Overview
Background
Professor Mark Schembri is a prominent microbiologist with experience in combating the global health crisis presented by multi-drug resistant pathogens. Professor Schembri’s expertise on the virulence of bacterial pathogens and his innovative analysis of biofilm formation aims to improve the outcomes of the >400 million individuals that suffer from urinary tract infections each year across the globe.
Through the application of genetic, genomic and functional studies on uropathogenic E. coli, Professor Schembri has identified targets to reduce the virulence of this pathogen, and will pursue the development of life-saving therapeutic and preventative advances with the assistance of NHMRC, MRFF and ARC grants. Professor Schembri has tracked the rapid emergence and global spread of a virulent, drug-resistant E. coli clone and used genome sequencing to understand its evolution and virulence.
Links: Professor Schembri collaborates with national and international research leaders, including in Denmark, where he was a lecturer. Professor Schembri has strong links with other international experts in his field, including at the Pasteur Institute and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge. His research collaborations also span lead groups at UQ and other top Australian institutes, including Griffith and La Trobe Universities.
Membership, Funding and patents: Since 2014, Professor Schembri has been awarded over $15 million in funding from competitive national research funding bodies. He holds provisional patents for the development of novel therapeutic agents and vaccine antigens. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and is regularly invited to speak at international conferences in his field.
Awards and Communication: Professor Schembri was the recipient of the Frank Fenner Award (2010) and the ASM BacPath Oration Award (2019) for his outstanding original research contribution to the study of Infectious Disease. He was an Australian Research Council Future Fellow (2011-2015) a National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Research Fellow (2016-2020). Professor Schembri is the author of >240 peer-reviewed research manuscripts. He is President of the Australian Society for Microbiology (2022-2026).
Availability
- Professor Mark Schembri is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Monash University
Research impacts
Professor Schembri’s outstanding original work in the field of infectious disease and multi-drug resistant pathogens has led to several key advances in the fight to reduce the prevalence and improve outcomes of urinary tract infections.
Key research outputs: The genomic epidemiology of the most widespread antibiotic resistant uropathogenic E. coli clone allowed its origin and dissemination to be mapped on a global scale. Recent work in Professor Schembri’s group has defined the virulence of this pathogen using advanced genetic, transcriptomic and proteomic methods in conjunction with mouse models of infection. He has also led the use of new treatments to prevent infection by this antibiotic resistant pathogen.
Key capabilities: Professor Schembri has deep expertise in microbiology, with particular capability in the study of antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens and high-throughput modelling of drug-resistant biofilms, as well as the application of forefront technologies to examine virulence, genomic epidemiology, host-pathogen interactions and novel strategies for the treatment/prevention of infectious diseases.
Works
Search Professor Mark Schembri’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
An ovine septic shock model of live bacterial infusion
Obonyo, Nchafatso G., Raman, Sainath, Suen, Jacky Y., Peters, Kate M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Passmore, Margaret R., Bouquet, Mahe, Wilson, Emily S., Hyslop, Kieran, Palmieri, Chiara, White, Nicole, Sato, Kei, Farah, Samia M., Gandini, Lucia, Liu, Keibun, Fior, Gabriele, Heinsar, Silver, Ijuin, Shinichi, Kyun Ro, Sun, Abbate, Gabriella, Ainola, Carmen, Sato, Noriko, Lundon, Brooke, Portatadino, Sofia, Rachakonda, Reema H., Schneider, Bailey, Harley, Amanda, See Hoe, Louise E., Schembri, Mark A. ... Fraser, John F. (2024). An ovine septic shock model of live bacterial infusion. Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, 12 (1) 94. doi: 10.1186/s40635-024-00684-x
2024
Journal Article
Evolution of the pheV-tRNA integrated genomic island in Escherichia coli
Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Forde, Brian M., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Phan, Minh-Duy, Roberts, Leah W., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2024). Evolution of the pheV-tRNA integrated genomic island in Escherichia coli. PLoS Genetics, 20 (10) e1011459, e1011459. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011459
2024
Journal Article
Molecular mechanisms of re-emerging chloramphenicol susceptibility in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales
Graf, Fabrice E., Goodman, Richard N., Gallichan, Sarah, Forrest, Sally, Picton-Barlow, Esther, Fraser, Alice J., Phan, Minh-Duy, Mphasa, Madalitso, Hubbard, Alasdair T. M., Musicha, Patrick, Schembri, Mark A., Roberts, Adam P., Edwards, Thomas, Lewis, Joseph M. and Feasey, Nicholas A. (2024). Molecular mechanisms of re-emerging chloramphenicol susceptibility in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 9019, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53391-2
2024
Journal Article
