Microbial genomics and proteomics

Research theme leader:
Distinguished Professor Steven Djordjevic

Current projects:
AusGEM
Enhancing the Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (EMAR) in Fiji
Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (CRC SAAFE)

Recent news:
Harmless or deadly? New study examines evolution of E. coli

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is already a major public health threat globally. By 2050, estimates predict that, unless efforts are made to stop its spread, AMR will be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide each year. (Reference: Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: Final report and recommendations. The review on antimicrobial resistance; London: HM Government and the Wellcome Trust; 2016).

We’re generating and interrogating genomic and proteomic data to tackle antimicrobial resistance, formulate a deeper understanding of pathogen evolution, and to identify and characterise novel antigens for vaccine development.

Working with a leading One Health Genomics Program in Australia – which recognises the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment – we’re using phylogenomics and molecular biology to study mobile genetic elements that drive the evolution of antibiotic resistance and bacterial pathogenesis.

Our work sheds light on how established and emerging pathogenic bacteria (and the mobile elements they carry) evolve and circulate in clinical, livestock, agricultural, wastewater and aquatic environments. This work is foundational for the Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology (AusGEM), a deeply productive collaborative partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries since 2013.

Working within a vaccine development program for bacterial animal pathogens (Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae), we’re also applying proteomics to study bacterial pathogenesis, and developing and refining methods to interrogate the surfaceome and N-terminome of these infectious agents.