Dr Andrea Kovacs-Simon
Cell Culture Technologist
A.Kovacs-Simon2@exeter.ac.uk
7597
+44 (0)1392 727597
Geoffrey Pope 322, 301-309
Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter , Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
Overview
I work as a Cell Culture Technologist in the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology and provide specialist support within the group for cell culture experimentation in host-pathogen research to tackle serious fungal diseases. I am also responsible for the day to day running, servicing and operation of the CMM tissue culture and sporulating fungal laboratories as well as training of tissue culture and sporulating fungus users.
Previously I was working in plant pathology, investigating the virulence of the wheat pathogen fungal species of Zymoseptoria tritici.
Before my interest focused on pathogenic fungi, I had been involved in several projects studying the virulence of human bacterial pathogens including gut pathogens (Clostridium difficile, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Campylobacter jejuni) and bacteria causing respiratory diseases (Burkholderia pseaudomallei and Coxiella burnetii). The highlight of these research projects was identification of the CD0873 lipoprotein as an adhesin of Clostridium difficile, with Steve Michell and Rick Titball in 2014. Since role of CD0873 in adhesion was described, CD0873 has been widely studied by a number of research groups and been identified as a potential vaccine component against Clostridium difficile.
I have experience in a range of laboratory methods, such as
- microbiological laboratory procedures with bacterial and fungal species at BSL2, BSL3, including handling of anaerobe bacterial pathogens
- molecular biology methods, for example nucleic acid and protein techniques including transcriptomic and proteomics, genetic engineering and a range of phenotypic assays
- infection procedures with cell cultures and wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)
Andrea Kovacs-Simon (0000-0002-5103-0491) - ORCID
Qualifications
2009-2013 PhD in Microbiology, University of Exeter, UK
2005-2007 MSc in Molecular Biology, University of Szeged, Hungary
2002-2005 BSc in Biology, University of Szeged, Hungary
Career
2021-2022 Research Technician in Plant Pathology
2013-2020 Postdoctoral Researcher, Bacterial Pathogenicity Research Group, University of Exeter, UK.
2007-2008 Research Technician, Cardiovascular Research Group, Medical School, University of Szeged, Hungary