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: Defining the metal ion homeostatic pathways of Klebsiella pneumoniae

McDevitt group

The extensive resistance profile of antimicrobial resistant pathogens, such as carbapenem-resistant extended-spectrum -lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, is of the highest priority for the WHO. Our recent studies investigating this bacterium have identified numerous uncharacterised pathways involved in the uptake, buffering and efflux of critical metal ions. This project will characterise and determine the function of these putative pathways to understand how they contribute to the growth and virulence of the pathogen. Once defined, we will then investigate the potential for antimicrobial targeting of these pathways in K. pneumoniae.

Contact project supervisor for further
information and application enquiries

Project Supervisor

Professor Christopher McDevitt

Project Co-supervisor

Dr Aimee Tan

Project availability
PhD/MPhil
Honours

McDevitt group

christopher.mcdevitt@unimelb.edu.au

4 vacancies

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

Research in the McDevitt group seeks to understand how bacterial pathogens acquire and use metal ions and how this shapes the host-pathogen interaction during infection.