Dr Mal Horsburgh BSc (Edinburgh) PhD (Glasgow)

Senior Lecturer Infection Biology & Microbiomes

    Research

    Skin Colonisation Mechanisms and Pathogenesis of Staphylococci

    Research in my group focuses on pathogenesis and survival mechanisms of Gram-positive bacteria, with an emphasis on Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Studies are aimed at unravelling the molecular and biochemical processes underpinning skin colonisation and survival to determine how this links to virulence and transmission.

    Current studies exploit sequencing technologies via genomics and transcriptomics (RNA-seq) and the development of models for colonisation and survival. Research is supported by the BBSRC, EPSRC and Unilever Plc.

    Current PhD Projects as PI :

    1. Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus: new analyses of existing drugs. (Ayman Algohani, 2020-2024)
    2. The role of skin bacteriophages in staphylococcal population dynamics (Samaah Al Saadi, 2020-2024)
    3. Survival mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus from niche competitor antimicrobials (Norah Alqahtani, 2021-2025)
    4. Abiotic and biotic effectors structuring the skin microbiome (Keir Nicholas-Haizelden, 2022-2026)
    5. Microbiome derived antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci (Ali Alwadi, 2023-2027)

    Positions are available for PhD in microbiology and infection, bacterial pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance. If you are in receipt of sponsorship please contact me to discuss opportunities and projects.




    Research Grants

    Skin Microbiome in Healthy Ageing (SMiHA)

    BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

    February 2022 - February 2024

    Bench Fees for NORAH QUSHAYM QUBAYL ALQAHTANI (201370203)

    ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA CULTURAL BUREAU IN LONDON (UK)

    January 2021 - January 2025

    SAMAH EID S ALSAADI 201457480

    ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA CULTURAL BUREAU IN LONDON (UK)

    October 2020 - September 2023

    Interkingdom competition and resistance evolution on human skin

    UNILEVER PLC (UK)

    February 2018 - January 2023

    Anti-microbial bandage contact lenses

    MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

    November 2017 - December 2023

    Development of New Mathematical Sciences Capabilities for Healthcare Technologies

    ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

    December 2015 - April 2021

    Dissecting staphylococcal interactions in the human skin microbiome

    UNILEVER UK CENTRAL RESOURCES LTD (UK)

    October 2016 - September 2020

    Staphylococcal bacteriophage as agents for personal care products

    UNILEVER UK CENTRAL RESOURCES LTD (UK)

    September 2015 - January 2018

    The Staphylococcus aureus response to bacterial fatty acids and its role in pathogenicity.

    BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

    February 2006 - January 2009

    Infections of the eye – bacterial keratitis

    ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)

    September 2010 - August 2011

    Comparative and functional genomics of skin staphylococci and corynebacteria

    UNILEVER UK CENTRAL RESOURCES LTD (UK)

    October 2011 - September 2015

    CASE award: Comparative transcriptional profiling of cutaneous bacteria and identification of survival determinants

    UNILEVER UK CENTRAL RESOURCES LTD (UK)

    October 2010 - September 2014