Project: Using genomics to investigate the transmission of skin pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in a ‘One Health’ setting
Davies Group
Remote Indigenous Australian communities experience disproportionately high levels of skin disease associated with the bacterial pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Streptococcus pyogenes. Our preliminary research indicates that dogs in remote Indigenous communities also carry MRSA more commonly than dogs in urban settings. A significant knowledge gap exists as to the role of household animals in the maintenance and transmission of skin pathogens in remote Australian communities. This project aims to use bioinformatics approaches to investigate the transmission of skin pathogens between humans and animals in areas of high disease burden.
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Davies Group
3 vacancies
The Davies group aims to apply genome sequencing methodologies and bioinformatics approaches to understand the evolution and transmission of bacterial pathogens. This knowledge can help facilitate a global understanding of pathogen evolution, in addition to informing public health intervention to reduce the disease burden associated with bacterial pathogens. Current projects address key research questions such as: is there a genetic difference between strains causing different disease manifestations? What is driving the emergence and dissemination of bacterial pathogens? Do host immune factors govern disease severity? Our research closely aligns with key international collaborators including the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom.
Davies Group Current Projects
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Population genomics of endemic Streptococcus pyogenes
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Application of systems genomics to analysing the dynamics of Streptococcus pyogenes infection
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Evolution of streptococcal pathovars
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Unravelling the drivers of scarlet fever pandemics
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Using genomics to investigate the transmission of skin pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in a ‘One Health’ setting
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.