Professor Alex O'Neill

Responsibilities

• Co-Lead of AMR@Leeds

Research interests

Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and discovery of new antibacterial drugs.

Antibiotics enable the treatment and cure of life-threatening bacterial infections, and represent one of the great successes of modern medicine. Unfortunately, the utility of these agents is being progressively eroded as bacteria evolve to resist their effects.

My laboratory seeks to better understand and address this problem through a combination of fundamental and applied research. Whilst our core expertise is molecular microbiology, we favour a multi-disciplinary approach that involves working closely with medicinal chemists, structural biologists and clinical scientists.

 

 

 

Current main areas of focus are;

(i) The molecular mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics, particularly in the ‘superbug’, Staphylococcus aureus

• Investigating the genetic basis for the emergence and maintenance of resistance and tolerance to antibiotics
• Characterization of genetic elements involved in spreading antibiotic resistance
• Understanding the biochemical and structural basis for antibiotic resistance

(ii) Identification and biological characterization of antibacterial agents

• Discovery and design of novel antibacterial agents
• Biological characterization of both novel and established antibacterial agents
• Development of novel tools and approaches to elucidate antibiotic mode of action

Post-doctoral appointments

Posts for which funding has already been secured (where available) will be advertised on www.jobs.ac.uk.

Those wishing to apply for a Fellowship to join the O’Neill lab are encouraged to get in touch to discuss possibilities. A non-exhaustive list of organizations that offer Fellowships in biological sciences is provided below;

• AXA
• EMBO
• HFSP
• Marie Sklodowska-Curie
• Newton
• NIH
• Wellcome Trust

Qualifications

• BSc Hons Microbiology (1997, Bristol)
• PhD (2001, Leeds)

Student education

Postgraduate studentship areas:

• http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=24409&LID=735
• http://www.findaphd.com/search/showproject.asp?projectid=11830

See also:

• Faculty Graduate School
• FindaPhD Project details:
  • Project 24409
  • Project 11830
  • Project 141180

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1896-broadening-the-spectrum-of-antibacterial-drugs-to-tackle-multi-drug-resistant-gram-negative-pathogens">Broadening the spectrum of antibacterial drugs to tackle multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens</a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1221-delineating-the-antimicrobial-resistome-of-clostridioides-difficile">Delineating the antimicrobial resistome of Clostridioides difficile</a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1895-elucidating-the-molecular-mechanisms-of-intrinsic-antibiotic-resistance-in-bacterial-pathogens">Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of intrinsic antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens</a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/393-limr-clinical-gastroenterology:-investigation-of-fidaxomicin-resistance-mechanisms-in-clostridium-difficile-">LIMR Clinical Gastroenterology: Investigation of Fidaxomicin Resistance Mechanisms in Clostridium difficile </a></li> <li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1894-towards-new-antibacterial-drugs-to-treat-infections-caused-by-multidrug-resistant-bacteria:-identification-and-characterization-of-novel-natural-produ">Towards new antibacterial drugs to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria: identification and characterization of novel natural produ</a></li>