Overview

I came to the University of Exeter from two years of study of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol. I completed my undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology in 2012 and have now begun work towards a Masters by Research in Biocsiences.

Broad research specialisms:

My main area of research is investigating the role lipoproteins play in Clostridium difficile adhesion and thus infection.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology (University of Exeter)

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Research

Research projects

Project Title: Characterisation of the role played by lipoproteins of Clostridium difficile in adhesion

Supervisors: Dr. Stephen Michell

Funding Body: Self

Project Description:

This project aims to investigate the role that lipoproteins of Clostridium difficile play in infection, looking specifically at their role in adhesion. Mutants in two copies of the type II signal peptidase lspA, an important enzyme in the lipoprotein biosynthesis pathway, are being studied alongside mutants in a lipoprotein thought to have a key role in adhesion. It is hoped that, by the end of the project, the hypothesis that lipoproteins are crucial for adhesion will be proved correct, thus opening up lipoproteins and their biosynthesis for research into manipulating C. difficile adhesion.

Publications/Presentations:

Farries, EC.; Kovacs-Simon, A.; Titball, R.; Minton, N.; Michell, SL. Clostridium difficile encodestwo lspA genes, both of which are involved in lipoprotein processing. Poster session presented at: SGM Spring Conference 2012; 2012 March 26-29; Dublin.

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