Project: Towards precision biotherapeutics for combating multidrug resistance superbugs
Howden Group
The gastrointestinal microbiome plays an important role in blocking the acquisition of multidrug resistant superbugs in the gut. The identity of the commensal species involved and the mechanisms they employ to inhibit these superbugs and prevent gut colonisation remain unclear. Using a multi-omics approach coupled with molecular microbiology and murine gut colonisation models, this project will define the commensal species involved in colonisation resistance and determine how these species inhibit hospital superbugs within the gut. This knowledge will lead to the development of precision biotherapeutics that can be used to combat multidrug resistant hospital superbugs.
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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
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.