B. P. Howden

Genetic heterogeneity in the Salmonella Typhi Vi capsule locus: A population genomic study from Fiji

This study examines genetic diversity in the Vi capsule locus of Salmonella Typhi in Fiji, identifying convergent evolution of tviE mutations globally and highlighting the need for further functional analysis.

Novel determinant of antibiotic resistance: a clinically selected Staphylococcus aureus clpP mutant survives daptomycin treatment by reducing binding of the antibiotic and adapting a rod-shaped morphology

The paper identifies a clpP SNP mutation in MRSA that reduces daptomycin binding and enables survival through rod-shaped morphology, contributing to antibiotic resistance.

The two-component regulator WalKR provides an essential link between cell wall homeostasis with DNA replication in Staphylococcus aureus

This study identifies the WalKR two-component system in Staphylococcus aureus as a polyfunctional regulator linking cell wall homeostasis with DNA replication and other essential processes.

A high-throughput cytotoxicity screening platform reveals agr-independent mutations in bacteraemia-associated Staphylococcus aureus that promote intracellular persistence

The paper develops a high-throughput platform to identify S. aureus mutations that enhance intracellular persistence and reduce cytotoxicity, revealing agr-independent pathoadaptive mutations.

Diversified repertoire of phage resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and bidirectional steering effects impacting antibiotic susceptibility

The paper investigates phage resistance mechanisms in Klebsiella pneumoniae and shows how these can both increase and decrease antibiotic susceptibility.

Bridging the gap between bioinformatics and the clinical and public health microbiology laboratory: An ISO-accredited genomics workflow for antimicrobial resistance

This paper develops and validates abritAMR, an ISO-accredited bioinformatics platform for detecting antimicrobial resistance genes with high accuracy and specificity.

All Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia strains have the potential to cause infective endocarditis: results of GWAS and experimental animal studies

This study shows that all Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia strains can cause infective endocarditis, as no genetic differences were found between IE and non-IE strains using GWAS and experimental models.

Validation of a Single-step, Single-tube Reverse Transcription-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA

The paper validates a single-step, single-tube RT-LAMP assay for rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection with high specificity and sensitivity.

Microbe-metabolite associations linked to the rebounding murine gut microbiome post-colonization with vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium

This study investigates how the gut microbiome changes in mice after colonization with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, identifying metabolite associations linked to bacterial shifts.

Functional genomics reveals extensive diversity in Staphylococcus epidermidis restriction modification systems compared to Staphylococcus aureus.

The paper identifies extensive diversity in type I restriction modification systems in Staphylococcus epidermidis compared to Staphylococcus aureus, enabling efficient genetic manipulation of clinically relevant strains.

Remodelling of pSK1 Family Plasmids and Enhanced Chlorhexidine Tolerance in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

This study examines the evolution of pSK1 family plasmids in MRSA ST239 isolates over 32 years, showing their role in enhancing chlorhexidine tolerance and gentamicin resistance.

Zinc-binding to the cytoplasmic PAS domain regulates the essential WalK histidine kinase of Staphylococcus aureus

The paper identifies zinc binding to the WalK histidine kinase's PAS domain as a negative regulator of the WalKR two-component system in Staphylococcus aureus.

Emergence and rapid global dissemination of CTX-M-15-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae strain ST307

The paper tracks the emergence and global spread of a CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae strain ST307, showing it originated in the mid-1990s and is associated with a plasmid containing antimicrobial resistance genes.

Increasing tolerance of hospital Enterococcus faecium to hand-wash alcohols

The paper shows hospital Enterococcus faecium isolates from 2010 onward are 10-fold more tolerant to alcohol-based disinfectants than older isolates, leading to increased gastrointestinal colonization in mice.