development of customisable automated image analysis pipelines to ensure we obtain rigorous, quantitative data from every experiment.
Research institutes and Centres of Excellence
Our research on molecular microbiology: biochemistry to disease is supported by and feeds into the following research institutes and Centres of excellence.