Lab mission
Our primary objective is to gain a deeper understanding of microbial interactions and social behaviors, with a focus on their impact on virulence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the development of therapeutic strategies. We predominantly investigate the antibiotic-resistant superbug, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which the CDC has classified as a 'critical threat' within healthcare environments.

Key areas of focus

• Genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity of P. aeruginosa populations within chronic infections and the implications for virulence, biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance.​
• Determining how and why P. aeruginosa high-risk, multi-drug resistant strains, transmit and resist therapy.
• Elucidating the role of R-pyocins (bacteriocins) in strain competition and as a therapeutic strategy to combat P. aeruginosa.
• Understanding cooperation and conflict within bacterial populations (social evolution) and how we can exploit this to treat infections.