Genetic and phenotypic analysis of pathogens in antibiotic-associated diarrhoeal disease

The treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals has largely relied on the use of antibiotics for over 70 years. One consequence of the use of these drugs is antibiotic resistance, which is now one of our most serious health threats worldwide. Another complication is antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), which results from the unintended disruption of the protective resident gut microbiota. This disruption can lead to opportunistic infection, subsequently leading to diarrhoeal disease. Using a multidisciplinary approach, and with the involvement of clinical colleagues, this project aims to gain new insights into the mechanisms of pathogenesis and the subversion of host processes by AAD-causing bacteria. Animal models of infection will be used, together with specific mutants, to study virulence factors and host interactions, allowing us to gain a mechanistic understanding of how these bacteria interact with, and damage, the host.