A5058500554- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Infectious Diseases and Mycology
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Gut microbiota and health
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Peter Doherty Institute
2016-2025
The University of Melbourne
2016-2025
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
2010-2025
Genomics (United Kingdom)
2024-2025
Melbourne Health
2024
Austin Health
2008-2022
Institut Pasteur du Cambodge
2020
Monash University
2007-2018
The University of Sydney
2008-2018
South Australia Pathology
2016-2018
Mycobacterium marinum , a ubiquitous pathogen of fish and amphibia, is near relative tuberculosis the etiologic agent in humans. The genome M strain M. comprises 6,636,827-bp circular chromosome with 5424 CDS, 10 prophages, 23-kb mercury-resistance plasmid. Prominent features are very large number genes (57) encoding polyketide synthases (PKSs) nonribosomal peptide (NRPSs) most extensive repertoire yet reported mycobacteria-restricted PE PPE proteins, related-ESX secretion systems. Some NRPS...
Mycobacterium ulcerans is found in aquatic ecosystems and causes Buruli ulcer humans, a neglected but devastating necrotic disease of subcutaneous tissue that rampant throughout West Central Africa. Here, we report the complete 5.8-Mb genome sequence M. show it comprises two circular replicons, chromosome 5632 kb virulence plasmid 174 kb. The required for production polyketide toxin mycolactone, which provokes necrosis. Comparisons with recently completed 6.6-Mb marinum revealed >98%...
Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), an emerging human pathogen harbored by aquatic insects, is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, a devastating skin disease rife throughout Central and West Africa. Mycolactone, unusual macrolide with cytotoxic immunosuppressive properties, responsible for massive s.c. tissue destruction seen in ulcer. Here, we show that MU contains 174-kb plasmid, pMUM001, bearing cluster genes encoding giant polyketide synthases (PKSs), polyketide-modifying enzymes, demonstrate...
Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is a major public health threat, compounded by emergence of strains with to vancomycin and daptomycin, both last line antimicrobials. Here we have performed high throughput DNA sequencing comparative genomics for five clinical pairs vancomycin-susceptible (VSSA) vancomycin-intermediate ST239 S. (VISA); each pair isolated before after treatment failure. These comparisons revealed frequent pattern mutation among the VISA within essential walKR...
Abstract Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are extracellular sacs containing biologically active products, such as proteins, cell wall components and toxins. OMVs reported to contain DNA, however, little is known about the nature of this nor whether it can be transported into host cells. Our work demonstrates that chromosomal DNA packaged shed by bacteria during exponential phase. Most was present on external surfaces OMVs, with smaller amounts located internally. The within internal...
Roland Brosch and colleagues report whole-genome sequencing of tubercle bacilli with smooth colony morphology, also known as Mycobacterium canetti and/or prototuberculosis, obtained from humans tuberculosis geographically diverse regions. Their comparative genomic analysis other M. complex members identifies extensive recombination provides insights into the evolution mycobacteria. The authors that morphology show reduced persistence virulence compared to strains in infection experiments...
ABSTRACT Nosocomial outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) are thought to occur by transmission VREfm between patients, predicting that infection control interventions will limit cross-transmission. Despite implementation such strategies, the incidence infections continues rise. We aimed use genomics better understand epidemiology E. within a large hospital and investigate reasons for failure strategies. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 61 (36 VREfm) isolates,...
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells represent up to 10% of circulating human cells. They are usually defined using combinations non-lineage-specific (surrogate) markers such as anti-TRAV1-2, CD161, IL-18Rα and CD26. The development MR1-Ag tetramers now permits the specific identification MAIT based on T-cell receptor specificity. Here, we compare these approaches for identifying show that surrogate not always accurate in cells, particularly CD4+ fraction. Moreover, while all cell...
ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a prominent global nosocomial and community-acquired bacterial pathogen. A strong restriction barrier presents major hurdle for the introduction of recombinant DNA into clinical isolates S. . Here, we describe construction characterization IMXXB series Escherichia coli strains that mimic type I adenine methylation profiles clonal complexes 1, 8, 30, ST93. The enable direct, high-efficiency transformation streamlined genetic manipulation lineages. IMPORTANCE...
ABSTRACT Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a powerful tool for comparing bacterial isolates in outbreak detection and investigation. Here we demonstrate that WGS performed prospectively national epidemiologic surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes the capacity to be superior our current approaches using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), binary typing, serotyping. Initially 423 L. underwent...
The multidrug-resistant bacterium Enterococcus faecium has become increasingly tolerant to the alcohols in hospital disinfectants.
Abstract Genomic sequencing has significant potential to inform public health management for SARS-CoV-2. Here we report high-throughput genomics SARS-CoV-2, 80% of cases in Victoria, Australia (population 6.24 million) between 6 January and 14 April 2020 (total 1,333 COVID-19 cases). We integrate epidemiological, genomic phylodynamic data identify clusters impact interventions. The global diversity SARS-CoV-2 is represented, consistent with multiple importations. Seventy-six distinct were...
The lipopolysaccharide (O) and flagellar (H) surface antigens of Escherichia coli are targets for serotyping that have traditionally been used to identify pathogenic lineages. These important the survival E. within mammalian hosts. However, traditional has several limitations, public health reference laboratories increasingly moving towards whole genome sequencing (WGS) characterize bacterial isolates. Here we present a method rapidly accurately serotype isolates from raw, short read WGS...
Gram-positive bacteria ubiquitously produce membrane vesicles (MVs), and although they contribute to biological functions, our knowledge regarding their composition immunogenicity remains limited. Here we examine the morphology, contents immunostimulatory functions of MVs produced by three
Realising the promise of genomics to revolutionise identification and surveillance antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a long-standing challenge in clinical public health microbiology. Here, we report creation validation abritAMR, an ISO-certified bioinformatics platform for genomics-based bacterial AMR gene detection. The abritAMR utilises NCBI's AMRFinderPlus, as well additional features that classify determinants into antibiotic classes provide customised reports. We validate by...
Neutrophils are critical in the host defense against Staphylococcus aureus, a major human pathogen. However, even setting of robust neutrophil response, S. aureus can evade immune clearance. Here, we demonstrate that impairs function by triggering production anti-inflammatory metabolite itaconate. The enzyme synthesizes itaconate, Irg1, is selectively expressed neutrophils during pneumonia. Itaconate inhibits glycolysis and oxidative burst, which survival bacterial killing. In murine...
Buruli ulcer, a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is increasing in prevalence southeastern Australia. Possums are local wildlife reservoir for M. ulcerans and, although mosquitoes have been implicated transmission, it remains unclear how humans acquire infection. We conducted extensive field survey analyses of among the Mornington Peninsula region PCR screening trapped revealed significant association between and Aedes notoscriptus. Spatial scanning statistics...
It is now possible to assemble near-perfect bacterial genomes using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long reads, but short-read polishing usually required for perfection. However, the effect of depth on performance not well understood. Here, we introduce Pypolca (with default and careful parameters) Polypolish v0.6.0 a new parameter). We then show that: (1) all polishers other than Pypolca-careful, Polypolish-default Polypolish-careful commonly false-positive errors at low read depth; (2)...
ABSTRACT Phenotypic diversity in bacteria often results from adaptation to changing environmental conditions, exemplified by variable colony morphotypes. In Burkholderia pseudomallei , discrete genomic alterations and modulation of gene expression facilitate adaptation. Adapted variants species within the cepacia complex (Bcc) lose pC3 virulence megaplasmid, impacting their morphology production factors. this study, we characterize arising ambifaria clinical isolates using proteomics...
The classic lesion is a necrotic skin ulcer with deeply undermined edges (Figure 2).Any part of the body can be