I lead a research group studying antibiotic resistance (ABR) in bacteria. We use molecular genetics, biochemistry and functional genomics techniques to identify and characterise ABR mechanisms in key human pathogens, their mobilisation, and their control. We then use this information to combat the problem of ABR by developing interdisciplinary research collaborations. 

Our current basic work aims to characterize multi-drug resistance mechanisms in non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and in the Enterobacterales, particularly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. We have studied mechanisms of β-lactam and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor resistance (e.g. Dulyayangkul et al., (2020a) Antimicrob Agents Chemother; Dulyayangkul et al., (2020b) Antimicrob Agents Chemother; Calvopiña et al., (2020) Molecular Microbiology; Takebayashi et al., (2021) J Antimicrob Chemother; Alzayn et al., (2021) Antimicrob Agents Chemother; Satapoomin et al., (2022) Antimicrob Agents Chemother; Matlock et al., (2025) Nature Communications), aminoglycoside resistance (e.g. Calvopiña et al., (2020) Antimicrob Agents Chemother; Dulyayangkul et al., (2021) Front Microbiol; Dulyayangkul et al., (2024) PLOS Pathogens), polymyxin resistance (e.g. Cheung et al., (2020) Antimicrob Agents Chemother), fluoroquinolone resistance (e.g. Dulyayangkul et al., (2020c) Antimicrob Agents Chemother), and nitrofurantoin resistance (e.g. Dulyayangkul et al., (2024) Antimicrob Agents Chemother).

We have collaborated with chemists and structural biologists to develop β-lactamase inhibitors (e.g. Brem et al., (2014) Nature Chemistry; Brem et al., (2016) Nature Communications; Brem et al., (2022) Nature Chemistry).

We are developing pipelines to automatically predict ABR from genome sequence (e.g. Reding et al., (2024) Brief Bioinformatics). We have helped investigate the potential for sensing ABR via volotile profiling (e.g. Hewett et al., (2020) Antibiotics; Drabinska et al., (2021) Adv Med Sci). We are also involved in a project led by Physicist Dr Massimo Antognozzi (University of Bristol) to develop novel sensors that can rapidly test for ABR in clinical samples. This project received a global Longitude Prize Discovery Award and its IP is licenced to Fluoretiq Ltd and is being translated into clinical practice through an NIHR I4I award.

I lead the One Health Selection and Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance (OH-STAR) consortium. Working with Dr Philip Williams (University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust) and Prof Alasdair MacGowan and Dr Maha Albur (North Bristol NHS Trust) and alongside Prof Andrew Dowsey (Population Health Sciences), we are using phenotypic susceptibility testing data and whole genome sequencing to survey urinary E. coli and all Gram-negatives from bloodstream infection (e.g. Findlay et al., (2020) J Antimicrob Chemother). Our aims include monitoring ecological shifts resulting from local antibiotic prescribing policy changes, reducing uncertainty in phenotypic susceptibility testing, informing empiric prescribing for bloodstream and urinary tract infection and IV/oral switch for sepsis (e.g. Bamber et al., (2024) Infect Dis Ther; MacGowan et al., (2025) J Antimicrob Chemother; Williams et al., (2025) JAC-AMR). We are also working to understand the transmission and selection of ABR in healthcare settings (e.g. Cheung et al., (2021) Antimicrob Agents Chemother). And we are investigating the utility of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to identify antimicrobial susceptibiliy. Working with Prof Alastair Hay and Dr Ashley Hammond (Population Health Sciences) alongside colleagues at UKHSA (Prof Susan Hopkins; Dr Colin Brown and others) in a series of NIHR-funded randomised controlled trials, we aim to identify how changes in antibiotic prescribing practice in primary care can be used to alter the prevalence of ABR infections in humans (e.g. Hammond et al., (2020) PLOS One). Working with Prof Kristen Reyher (Bristol Vet School), we have defined the environmental and management factors that influence acquisition and selection of ABR bacteria in cattle (e.g. Schubert et al., (2021) Appl Environ Microbiol; Turner et al., (2022) J Appl Microbiol), in dogs (e.g. Mounsey et al., (2022) One Health; Sealey et al., (2022) J Antimicrob Chemother; Sealey et al., (2023) One Health) and in zoo animals (Sealey et al., (2023) J Antimicrob Chemother).  We are investigating food chain and river water risks for ABR bacterial transmission from farmed animals to humans and domestic pets (e.g. Alzayn et al., (2020) J Antimicrob Chemother; Findlay et al., (2020) Appl Environ Microbiol; Mounsey et al., (2021) J Antimicrob Chemother; Sealey et al., (2025) One Health). 

I lead the One Health Drivers of Antibacterial Resistance in Thailand (OH-DART) consortium. Working with colleagues at the Universities of Exeter and Bath, Mahidol University, Chulabhorn Research Institute and the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, our aim is to define and prioritise the drivers of ABR in humans in the community in Thailand taking a multi-disciplinary approach. We have modelled the impact of the current Thai 5-year national plan on ABR reduction (Booton et al., (2021) One Health), have surveyed for antibiotic use among Thai people, identifying significant amounts of unrecognised use (Alhusein et al., (2024) Glob Public Health), have characterised drivers of antibiotic use (or lack thereof) among Thai aquaculture farmers (Alhusein et al., 2025 Front Vet Sci), have identified circulating virulence plasmids with global significance (Gibbon et al., (2025) Lancet Microbe) and have identified risk factors associated with the excretion of 3GC-resistant E. coli and Klebsiella spp in hospitalized people and those in the community (Dulyayankul et al., (2025) Antimicrob Resist Infect Control).

