Lyras Laboratory
Functional Biology of Bacterial Pathogens
Welcome to the Lyras Lab
Our laboratory is focussed on gut pathogens, particularly those involved in antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, and we examine how these pathogens interact with the host and cause disease using infection models.
We're part of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and a member of the Infection and Immunity Program and the Department of Microbiology.
Professor Dena Lyras
My global research connections, partners and funding can be viewed on my Monash Research Profile.
If you are a student interested in doing research in our lab, visit Supervisor Connect.
Click the links below to connect with me on ORCID and Google Scholar.
Our research
The rapid evolution of bacteria and the excessive use of antibiotics have turned our hospitals from institutions of healing to incubators of new breeds of superbugs. The challenge for us is to uncover the secrets and weaknesses of bacteria that are changing before their eyes.
We use novel ways to genetically modify bacterial pathogens of both human and animal origin that cause gastrointestinal infections, and are using this approach to understand how these micro-organisms harness regulatory and virulence factors to cause disease. We are also developing immunotherapeutics and small molecules to prevent and treat infections by the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile. Lateral DNA transfer between bacterial pathogens is also a major study area, associated with antibiotic resistance or virulence gene transfer in the context of gut pathogens and antibiotic-associated diarrhoeal disease.
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The host response to enteric infection
Enteric infection induces a damaging host response that has long-lasting consequences.
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Bacterial sporulation, antibiotic resistance and disease
The bacterial spore form is important in host interactions, environmental survival and antibiotic resistance.
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Lateral gene transfer of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance genes disseminate rapidly between enteric pathogens.
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Immunotherapeutic and small molecule development for enteric pathogens
Non-antibiotic alternatives are needed to treat infections with multi-resistant bacterial pathogens.
Lab members
We are committed to excellence in research.
Join Our Lab
We're always interested in collaborating with bright and motivated researchers, clinicians and industry. Whether you want to research, study or partner with us to accelerate our discoveries, find out about the work we do.