The Univeristy of Melbourne The Royal Melbourne Hopspital

A joint venture between The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital

EDUCATION

Research Projects

Project: Breaking bacterial antibiotic resistance using ionobiotics

McDevitt group

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens represent an imminent global threat to human health in the 21st century. Rising rates of bacterial resistance and a waning pipeline for new antibiotic discovery and development requires new approaches to address this healthcare crisis. This project will investigate the use of novel metal ion shuttling compounds, which we have called ionobiotics, that break drug resistance in high priority bacterial pathogens and render them susceptible to antibiotic treatment. This approach has the potential to restore the efficacy of our existing antibiotic arsenal. This project will contribute to showing the range of antibiotics that can be rescued by ionobiotic treatment and define the mechanism of action using a combination of molecular, biochemical, and multi-omic approaches. 

Contact project supervisor for further
information and application enquiries

Project Supervisor

Professor Christopher McDevitt

Project Co-supervisor

Dr Stephanie Neville
Dr Aimee Tan

Project availability
PhD/MPhil
Master of Biomedical Science
Honours

McDevitt group

christopher.mcdevitt@unimelb.edu.au

3 vacancies

Themes
Antimicrobial Resistance
Bacterial and Parasitic Infections
Cross Cutting Disciplines
Discovery Research

The McDevitt group studies bacterial pathogens, how they cause disease in the host, and develops novel therapeutics. In our group, we use state-of-the-art techniques that include genomics, molecular microbiology (e.g. making mutants, infection models, etc.), transcriptomics, biochemistry (e.g. recombinant proteins), and mass spectrometry. Our projects also involve working with immunologists, biophysicists, and structural biologists to access technologies and techniques that complement our work. We also work with biotech and industry partners to translate our research findings. 


McDevitt group Current Projects