We contribute to the FARMS-SAFE consortium, led by Prof Kristen Reyher, to work alongside colleagues at the University of La Plata to survey ABR (e.g. Mounsey et al., (2024) Appl Environ Microbiol) and antibiotic usage and to identify the drivers of ABR in Argentinian Pig and Dairy farming systems.

We are are part of the Arwain DGC consortium, where our role is to use molecular ecology to survey ABR on Beef, Sheep and Dairy farms across Wales and to investigate mechanisms of farm-to- farm transmission of ABR bacteria.

We are research partners in the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and AMR, led by Prof Sarah Walker at the University of Oxford; we will work alongside Prof Nicole Stoesser and Dr Katie Hopkins, UKHSA to study the molecular basis of unusual resistant Gram-negative bacteria, and to specifically focus on the impact of resistance gene expression on resistance phenotype.

Current Grant Funding

• 04/25-04/30: NIHR, £0.7M
• 04/22-04/26: Welsh Government, £2.3M
• 09/24-12/25: MRC, £0.1M
• 05/24-05/27: NIHR, £1.4M
• 07/23-07/28: NIHR, £2.9M

Completed Grants

• 03/23-01/25: BBSRC, £0.2M
• 01/20-01/25: MRC, £0.2M
• 08/19-09/24: BBSRC, £1.0M
• 05/18-02/22: MRC, £2.9M
• 10/17-09/25: MRF, £4.1M
• 09/16-12/21: MRC, £1.8M
• 06/16-09/21: NERC, £1.4M
• 04/16-10/17: MRC, £0.2M
• 09/15-09/17: EPSRC, £0.6M

Research Team

• Chloe Archer - MSci Student
• Aimee Daum, BSc, BBiomedSc(Hons) (Aukland) - PhD Student
• Beatriz Llamazares, BVSc (Leon), MSc (Copenhagen), PhD (Bristol), MRCVS - Research Associate
• Lisa Moiseienko, BSc, MSc (Kyiv) - PhD Student
• Olly Mounsey, BSc, MRes, PhD (Bristol) - Research Associate
• Noora Peltonen, BSc (Hartpury), MRes (Bristol) - Research Technician
• Peechanika Pinweha, BSc, MSc (Mahidol) - PhD Student
• Naphat Satapoomin, BSc (Newcastle) - PhD Student
• Katie Sealey, BSc, MRes (Kingston), MSc (QMUL), PhD (Bath) - Research Associate
• Liam Shaw, MPhys (Oxford), MRes, PhD (UCL) - Research Fellow
• Yuiko Takebayashi, BSc (Nottingham), MRes (Bristol), PhD (Birmingham) - Senior Research Associate
• Kezia Taylor, MSci (Oxford) - PhD Student

Collaborators

• Prof Jim Spencer (CMM)
• Dr Kate Heesom (Bristol Proteomics Facility)
• Prof Kristen Reyher, MRCVS (Bristol Vet School)
• Prof Andrew Dowsey (Bristol Vet School)
• Prof Alastair Hay, MRCGP (Bristol Medical School)
• Prof Helen Lambert (Bristol Medical School)
• Dr Ashley Hammond (Bristol Medical School)
• Dr Matthew Booker (Bristol Medical School)
• Dr Helen Baxter (Bristol Medical School)
• Dr Massimo Antognozzi (Physics)
• Prof Alasdair MacGowan FRCPath (Southmead Hospital)
• Dr Philip Williams FRCPath (Bristol Royal Infirmary)
• Dr Maha Albur FRCPath (Southmead Hospital)
• Dr Fergus Hamilton (Southmead Hospital)
• Dr Frances Edwards (Southmead Hospital)
• Prof Skorn Mongkolsuk (Chulabhorn Research Institute)
• Dr Jutamaad Satayavivad (Chulabhorn Research Institute)
• Dr Punyawee Dulyayangkul (Chulabhorn Research Institute)
• Prof Visanu Thamlikitkul (Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok)
• Dr Walasinee Sakcamduan (Mahidol University)
• Dr Luechai Sringernyuang (Mahidol University)
• Dr Andrew Singer (UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology)
• Prof Ed Feil (University of Bath)
• Prof Susan Hopkins (UKHSA)
• Dr Colin Brown (UKHSA)
• Prof Sarah Walker (Oxford)
• Prof Nicole Stoesser (Oxford)
• Prof David Eyre (Oxford)
• Dr Katie Hopkins (UKHSA)
• Prof Luzbel de la Sota (University of La Plata)
• Dr Nora Mestorino (University of La Pata)
• Dr Julian Perada (University of Rio Cuarto)
• Dr Mattias Pellegrino (University of Rio Cuarto)