Dr. Rebecca McHugh
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Roe Group Member: 2017 – Present
My research centres on the use of novel anti-virulence therapies to treat E. coli infections of the gut. Specifically, focusing on potential clinical applications of natural products which are derived from the soil-dwelling genus of Actinobacteria, Streptomyces. This has included investigating the mechanism of action and biosynthesis of natural products and industrial strain optimization in collaboration with Glaxo Smith Klein.
Outside of the lab, I am involved with the Microbiology Society, sitting on both their Building Communities Committee and Industrial Engagement Panel. In 2022 I was awarded the UK Infection Science Award for my work on the natural product virulence inhibitor, aurodox.
Publications
McHugh, R.E., Munnoch, J.T., Braes, R.E., McKean, I.J., Giard, J., Taladriz-Sender, A., Peschke, F., Burley, G.A., Roe, A.J. and Hoskisson, P.A. (2022) 'Biosynthesis of aurodox, a Type III secretion system inhibitor from Streptomyces goldiniensis', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 88(15), e00692-22, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.00692-22.
McHugh, R.E., Munnoch, J.T., Roe, A.J. and Hoskisson, P.A. (2022) 'Genome sequence of the aurodox-producing bacterium Streptomyces goldiniensis ATCC 21386', Access Microbiol, 4(5), acmi000358, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000358.
McHugh, R.E., O’Boyle, N., Connolly, J.P., Hoskisson, P.A. and Roe, A.J. (2019) 'Characterization of the mode of action of aurodox, a type III secretion system inhibitor from Streptomyces goldiniensis', Infection and immunity, 87(2), 10.1128/iai. 00595-18, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00595-18.
Awards & Prizes
2023:
- Carnegie Research Incentive Grant
2022:
- UK Infection Science Award for work on the natural product virulence inhibitor Aurodox
- Outstanding Science Prize, Mining for Antimicrobials and Postbiotics with theraupetic potential
- Mike Goodfellow award, Runner Up, International Symposium of the Biology of Actinomycetes