The complete genome sequence of five pre-2013 Escherichia coli sequence type (ST)1193 strains reveals insights into an emerging pathogen
White, Rhys T., Ashcroft, Melinda M., Bauer, Michelle J., Bell, Jan, Butkiewicz, Dominika, Álvarez-Fraga, Laura, Gibson, Justine S., Kidsley, Amanda K., Mollinger, Joanne L., Peters, Kate M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Roberts, Leah W., Rogers, Benjamin A., Schembri, Mark A., Trott, Darren J., Turnidge, John, Forde, Brian M. and Beatson, Scott A. (2024). The complete genome sequence of five pre-2013 Escherichia coli sequence type (ST)1193 strains reveals insights into an emerging pathogen. Access Microbiology, 6 (10). doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000894.v3
2024
Journal Article
Modified Tn <i>7</i> transposon vectors for controlled chromosomal gene expression
Chang, Chyden, Phan, Minh-Duy and Schembri, Mark A. (2024). Modified Tn 7 transposon vectors for controlled chromosomal gene expression. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 90 (10), e0155624. doi: 10.1128/aem.01556-24
2024
Other Outputs
The complete genome sequence of five pre-2013 Escherichia coli sequence type (ST)1193 strains reveals insights into an emerging pathogen.
White, Rhys T., Ashcroft, Melinda A., Bauer, Michelle J., Bell, Jan, Butkiewicz, Dominika, Álvarez-Fraga, Laura, Gibson, Justine S., Kidsley, Amanda K., Mollinger, Joanne L., Peters, Kate M., Phan, Duy, Roberts, Leah W., Rogers, Benjamin, Schembri, Mark, Trott, Darren J., Turnidge, John, Forde, Brian M. and Beatson, Scott A. (2024). The complete genome sequence of five pre-2013 Escherichia coli sequence type (ST)1193 strains reveals insights into an emerging pathogen.. doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000894.v2
2024
Journal Article
Discovery and characterisation of new phage targeting uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Asgharzadeh Kangachar, Shahla, Logel, Dominic Y., Trofimova, Ellina, Zhu, Hannah X., Zaugg, Julian, Schembri, Mark A., Weynberg, Karen D. and Jaschke, Paul R. (2024). Discovery and characterisation of new phage targeting uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Virology, 597 110148, 110148. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110148
2024
Journal Article
High-risk Escherichia coli clones that cause neonatal meningitis and association with recrudescent infection
Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Phan, Minh-Duy, Hancock, Steven J., Peters, Kate M., Alvarez-Fraga, Laura, Forde, Brian M., Andersen, Stacey B., Miliya, Thyl, Harris, Patrick N. A., Beatson, Scott A., Schlebusch, Sanmarie, Bergh, Haakon, Turner, Paul, Brauner, Annelie, Westerlund-Wikström, Benita, Irwin, Adam D. and Schembri, Mark A (2024). High-risk Escherichia coli clones that cause neonatal meningitis and association with recrudescent infection. eLife, 12 ARTN RP91853. doi: 10.7554/elife.91853.3
2024
Journal Article
A convergent evolutionary pathway attenuating cellulose production drives enhanced virulence of some bacteria
Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Rahman, M. Arifur, Goh, Kelvin G. K., Kim, Seung Jae, Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Alvarez-Fraga, Laura, Hancock, Steven J., Ravi, Chitra, Kidd, Timothy J., Sullivan, Matthew J., Irvine, Katharine M., Beatson, Scott A., Sweet, Matthew J., Irwin, Adam D., Vukovic, Jana, Ulett, Glen C., Hasnain, Sumaira Z. and Schembri, Mark A. (2024). A convergent evolutionary pathway attenuating cellulose production drives enhanced virulence of some bacteria. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 1441, 1441. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45176-4
2024
Journal Article
CFTR is required for zinc-mediated antibacterial defense in human macrophages
Das Gupta, Kaustav, Curson, James E. B., Tarique, Abdullah A., Kapetanovic, Ronan, Schembri, Mark A., Fantino, Emmanuelle, Sly, Peter D. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2024). CFTR is required for zinc-mediated antibacterial defense in human macrophages. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (8) e2315190121, 1-11. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2315190121
2024
Journal Article
Combined functional genomic and metabolomic approaches identify new genes required for growth in human urine by multidrug-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> ST131
Phan, Minh-Duy, Schirra, Horst Joachim, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Peters, Kate M., Sarkar, Sohinee, Allsopp, Luke P., Achard, Maud E. S., Kappler, Ulrike and Schembri, Mark A. (2024). Combined functional genomic and metabolomic approaches identify new genes required for growth in human urine by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli ST131. mBio, 15 (3), e0338823. doi: 10.1128/mbio.03388-23
2023
Journal Article
Genetic basis of I-complex plasmid stability and conjugation
Lian, Zheng Jie, Phan, Minh-Duy, Hancock, Steven J., Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Paterson, David L. and Schembri, Mark A. (2023). Genetic basis of I-complex plasmid stability and conjugation. PLoS Genetics, 19 (6) e1010773, 1-21. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010773
2023
Journal Article
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms
Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Ravi, Chitra and Schembri, Mark A. (2023). Uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms. Microbiology Australia, 44 (2), 109-112. doi: 10.1071/ma23030
2023
Journal Article
