Research in my group is focussed on the actinobacteria. These are a major bacterial clade in the 16S phylogenetic tree, contributing 10-30% of the prokaryotic flora in most environments. They are a group of high-GC Gram-positive bacteria whose members are of interest because of their huge industrial importance and because of their pathogenicity towards humans. The primarily soil dwelling genus Streptomyces is responsible for producing around two thirds of all commercially important antibiotics as well as numerous anti-fungal, anti-helminthic and anti-cancer drugs. Pathogenic actinomycetes include Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of Leprosy and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the aetiological agent of Tuberculosis, responsible for  two million human deaths worldwide each year. The corynebacteria include the important industrial microorganism Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is used to produce tonnes of amino acids every year, and the human pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of Diphtheria; and more recently emerging infections caused by non-toxogenic C. diphtheriae.  

We use a range of techniques to study the biology of actinomycetes including molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, genomics, microscopy, physiology, mathematical modeling and bioinformatics.

Many thanks to the following sources for funding the research in my laboratory