Background
I recently obtained a first-class degree in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Lincoln. During my final year project, I investigated the carriage of cloacin DF13, an antimicrobial peptide (bacteriocin), in three clinically important Klebsiella species, which involved using BLAST (bioinformatics program) to analyse DNA sequences. Throughout my final year, while undertaking my research project and a One Health module, I became engrossed in reading papers regarding novel antimicrobial agents and the global health crisis that is antimicrobial resistance. I am currently pursuing an MSc in Antimicrobial Resistance at the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with the Florey Institute. Upon completion of the course, I intend to apply the knowledge and skills gained from both of my degrees to a research career that will allow me to contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Florey MSc Research Project Repurposing anti-cancer treatments to combat enteric bacterial pathogens I conducted my research project in Dr. Daniel Humphrey’s lab, investigating the effect of clofarabine on enteric bacterial pathogens, such as Escherichia coli. Techniques used during this project include bacterial growth curves, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays and human cell infection experiments. Enteric bacterial pathogens are one of the most common causes of diarrhoeal disease around the world, particularly in children living in low and middle-income countries. Clofarabine is a nucleoside analogue currently used to treat children and young adults with relapsed lymphoblastic leukaemia. Additional research has suggested their use in treating fungal and viral infections; however, little research has been published on the use of nucleoside analogues against bacterial infections. The alarming increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria highlights the need for new and effective treatments for bacterial infections. This project has identified clofarabine as a potential novel antibiotic against specific enteric bacterial pathogens. |
The Team
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