Integrative omics identifies conserved and pathogen-specific responses of sepsis-causing bacteria
Mu, Andre, Klare, William P., Baines, Sarah L., Ignatius Pang, C. N., Guérillot, Romain, Harbison-Price, Nichaela, Keller, Nadia, Wilksch, Jonathan, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Phan, Minh-Duy, Keller, Bernhard, Nijagal, Brunda, Tull, Dedreia, Dayalan, Saravanan, Chua, Hwa Huat Charlie, Skoneczny, Dominik, Koval, Jason, Hachani, Abderrahman, Shah, Anup D., Neha, Nitika, Jadhav, Snehal, Partridge, Sally R., Cork, Amanda J., Peters, Kate, Bertolla, Olivia, Brouwer, Stephan, Hancock, Steven J., Álvarez-Fraga, Laura, De Oliveira, David M. P. ... Walker, Mark J. (2023). Integrative omics identifies conserved and pathogen-specific responses of sepsis-causing bacteria. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 1530, 1-21. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37200-w
2023
Journal Article
Antidepressants can induce mutation and enhance persistence toward multiple antibiotics
Wang, Yue, Yu, Zhigang, Ding, Pengbo, Lu, Ji, Mao, Likai, Ngiam, Lyman, Yuan, Zhiguo, Engelstädter, Jan, Schembri, Mark A. and Guo, Jianhua (2023). Antidepressants can induce mutation and enhance persistence toward multiple antibiotics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (5) e2208344120, 1-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2208344120
2023
Journal Article
HDAC7 is an immunometabolic switch triaging danger signals for engagement of antimicrobial versus inflammatory responses in macrophages
Das Gupta, Kaustav, Ramnath, Divya, von Pein, Jessica B., Curson, James E. B., Wang, Yizhuo, Abrol, Rishika, Kakkanat, Asha, Moradi, Shayli Varasteh, Gunther, Kimberley S., Murthy, Ambika M. V., Stocks, Claudia J., Kapetanovic, Ronan, Reid, Robert C., Iyer, Abishek, Ilka, Zoe C., Nauseef, William M., Plan, Manuel, Luo, Lin, Stow, Jennifer L., Schroder, Kate, Karunakaran, Denuja, Alexandrov, Kirill, Shakespear, Melanie R., Schembri, Mark A., Fairlie, David P. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2023). HDAC7 is an immunometabolic switch triaging danger signals for engagement of antimicrobial versus inflammatory responses in macrophages. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (4) e2212813120, 1-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2212813120
2022
Journal Article
Distinct ecological fitness factors coordinated by a conserved Escherichia coli regulator during systemic bloodstream infection
O’Boyle, Nicky, Douce, Gillian R., Farrell, Gillian, Rattray, Nicholas J. W., Schembri, Mark A., Roe, Andrew J. and Connolly, James P. R. (2022). Distinct ecological fitness factors coordinated by a conserved Escherichia coli regulator during systemic bloodstream infection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (1) e2212175120, 1-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2212175120
2022
Journal Article
Synthesis of a Gal-β-(1→4)-Gal disaccharide as a ligand for the fimbrial adhesin UcaD
Boittier, Eric D., Wimmer, Norbert, Harris, Alexandria K., Schembri, Mark A. and Ferro, Vito (2022). Synthesis of a Gal-β-(1→4)-Gal disaccharide as a ligand for the fimbrial adhesin UcaD. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 76 (1), 30-36. doi: 10.1071/ch22158
2022
Journal Article
Antidepressants promote the spread of antibiotic resistance via horizontally conjugative gene transfer
Ding, Pengbo, Lu, Ji, Wang, Yue, Schembri, Mark A. and Guo, Jianhua (2022). Antidepressants promote the spread of antibiotic resistance via horizontally conjugative gene transfer. Environmental Microbiology, 24 (11), 5261-5276. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.16165
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Cyclic ADP ribose isomers: Production, chemical structures, and immune signaling
Manik, Mohammad K., Shi, Yun, Li, Sulin, Zaydman, Mark A., Damaraju, Neha, Eastman, Samuel, Smith, Thomas G., Gu, Weixi, Masic, Veronika, Mosaiab, Tamim, Weagley, James S., Hancock, Steven J., Vasquez, Eduardo, Hartley-Tassell, Lauren, Kargios, Nestoras, Maruta, Natsumi, Lim, Bryan Y. J., Burdett, Hayden, Landsberg, Michael J., Schembri, Mark A., Prokes, Ivan, Song, Lijiang, Grant, Murray, DiAntonio, Aaron, Nanson, Jeffrey D., Guo, Ming, Milbrandt, Jeffrey, Ve, Thomas and Kobe, Bostjan (2022). Cyclic ADP ribose isomers: Production, chemical structures, and immune signaling. Science, 377 (6614) eadc8969, 1-11. doi: 10.1126/science.adc8969
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Schembri is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Diversity, regulation and function of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli capsule
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet, Dr Duy Phan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding virulence factors and their regulation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nhu Nguyen
-
Doctor Philosophy
How bacteria form antibiotic resistant biofilms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nhu Nguyen, Dr Duy Phan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial effects on host mitochondrial DNA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Zuryn
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identifying new targets for treatment of antimicrobial resistant infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Boosting innate immune defence to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Divya Ramnath, Professor Matt Sweet
-
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Transposon Directed Insertion Site Sequencing to Enhance Understanding of Essential Genes in Escherichia coli
