Dr Sian Pottenger Bsc, MRes, PhD

Personal Statement

My research interest lie in host-microbe interactions with particular focus on microbiome analysis and the effects on microbial infections. I have a background in genomics analysis of human associated gut microbes as well as an interest in pathogenic microbes. I completed both my Undergraduate and Masters degrees here at the University of Liverpool before undertaking a PhD at the University of Queensland in Brisbane Australia which I was awarded in 2019. I came back to UoL in 2018 to start my first PDRA position where I focused on reducing pathogen colonisation and transmission in Broiler chickens through microbiome transplants.

My current role as a PDRA at the University of Liverpool is to identify identify host/pathogen biomarkers of exacerbation resolution using sputum samples from people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). My work involves testing the samples using multiple MesoScale Discovery bioassays to measure immunological markers in the samples. The aim being to assess biomarker levels following treatment and determine how these changes or levels correlate with improved clinical outcomes. I am also analysing Pseudomonas isolates from each of the samples and to assess potential levels of collateral resistance following treatments. With my background in microbiome analysis I am also focused on identifying other microbial signatures such as the Fungal and Viral burden in these samples. All of this should gain a deeper insight into the complexities of polymicrobial infections in people with CF.