Biography: I completed my undergraduate and Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of Sheffield in 2017, the latter of which was carried out in the Corrigan lab investigating mechanisms of persister cell formation in Staphylococcus aureus. This involved performing an ORFeome-wide screen to identify proteins which can increase cell survival following exposure to transient doses of antibiotics.
S. aureus is an important human pathogen responsible for a significant amount of infection and morbidity worldwide. With the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), there is an urgent need for novel therapies capable of treating staphylococcal infection. Upon colonisation of the host, bacteria are exposed to multiple stresses, such as nutrient limitation, which can trigger the universally conserved stringent response to cause cellular reprogramming and ultimately survival. This response is mediated via the synthesis of two small effector nucleotides referred to as (p)ppGpp, which have multiple downstream targets and effects which involve slowing growth and arresting the cell cycle, leading to recurrent or chronic infections. |
The Team
|