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Emily Goodall, Professor Ian Henderson
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding virulence factors and their regulation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nhu Nguyen
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding antibiotic resistance and virulence in uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Duy Phan
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the regulation of biofilm matrix components in uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nhu Nguyen
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Virulence and Resistance Plasmids of Extra-intestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Duy Phan
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of Escherichia coli fimbrial and autotransporter adhesins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Duy Phan
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of A/C plasmids
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Duy Phan
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and genomic analysis of multidrug resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Scott Beatson
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of Factors Involved in Escherichia coli Virulence: Type Ve Inverse Autotransporter Proteins and the K1 Capsule
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of flagella and resistance to oxidative stress in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Towards a Better Understanding through the Characterisation of a Vaccine Antigen and Virulence Factor
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Master Philosophy
Autotransporter Proteins of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Regulation, Characterisation and the Role of Periplasmic Proteins in their Expression
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary Phylogeny and Molecular Characterisation of Chaperone-Usher Fimbriae from Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Virulence Potential of the Multidrug Resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli ST131 clone
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Scott Beatson
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from an intensive care unit
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Scott Beatson
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and Characterisation of New Adhesins in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of asymptomatic bacteriuria Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of novel surface proteins of the urinary tract pathogen Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Scott Beatson
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and Characterisation of Novel Autotransporters of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7
Principal Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Bacterial Aggregation and Biofilm Formation by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Master Philosophy
Theoretical investigations of integron evolution in bacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jan Engelstaedter
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the macrophage zinc toxicity response as an antimicrobial weapon
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Roles of Commonly Prescribed Antidepressants in the Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
A bitter taste in your heart: the role of T2Rs in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Walker, Professor Wally Thomas
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising B1 Metallo-ß-Lactamases (MBLs)
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Application of whole genome sequencing to characterise clinically significant multidrug resistant bacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Scott Beatson
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of innate immune antimicrobial zinc toxicity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of interactions between uropathogenic Escherichia coli and the innate immune system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Bacterial ketol-acid reductoisomerase: structure, catalytic mechanism and thermal stability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bostjan Kobe, Professor Luke Guddat
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Preventing canine urinary tract infection (UTI) using an asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) Escherichia coli strain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Mills
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the host and bacterial factors in cystic fibrosis that promote persistence of infection in the lung.
Associate Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural & Functional Characterization of Bacterial TRX-fold proteins
Associate Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional studies of TcpB, a protein involved in Brucella pathogenesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet, Professor Bostjan Kobe
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterization of anti-microbial pathways in human macrophages
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Stacey, Professor Matt Sweet
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION OF THE MULTICOPPER OXIDASE FROM Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium
Associate Advisor
Media
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