Imaging Microbes in Human Health, Disease & Death

Using advanced microscopy to generate knowledge of how bacteria behave and interact with humans in Health, Disease & Death.

Research theme leader:
Dr Bill Söderström

Recent news:
On the trail of shape-shifting super bugs

Optical microscopy is an invaluable tool in modern microbiology. In the “Imaging Microbes in Human Health, Disease & Death” group we, use a variety of microscopy approaches focusing on develop a better understanding of how bacteria behave, develop and interact with humans in various contexts. 

Certain focus is placed on how Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is behaving during urinary tract infections (UTI). UPEC undergoes extraordinary morphology changes during the infection cycle, and efforts are made to understand the regulation in space and time of these shape changes. Using a wide range of imaging approaches such as single-molecule, TIRF and structured illumination microscopy new knowledge is generated that will inform the development of new therapeutics for otherwise infections hard to treat. 

Work within this theme also focus on how the human microbiome can be used to study time since death during human decomposition. Working closely with UTS forensics we are developing approaches for future forensics applications by combining microscopy and genomic sequencing. 

 

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.