Microbial genomics and metagenomics
pathogens, mobile genetic elements, antimicrobial resistance
Research aim
We develop novel genomic methods for reconstructing and tracking antimicrobial resistance genes by building bioinformatics tools to facilitate data analysis of massive sequence data sets of pathogens and microbiomes.
About us
Our team uses DNA sequences of microbes, microbial populations and microbial communities and develops novel computational tools. By employing machine learning, graph theory, and artificial intelligence, we develop bioinformatic tools to reconstruct mobile genetic elements that can spread within and between bacteria. These tools can be applied to infection prevention and public health to understand the spread of resistance.
With whole genome sequencing we track transmission of bacterial pathogens, and genes that provide resistance to antimicrobials. Using 16S sequencing, we gain a broad understanding of the human microbiome in healthy and diseased patients. For deeper understanding, we employ metagenomic sequencing to annotate genes and metabolic pathways and to assemble partial to full genomes or mobile genetic elements of microorganisms. Analysis of the human microbiome may inform personalised treatments and prevention approaches in the future.