Professor Joan Geoghegan

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Dr Geoghegan’s research focuses on understanding how Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most important human pathogens, successfully colonises and establishes invasive infection.

This involves the study of bacterial factors promoting interaction with host proteins, cells and tissues and allowing persistence in the human body. Building a better understanding of the key interactions occurring between the pathogen and host will provide an opportunity to precisely target molecular interactions to prevent and treat human infection.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, collaborative, guiding

Provision of Training

Your technical training will be supported by me and other team members. As you gain more experience, you will be expected to develop more independence.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I encourage you to take ownership of your progression, to discuss your data and ideas regularly, and to seek advice and guidance promptly.

Communication

I encourage good communication within the team and regular discussion of individual research projects and the common goals of the lab. I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per fortnight

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per week

These meetings will be a mixture of face to face or via video chat or telephone, and I am usually contactable for an instant response 3 or 4 days per week.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

Project Details

Prof Geoghegan is the supervisor on the below project:

Understanding how interaction with the host influences virulence and antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Tim Overton

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes: Understanding the Rules of Life (Microbiology)

No longer accepting applications

Project Outline

Adhesion is a fundamental step during bacterial colonisation and infection of a host. Staphylococcus aureus possesses a vast repertoire of cell wall-anchored proteins that facilitate adhesion to host molecules and surfaces. Research in the staphylococcal pathogenesis lab focuses on understanding the factors that contribute to the success of Staphylococcus aureus as a commensal and pathogen and using this information to discover new targets for decolonisation or treatment of infection. The aim of this project is to advance our understanding of the bacterium-host interaction by discovering how adhesion alters key phenotypic traits in S. aureus. By combining a variety of different experimental approaches, this project will investigate how sensing a host surface and interacting with it impacts on virulence and susceptibility to antibiotics and host defences in bacterial populations.

Key objectives will be to:

Establish how the expression and activity of cell wall-anchored proteins is modulated by the sensing of and adhesion to a substrate in S. aureus.
Discover how the production and activity of S. aureus virulence factors is influenced by the sensing of host molecules and surfaces.
Discover how susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and host defences changes following interactions with host molecules.

The student will join a collegiate interdisciplinary research group within the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMI) at University of Birmingham and benefit from an established collaboration between Professor Joan Geoghegan and Dr Tim Overtons’ groups. The student will be trained in a range of molecular microbiology and infection biology techniques, single cell analysis, transcriptional profiling and proteomics

References

Da Costa TM et al., (2022). Fibronectin binding protein B binds to loricrin and promotes corneocyte adhesion by Staphylococcus aureus. Nature Communications. 13: 2517.
Geoghegan JA & Dufrêne YF (2018). Mechanomicrobiology: How Mechanical Forces Activate Staphylococcus aureus Adhesion. Trends Microbiol. (8):645-648.
Geoghegan JA & Foster TJ (2017) Cell Wall-Anchored Surface Proteins of Staphylococcus aureus: Many Proteins, Multiple Functions. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 409:95-120.

Techniques

Molecular microbiology techniques, single cell analysis, transcriptional profiling using next generation sequencing, advanced microscopy, flow cytometry, proteomics, cell culture.

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