Overview

I am a Cell Culture Technologist in the MRC CMM and I provide specialist technical 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 laboratories and training of tissue culture users.

Previously I have been working in plant pathology investigating the virulence of the wheat pathogen fungi Zymoseptoria tritici.

Before my interest focused on pathogenic fungi, I was 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 the identification of the CD0873 lipoprotein as an adhesin of Clostridium difficile, with Steve Michell and Rick Titball in 2014. Since the role of CD0873 in adhesion was described, CD0873 has been widely studied by a number of research groups and it is a potential vaccine 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 various phenotypic assays
• infection procedures with cell cultures and wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)

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