Diarmaid Hughes research group

Our current research addresses how bacteria can undergo radical evolution by acquisition of DNA from other bacteria, including from different species, and how bacteria can respond to selection by rearranging the organization of their existing genetic material. In addition, we work actively on the discovery and characterization of novel antibiotic compounds.

Bacterial genetics, antibiotic resistance and "fitness"

Our current main areas of research are the following:

a) Studying rearrangments within bacterial chromosomes that are stimulated by selection for survival in suboptimal environments – testing and exploring the SNAP hypothesis.

b) Studying the selection, formation, and frequency of ‘hybrid’ bacterial strains carrying large segments of DNA from other strains or species – a potential origin of global pathogens.

c) We function as the microbiology platform of ENABLE-2, playing an important part in the discovery, validation, and development of novel antibiotics for academic groups throughout Sweden and the rest of Europe.

Diarmaid Hughes Google Scholar

Group members

Research leader: Diarmaid Hughes

Group members: Solène Beauvois, Talia Berruga Fernández, Karolina Borowiec, Ioanna Boutrou, Sha Cao, Douglas Huseby, Otto Lindahl

Publications

Integrated conjugative elements drive the formation of pandemic clones of Escherichia coli with hybrid chromosomes

Berruga Fernández, Talia; Huseby, Douglas L.; Koshla, Oksana; Shaukat, Anum et al.

Part of Molecular biology and evolution, 2026
- DOI for Integrated conjugative elements drive the formation of pandemic clones of Escherichia coli with hybrid chromosomes
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The COMBINE pneumonia model: a multicenter study to standardize a mouse pneumonia model with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae for antibiotic development

Hansen, Jon U.; Arrazuria, Rakel; Hoover, Jennifer L.; Kerscher, Bernhard et al.

Part of Microbiology Spectrum, 2026
- DOI for The COMBINE pneumonia model: a multicenter study to standardize a mouse pneumonia model with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae for antibiotic development
- Download full text (pdf) of The COMBINE pneumonia model: a multicenter study to standardize a mouse pneumonia model with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae for antibiotic development
The Evolutionary Maintenance of Amino Acid Prototrophy in Escherichia coli

Lindahl, Otto; Berruga-Fernández, Talía; Soekhoe, Jivanti; Huseby, Douglas L. et al.

Part of Genome Biology and Evolution, 2026
- DOI for The Evolutionary Maintenance of Amino Acid Prototrophy in Escherichia coli
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Impact of early-life human microbiota on the murine host metabolome: insights from a two-generation HMA mouse model and implications for allergic disease

de Jong, Ymke A.; Seren, Rana M.; Ramsak Marceta, Vida; Checa, Antonio et al.

Part of BMC Microbiology, 2025
- DOI for Impact of early-life human microbiota on the murine host metabolome: insights from a two-generation HMA mouse model and implications for allergic disease
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Model-informed drug development for antimicrobials: translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling of apramycin to facilitate prediction of efficacious dose in complicated urinary tract infections

Hernández-Lozano, Irene; Aranzana-Climent, Vincent; Cao, Sha; Matias, Carina et al.

Part of Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, p. 301-310, 2025
- DOI for Model-informed drug development for antimicrobials: translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling of apramycin to facilitate prediction of efficacious dose in complicated urinary tract infections
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