
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
2016
Journal Article
Sequential acquisition of virulence and fluoroquinolone resistance has shaped the evolution of Escherichia coli ST131
Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Alsheikh-Hussain, Areej S., Ashcroft, Melinda M., Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Roberts, Leah W., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2016). Sequential acquisition of virulence and fluoroquinolone resistance has shaped the evolution of Escherichia coli ST131. MBio, 7 (2) e00347-16, e00347-16.1-e00347-16.11. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00347-16
2016
Journal Article
Molecular and structural characterization of a novel Escherichia coli interleukin receptor mimic protein
Moriel, Danilo G., Heras, Begona, Paxman, Jason J., Lo, Alvin W., Tan, Lendl, Sullivan, Matthew J., Dando, Samantha J., Beatson, Scott A., Ulett, Glen C. and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). Molecular and structural characterization of a novel Escherichia coli interleukin receptor mimic protein. mBio, 7 (2) e02046-15, 1-11. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02046-15
2016
Journal Article
Biofilms 2015: multi-disciplinary approaches shed light into microbial life on surfaces
Visick, Karen L., Schembri, Mark A., Yildiz, Fitnat and Ghigo, Jean-Marc (2016). Biofilms 2015: multi-disciplinary approaches shed light into microbial life on surfaces. Journal of Bacteriology, 198 (19), 2553-2563. doi: 10.1128/JB.00156-16
2016
Journal Article
Biofilm formation by multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 is dependent on type 1 fimbriae and assay conditions
Sarkar, Sohinee, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Schembri, Mark A. and Totsika, Makrina (2016). Biofilm formation by multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 is dependent on type 1 fimbriae and assay conditions. Pathogens and Disease, 74 (3) ftw013, 1-5. doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftw013
2016
Journal Article
Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase at 1.0 Å resolution: A potential target for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
You, Lv, Kandale, Ajit, Wun, Shun Jie, McGeary, Ross P., Williams, Simon J., Kobe, Bostjan, Sieber, Volker, Schembri, Mark A., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2016). Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase at 1.0 Å resolution: A potential target for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery. Febs Journal, 283 (7), 1184-1196. doi: 10.1111/febs.13672
2016
Journal Article
Salmonella employs multiple mechanisms to subvert the TLR-inducible zinc-mediated antimicrobial response of human macrophages
Kapetanovic, Ronan, Bokil, Nilesh J., Achard, Maud E. S., Ong, Cheryl-lynn Y, Peters, Kate M., Stocks, Claudia J., Phan, Minh-Duy, Monteleone, Mercedes, Schroder, Kate, Irvine, Katharine M., Saunders, Bernadette M., Walker, Mark J., Stacey, Katryn J., McEwan, Alastair G., Schembri, Mark A. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2016). Salmonella employs multiple mechanisms to subvert the TLR-inducible zinc-mediated antimicrobial response of human macrophages. The FASEB Journal, 30 (5), 1901-1912. doi: 10.1096/fj.201500061
2016
Journal Article
Comparative proteomics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli during growth in human urine identify UCA-like (UCL) fimbriae as an adherence factor involved in biofilm formation and binding to uroepithelial cells
Wurpel, Daniel J., Totsika, Makrina, Allsopp, Luke P., Webb, Richard I., Moriel, Danilo G. and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). Comparative proteomics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli during growth in human urine identify UCA-like (UCL) fimbriae as an adherence factor involved in biofilm formation and binding to uroepithelial cells. Journal of Proteomics, 131, 177-189. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.11.001
2016
Journal Article
Strain- and host species-specific inflammasome activation, IL-1β release, and cell death in macrophages infected with uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
Schaale, K., Peters, K. M., Murthy, A. M., Fritzsche, A. K., Phan, M.-D., Totsika, M., Robertson, A. A. B., Nichols, K. B., Cooper, M. A., Stacey, K. J., Ulett, G. C., Schroder, K., Schembri, M. A. and Sweet, M. J. (2016). Strain- and host species-specific inflammasome activation, IL-1β release, and cell death in macrophages infected with uropathogenic Escherichia coli.. Mucosal Immunology, 9 (1), 124-136. doi: 10.1038/mi.2015.44
2016
Conference Publication
Antibiotic resistance/16S rRNA analysis of bacterial isolates in women with recurrent urinary tract infections and detrusor overactivity
Chen, Z., Bates, L. J., Ognenovska, K., McIver, C., Phan, M., Peters, K. M., Moore, K. H. and Schembri, M. (2016). Antibiotic resistance/16S rRNA analysis of bacterial isolates in women with recurrent urinary tract infections and detrusor overactivity. Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society (ICS), Tokyo, Japan, 13-16 September 2016. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/nau.23074
2016
Journal Article
Discovery and Characterization of Human Urine Utilization by Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Streptococcus agalactiae
Ipe, Deepak S., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Sullivan, Matthew J., Beatson, Scott A., Ulett, Kimberly B., Benjamin, William H., Davies, Mark R., Dando, Samantha J., King, Nathan P., Cripps, Allan W., Schembri, Mark A., Dougan, Gordon and Ulett, Glen C. (2016). Discovery and Characterization of Human Urine Utilization by Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Streptococcus agalactiae. Infection and Immunity, 84 (1), 307-319. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00938-15
2016
Book Chapter
Co-transcriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing to simultaneously measure regulated gene expression in host and bacterial pathogen
Ravasi, Timothy, Mavromatis, Charalampos (Harris), Bokil, Nilesh J., Schembri, Mark A. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2016). Co-transcriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing to simultaneously measure regulated gene expression in host and bacterial pathogen. Toll-like receptors: practice and methods. (pp. 145-158) edited by Claire E. McCoy. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3335-8_10
2016
Conference Publication
The role of zinc in macrophage antimicrobial responses
Stocks, C. J., Kapetanovic, R., Bokil, N., Phan, M. -D, Lo, A., Schembri, M. and Sweet, M. J. (2016). The role of zinc in macrophage antimicrobial responses. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - VCH. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
2015
Journal Article
Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone
Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Gawthorne, Jayde A., Ashcroft, Melinda M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Sarkar, Sohinee, Peters, Kate M., Chan, Kok-Gan, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Upton, Mathew, Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2015). Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone. MBio, 6 (6) e01602-15, e01602-15. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01602-15
2015
Journal Article
The role of H4 flagella in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence
Kakkanat, Asha, Totsika, Makrina, Schaale, Kolja, Duell, Benjamin L., Lo, Alvin W., Phan, Minh-Duy, Moriel, Danilo G., Beatson, Scott A., Sweet, Matthew J., Ulett, Glen C. and Schembri, Mark A. (2015). The role of H4 flagella in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence. Scientific Reports, 5 (16149) 16149, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/srep16149
2015
Journal Article
Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Zowawi, Hosam M., Forde, Brian M., Alfaresi, Mubarak, Alzarouni, Abdulqadir, Farahat, Yasser, Chong, Teik-Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A. and Paterson, David L. (2015). Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.. Scientific Reports, 5 (Art No.: 15082) 15082, 15082. doi: 10.1038/srep15082
2015
Journal Article
Copper(II)-bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes as antibacterial agents: insights into their mode of action and potential as therapeutics
Djoko, Karrera Y., Schembri, Maira M., Donnelly, Paul S., Schembri, Mark A., Shafer, William M. and McEwan, Alastair G. (2015). Copper(II)-bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes as antibacterial agents: insights into their mode of action and potential as therapeutics. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 59 (10), 6444-6453. doi: 10.1128/aac.01289-15
2015
Journal Article
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli engages CD14-dependent signaling to enable bladder macrophage-dependent control of acute urinary tract infection
Carey, Alison J., Sullivan, Matthew J., Duell, Benjamin L., Crossman, David K., Chattopadhyay, Debasish., Brooks, Andrew J., Tan, Chee K., Crowley, Michael., Sweet, Matthew J., Schembri, Mark A. and Ulett, Glen C. (2015). Uropathogenic Escherichia coli engages CD14-dependent signaling to enable bladder macrophage-dependent control of acute urinary tract infection. The Journal of infectious diseases, 213 (4), 659-668. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv424
2015
Journal Article
The emerging threat of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in urology
Zowawi, Hosam M., Harris, Patrick N. A., Roberts, Matthew J., Tambyah, Paul A., Schembri, Mark A., Pezzani, M. Diletta, Williamson, Deborah A. and Paterson, David L. (2015). The emerging threat of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in urology. Nature Reviews Urology, 12 (10), 570-584. doi: 10.1038/nrurol.2015.199
2015
Journal Article
Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone
Schembri, Mark A., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Minh-Duy Phan, Forde, Brian M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell and Beatson, Scott A. (2015). Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone. Pathogens, 4 (3), 422-430. doi: 10.3390/pathogens4030422
2015
Journal Article
Conserved features in TamA enable interaction with TamB to drive the activity of the translocation and assembly module.
Selkrig, Joel, Belousoff, Matthew J., Headey, Stephen J., Heinz, Eva, Shiota, Takuya, Shen, Hsin-Hui, Beckham, Simone A., Bamert, Rebecca S., Phan, Minh-Duy, Schembri, Mark A., Wilce, Matthew C.J., Scanlon, Martin J., Strugnell, Richard A. and Lithgow, Trevor (2015). Conserved features in TamA enable interaction with TamB to drive the activity of the translocation and assembly module.. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 12905, 12905. doi: 10.1038/srep12905
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Schembri is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
Diversity, regulation and function of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli capsule
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet, Dr Duy Phan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Transposon Directed Insertion Site Sequencing to Enhance Understanding of Essential Genes in Escherichia coli
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic and molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistance mechanisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Brian Forde
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial effects on host mitochondrial DNA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Zuryn
-
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Transposon Directed Insertion Site Sequencing to Enhance Understanding of Essential Genes in Escherichia coli
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson
-
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
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 flagella and resistance to oxidative stress in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of Factors Involved in Escherichia coli Virulence: Type Ve Inverse Autotransporter Proteins and the K1 Capsule
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Master Philosophy
Autotransporter Proteins of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Regulation, Characterisation and the Role of Periplasmic Proteins in their Expression
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Towards a Better Understanding through the Characterisation of a Vaccine Antigen and Virulence Factor
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
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Transposon Directed Insertion Site Sequencing to Enhance Understanding of Essential Genes in Escherichia coli
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson
-
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
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
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Application of whole genome sequencing to characterise clinically significant multidrug resistant bacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Scott Beatson
-
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
-
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 and functional studies of TcpB, a protein involved in Brucella pathogenesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet, Professor Bostjan Kobe
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural & Functional Characterization of Bacterial TRX-fold proteins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emerita Professor Jenny Martin
-
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
Enquiries
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