Antimicrobial resistance is one of humanity's most significant public health threats. Ten million deaths will occur each year by 2050 as a result of antibiotic resistant infections and antibiotic resistant infections will account for the majority of human deaths.

We study the susceptibility of microbes (bacteria, viruses, including coronavirus, fungi and protozoa), to antibiotics, disinfectants and preservatives. The results provide insights into the susceptibility of these microbes to currently used antimicrobials that can help inform clinical management of diseases.

We use Whole Genome Sequencing to study the genes associated with antimicrobial resistance and examine how they might be transmitted through bacterial populations (plasmids, transposons, integrons). We also examine co-evolution of resistance and virulence genes.

We have developed and patented several new antimicrobial agents. These include antimicrobial peptides and their mimics. These are directly antimicrobial, but they can also be used to overcome resistance to conventional antibiotics and reduce the ability of bacteria to form highly resistant communities (biofilms). We study the genetic and phenotypic mechanisms that underlie the action of these new antimicrobials.

For more information, please contact our team below:

Professor Mark Willcox Role: Professor and Director of Research

 

Phone: +61 2 90655394

Email: m.willcox@unsw.edu.au

Office: Level 3, Room 3.057 Rupert Myers Building (North Wing) UNSW, Kensington 2052

 

Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton

Role: Scientia Professor

 

Phone: +61 2 9385 4375

Email: f.stapleton@unsw.edu.au

Office: Level 3, Room 3.054 Rupert Myers Building (North Wing) UNSW, Kensington 2052

 

Dr Jerome Ozkan

Role: Lecturer/Research Fellow

 

Phone: +61 2 9385 9227 
Email: j.ozkan@unsw.edu.au 
Office: Room 3.060 Rupert Myers Building (North Wing) UNSW, Kensington 2052

 

Dr Ajay Kumar Vijay

Role: Research Fellow

 

Phone: +61 2 9385 4503

Email: v.ajaykumar@unsw.edu.au

Office: Level 3, Room 3.061, Rupert Myers Building (North Wing) UNSW, Kensington 2052

 

 

Dr Muhammad Yasir

Role: Post Doctoral Research Fellow

 

Email: m.yasir@unsw.edu.au

 

Dr Rajesh Kuppusamy

Role: Post Doctoral Research Fellow

 

Email: r.kuppusamy@unsw.edu.au

 

Dr Parthasarathi Kalaiselvan

Role: Post Doctoral Research Fellow

 

Email: p.kalaiselvan@unsw.edu.au
PhD students: