Population biology and polymicrobial bacterial community analyses


Characterisation of the polymicrobial microecology of chronic respiratory infections in Indigenous children:
Dr Robyn Marsh’s fellowship aims to improve respiratory health for Indigenous children through better understanding of infectious disease pathogenesis. Her specific interests are in the microbial dynamics of chronic respiratory infections. Her research draws together bacterial, viral and biofilm studies to achieve better understanding of the upper and lower airway microbiomes in paediatric patients with chronic suppurative lung disease and otitis media.

Quantification of respiratory pathogens in the upper and lower airways of Indigenous children with bronchiectasis:
Honours student Jasmin Webb is exploring the relative abundance of respiratory bacteria in the upper and lower airways of children with chronic suppurative lung disease.

The specific aims of this project are to:

  • Compare the bacterial load and relative abundance of Haemophilus influenzae in upper and lower airway specimens from i) children with bronchiectasis and ii) control children who do not have bronchiectasis
  • Determine if Pseudomonas aeruginosa is present in the upper or lower airways of children with bronchiectasis.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) genomics:
The aim of this study is to identify NTHi gene or gene variant signatures associated with disease by comparing the genomic content of disease- and carriage-associated NTHi and related commensal Haemophilus species.

Bioinformatics by Erin Price and Derek Sarovich. These data may inform clinically relevant identification of NTHi, and studies of NTHi pathogenesis and vaccine research.

Otitis media projects:

  • Culture-independent analysis of the bacteriology associated with acute otitis media in Indigenous Australian children
  • Watch this space. Funding pending for CSOM microbiomics, and adenoid and middle ear fluid biofilm studies.