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: Talia Berruga Fernández, Sha Cao, Douglas Huseby, Otto Lindahl

Publications

Antibiotic class with potent in vivo activity targeting lipopolysaccharide synthesis in Gram-negative bacteria

Huseby, Douglas L.; Cao, Sha; Zamaratski, Edouard; Sooriyaarachchi, Sanjeewani et al.

Part of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2024
- DOI for Antibiotic class with potent in vivo activity targeting lipopolysaccharide synthesis in Gram-negative bacteria
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Apramycin efficacy against carbapenem- and aminoglycoside-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in murine bloodstream infection models

Frimodt-Møller, Niels; Hansen, Jon U.; Plattner, Michel; Huseby, Douglas L. et al.

Part of International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2024
- DOI for Apramycin efficacy against carbapenem- and aminoglycoside-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in murine bloodstream infection models
- Download full text (pdf) of Apramycin efficacy against carbapenem- and aminoglycoside-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in murine bloodstream infection models
Design, synthesis, and in vitro biological evaluation of meta-sulfonamidobenzamide-based antibacterial LpxH inhibitors

Benediktsdottir, Andrea; Sooriyaarachchi, Sanjeewani; Cao, Sha; Ottosson, Nina E. et al.

Part of European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2024
- DOI for Design, synthesis, and in vitro biological evaluation of meta-sulfonamidobenzamide-based antibacterial LpxH inhibitors
- Download full text (pdf) of Design, synthesis, and in vitro biological evaluation of meta-sulfonamidobenzamide-based antibacterial LpxH inhibitors
Quantifying combined effects of colistin and ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli in an in silico pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model

Zhao, Chenyan; Kristoffersson, Anders N.; Khan, David D.; Lagerbäck, Pernilla et al.

Part of Scientific Reports, 2024
- DOI for Quantifying combined effects of colistin and ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli in an in silico pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model
- Download full text (pdf) of Quantifying combined effects of colistin and ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli in an in silico pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model
Discovery and Hit-to-Lead Optimization of Benzothiazole Scaffold- Based DNA Gyrase Inhibitors with Potent Activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Cotman, Andrej Emanuel; Durcik, Martina; Tiz, Davide Benedetto; Fulgheri, Federica et al.

Part of Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, p. 1380-1425, 2023
- DOI for Discovery and Hit-to-Lead Optimization of Benzothiazole Scaffold- Based DNA Gyrase Inhibitors with Potent Activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Download full text (pdf) of Discovery and Hit-to-Lead Optimization of Benzothiazole Scaffold- Based DNA Gyrase Inhibitors with Potent Activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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