Lyras Laboratory
Functional Biology of Bacterial Pathogens
Functional Biology of Bacterial Pathogens
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.
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.
Enteric infection induces a damaging host response that has long-lasting consequences.
The bacterial spore form is important in host interactions, environmental survival and antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance genes disseminate rapidly between enteric pathogens.
Non-antibiotic alternatives are needed to treat infections with multi-resistant bacterial pathogens.
We are committed to excellence in research.
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.