J. Ross Fitzgerald

Benchmarking nanopore-based strategies for antimicrobial resistance prediction

This study benchmarks in silico AMR prediction tools using nanopore data, finding that assembly strategy and data volume impact accuracy, but no tool perfectly matches lab-based AST results.

Immune-deficient bacteria serve as gateways to genetic exchange and microbial evolution

The paper identifies immune-deficient bacteria as facilitators of genetic exchange and microbial evolution by enabling horizontal gene transfer of beneficial traits.

Bacterial metabolic remodelling by convergent evolution in response to host niche-dependent nutrient availability

This study shows how bovine S. aureus adapts to the dairy niche through metabolic remodelling and convergent evolution of protease expression for enhanced growth.

The cow udder is a potential coinfection site for influenza A viruses

The study shows cow mammary gland cells can support replication of multiple IAV strains and are susceptible to co-infection with human and avian IAVs, suggesting the udder may act as a site for viral reassortment.

A single transcriptional regulator is crucial for the adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to diverse niches

This study shows that the transcriptional regulator SigB is crucial for Staphylococcus aureus adaptation to different niches, with SigB-deficient strains evolving in persistent mastitis due to the cost of phenotypic plasticity.