Project: Phylodynamic modelling of outbreaks of multidrug resistant enteric pathogens
Howden Group
Enteric bacterial pathogens, including Shigella species and serovars of Salmonella enterica, represent serious public health threats. The emergence of widespread multidrug resistance to standard antimicrobial therapy has resulted in changing outbreak dynamics. This computational microbiology project will work at the interface of public health microbiology. This project will integrate large bacterial genomic datasets with epidemiological data and infectious disease modelling. These approaches have been successfully used for viral outbreaks, but remain underutilised for bacterial pathogens. The application of these phylodynamic modelling will help to better understand the outbreak dynamics of enteric bacterial pathogens.
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Howden Group
3 vacancies

Research Projects 2019 | 19 The Howden group is embedded in the state public health laboratory - the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL) - with expertise in pathogen genomics and antimicrobial resistance, including functional genomics technologies and models of disease. We complement these molecular biology studies with epidemiological and clinical studies to address a broad range of issues related to invasive bacterial diseases in humans, especially those caused by staphylococci, enterococci and other antimicrobial-resistant species (CPE). Working closely with scientists in the MDU PHL, we investigate the epidemiology, evolution and spread of bacterial pathogens of public health significance such as Neisseria gonorrhoea, Listeria monocytogenes, Legionella spp. and Salmonella spp.
Howden Group Current Projects
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Exploring changing infection dynamics: invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Towards precision biotherapeutics for combating multidrug resistance superbugs
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science
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Phylodynamic modelling of outbreaks of multidrug resistant enteric pathogens
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Understanding the impact of Staphylococcus aureus evolution on severe infections
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Defining how antibiotic use leads to the emergence of untreatable hospital superbugs
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Precision genomics for antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours