Professor Mark Walker
Professor

Mark Walker

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 61623

Availability

Professor Mark Walker is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Medical microbiology Microbiology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Group A streptococcus pathogenesis and vaccine development

    Prof. Walker's research focuses on the mechanism by which group A streptococcus causes disease outbreaks and the development of a vaccine to prevent group A streptococcus infection and disease.

Search Professor Mark Walker’s works on UQ eSpace

260 works between 1987 and 2026
All (260) Journal Article (244) Conference Publication (10) Book Chapter (6)

1 - 20 of 260 works

2026

Journal Article

Emergence of distinct Streptococcus pyogenes emm1 and emm12 lineages in China

You, Yuanhai, Yu, Dingle, Yang, Chao, Peng, Xiaomin, Xie, Ouli, Chang, Hesheng, Hua, Chunzhen, Zhao, Fei, Yan, Xiaomei, Zhang, Menghan, Ruan, Xinwei, Wells, Jasmine E. J., Brouwer, Stephan, Duitama González, Camila, Fang, Ming, Yu, Xiaojie, Sun, Lu, Wei, Xiaoyue, Liu, Jie, Zhang, Daitao, He, Lihua, Wang, Jiazheng, Sun, Chuyang, Zheng, Yuejie, Duchene, Sebastian, Zhou, Mingming, Sun, Lifang, Davies, Mark R., Walker, Mark J. ... Yang, Yonghong (2026). Emergence of distinct Streptococcus pyogenes emm1 and emm12 lineages in China. Nature Microbiology, 11 (5), 1245-1255. doi: 10.1038/s41564-026-02324-4

Emergence of distinct Streptococcus pyogenes emm1 and emm12 lineages in China

Featured

2025

Journal Article

An mRNA vaccine encoding five conserved Group A Streptococcus antigens

Harbison-Price, Nichaela, Sebina, Ismail, Bolton, Rhiannon A., Finn, Meredith, Cork, Amanda J., Courtney, Isabel G., Hancock, Steven, Pelingon, Ruby, Richter, Johanna, Ericsson, Olivia, Green, Shannon, Cuellar, Celeste, Davis, Laura, Pullinger, Brody, Na, Jack, Elangovan, Gayathiri, De Oliveira, David M. P., Curren, Bodie F., Bickham, Nia, Aguirre, Miguel, Dold, Christina, Brouwer, Stephan, Plante, Obadiah, Belz, Gabrielle T. and Walker, Mark J. (2025). An mRNA vaccine encoding five conserved Group A Streptococcus antigens. Nature Communications, 16 (1) 5439, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60580-0

An mRNA vaccine encoding five conserved Group A Streptococcus antigens

Featured

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

Integrative omics identifies conserved and pathogen-specific responses of sepsis-causing bacteria

2023

Journal Article

Pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of Group A Streptococcus infection

Brouwer, Stephan, Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Curren, Bodie F., Harbison-Price, Nichaela, De Oliveira, David M. P., Jespersen, Magnus G., Davies, Mark R. and Walker, Mark J. (2023). Pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of Group A Streptococcus infection. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 21 (7), 431-447. doi: 10.1038/s41579-023-00865-7

Pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of Group A Streptococcus infection

2023

Journal Article

Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA

Davies, Mark R., Keller, Nadia, Brouwer, Stephan, Jespersen, Magnus G., Cork, Amanda J., Hayes, Andrew J., Pitt, Miranda E., De Oliveira, David M. P., Harbison-Price, Nichaela, Bertolla, Olivia M., Mediati, Daniel G., Curren, Bodie F., Taiaroa, George, Lacey, Jake A., Smith, Helen V., Fang, Ning-Xia, Coin, Lachlan J. M., Stevens, Kerrie, Tong, Steven Y. C., Sanderson-Smith, Martina, Tree, Jai J., Irwin, Adam D., Grimwood, Keith, Howden, Benjamin P., Jennison, Amy V. and Walker, Mark J. (2023). Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 1051, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36717-4

Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA

2020

Journal Article

Prophage exotoxins enhance colonization fitness in epidemic scarlet fever-causing Streptococcus pyogenes

Brouwer, Stephan, Barnett, Timothy C., Ly, Diane, Kasper, Katherine J., De Oliveira, David M. P., Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Cork, Amanda J., McIntyre, Liam, Jespersen, Magnus G., Richter, Johanna, Schulz, Benjamin L., Dougan, Gordon, Nizet, Victor, Yuen, Kwok-Yung, You, Yuanhai, McCormick, John K., Sanderson-Smith, Martina L., Davies, Mark R. and Walker, Mark J. (2020). Prophage exotoxins enhance colonization fitness in epidemic scarlet fever-causing Streptococcus pyogenes. Nature Communications, 11 (1) 5018, 5018. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18700-5

Prophage exotoxins enhance colonization fitness in epidemic scarlet fever-causing Streptococcus pyogenes

2020

Journal Article

Repurposing a neurodegenerative disease drug to treat Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacterial sepsis

De Oliveira, David M. P., Bohlmann, Lisa, Conroy, Trent, Jen, Freda E.-C., Everest-Dass, Arun, Hansford, Karl A., Bolisetti, Raghu, El-Deeb, Ibrahim M., Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Lacey, Jake A., Tan, Aimee, Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Brouwer, Stephan, Keller, Nadia, Kidd, Timothy J., Cork, Amanda J., Bauer, Michelle J., Cook, Gregory M., Davies, Mark R., Beatson, Scott A., Paterson, David L., McEwan, Alastair G., Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Jennings, Michael P., McDevitt, Christopher A., von Itzstein, Mark and Walker, Mark J. (2020). Repurposing a neurodegenerative disease drug to treat Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacterial sepsis. Science Translational Medicine, 12 (570) abb3791, eabb3791. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abb3791

Repurposing a neurodegenerative disease drug to treat Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacterial sepsis

2019

Journal Article

Scarlet fever changes its spots

Brouwer, Stephan, Lacey, Jake A., You, Yuanhai, Davies, Mark R. and Walker, Mark J. (2019). Scarlet fever changes its spots. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 19 (11), 1154-1155. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30494-3

Scarlet fever changes its spots

2019

Journal Article

Atlas of group A streptococcal vaccine candidates compiled using large-scale comparative genomics

Davies, Mark R., McIntyre, Liam, Mutreja, Ankur, Lacey, Jake A., Lees, John A., Towers, Rebecca J., Duchêne, Sebastián, Smeesters, Pierre R., Frost, Hannah R., Price, David J., Holden, Matthew T. G., David, Sophia, Giffard, Philip M., Worthing, Kate A., Seale, Anna C., Berkley, James A., Harris, Simon R., Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Berking, Olga, Cork, Amanda J., Torres, Rosângela S. L. A., Lithgow, Trevor, Strugnell, Richard A., Bergmann, Rene, Nitsche-Schmitz, Patric, Chhatwal, Gusharan S., Bentley, Stephen D., Fraser, John D., Moreland, Nicole J. ... Walker, Mark J. (2019). Atlas of group A streptococcal vaccine candidates compiled using large-scale comparative genomics. Nature Genetics, 51 (6), 1035-1043. doi: 10.1038/s41588-019-0417-8

Atlas of group A streptococcal vaccine candidates compiled using large-scale comparative genomics

2018

Journal Article

Scarlet fever makes a comeback

Walker, Mark J. and Brouwer, Stephan (2018). Scarlet fever makes a comeback. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 18 (2), 128-129. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30694-1

Scarlet fever makes a comeback

2015

Journal Article

Emergence of scarlet fever Streptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance

Davies, Mark R., Holden, Matthew T., Coupland, Paul, Chen, Jonathan H. K., Venturini, Carola, Barnett, Timothy C., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Tse, Herman, Dougan, Gordon, Yuen, Kwok-Yung and Walker, Mark J. (2015). Emergence of scarlet fever Streptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance. Nature Genetics, 47 (1), 84-87+. doi: 10.1038/ng.3147

Emergence of scarlet fever Streptococcus pyogenes emm12 clones in Hong Kong is associated with toxin acquisition and multidrug resistance

2013

Journal Article

The globally disseminated M1T1 clone of Group A Streptococcus evades autophagy for intracellular replication

Barnett, Timothy C., Liebl, David, Seymour, Lisa M., Gillen, Christine M., Lim, Jin Yan, LaRock, Christopher N., Davies, Mark R., Schulz, Benjamin L., Nizet, Victor, Teasdale, Rohan D. and Walker, Mark J. (2013). The globally disseminated M1T1 clone of Group A Streptococcus evades autophagy for intracellular replication. Cell Host and Microbe, 14 (6), 675-682. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2013.11.003

The globally disseminated M1T1 clone of Group A Streptococcus evades autophagy for intracellular replication

2012

Journal Article

Outsmarting outbreaks

Walker, Mark J. and Beatson, Scott A. (2012). Outsmarting outbreaks. Science, 338 (6111), 1161-1162. doi: 10.1126/science.1232327

Outsmarting outbreaks

2011

Journal Article

Molecular insight into invasive group A streptococcal disease

Cole, Jason N., Barnett, Timothy C., Nizet, Victor and Walker, Mark J. (2011). Molecular insight into invasive group A streptococcal disease. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9 (10), 724-736. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2648

Molecular insight into invasive group A streptococcal disease

2007

Journal Article

DNase Sda1 provides selection pressure for a switch to invasive group A streptococcal infection

Walker, Mark J., Hollands, Andrew, Sanderson-Smith, Martina L., Cole, Jason N., Kirk, Joshua K., Henningham, Anna, McArthur, Jason D., Dinkla, Katrin, Aziz, Ramy K., Kansal, Rita G., Simpson, Amelia J., Buchanan, John T., Chhatwal, Gursharan S., Kotb, Malak and Nizet, Malak (2007). DNase Sda1 provides selection pressure for a switch to invasive group A streptococcal infection. Nature Medicine, 13 (8), 981-985. doi: 10.1038/nm1612

DNase Sda1 provides selection pressure for a switch to invasive group A streptococcal infection

2026

Journal Article

Current progress in developing mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines against human bacterial pathogens

Pullinger, Brody, Harbison-Price, Nichaela, Sebina, Ismail, Na, Jack, Belz, Gabrielle T. and Walker, Mark J. (2026). Current progress in developing mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines against human bacterial pathogens. Clinical Microbiology Reviews e00138-26, e0013826-e0013826. doi: 10.1128/cmr.00138-26

Current progress in developing mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines against human bacterial pathogens

2026

Journal Article

Newly identified antimicrobial activity of an 8-hydroxyquinoline-based ionophore against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus

Li, Gen, El-Deeb, Ibrahim M., Whyte, Hayden G., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Walker, Mark J., von Itzstein, Mark and De Oliveira, David M. P. (2026). Newly identified antimicrobial activity of an 8-hydroxyquinoline-based ionophore against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 81 (7). doi: 10.1093/jac/dkag186

Newly identified antimicrobial activity of an 8-hydroxyquinoline-based ionophore against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus

2026

Journal Article

Overcoming methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus via metal ion disruption of bacterial metabolism

Macbeth, Ella K., Todd Rose, Francesca, Cheung, Chen-Yi, Harbison-Price, Nichaela, De Oliveira, David M. P., Whyte, Hayden G., Walker, Mark J., Hussein, Maytham, Velkov, Tony, Neville, Stephanie L., McDevitt, Christopher A., Monk, Ian R., Ferguson, Scott A. and Cook, Gregory M. (2026). Overcoming methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus via metal ion disruption of bacterial metabolism. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance. doi: 10.1038/s44259-026-00233-4

Overcoming methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus via metal ion disruption of bacterial metabolism

2026

Journal Article

Molecular characterization of covRS mutations in M1UK Streptococcus pyogenes

Pritchard, Jarrad, Proctor, Emma-Jayne, Wang, Jiawa, Johnston, Nikolas P., Hayes, Andrew, McCorkell, Georgia, Yu, Haibo, Tree, Jai, Davies, Mark R., Walker, Mark J., Sluyter, Ronald, Brouwer, Stephan and Sanderson-Smith, Martina L. (2026). Molecular characterization of covRS mutations in M1UK Streptococcus pyogenes. Febs Open Bio. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.70275

Molecular characterization of covRS mutations in M1UK Streptococcus pyogenes

2026

Journal Article

Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Antibiotic Adjuvants

Pham, Viet Tin, De Oliveira, David M. P., Kuo, Andy, Walker, Mark J. and Smith, Maree T. (2026). Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Antibiotic Adjuvants. ACS Infectious Diseases, 12 (6) acsinfecdis.5c01065, 1794-1818. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5c01065

Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Antibiotic Adjuvants

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2030
    Guiding Group A Streptococcus vaccines into clinical development.
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Preclinical refinement of a UQ-Moderna vaccine developed to prevent StrepA infection
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Screening experimental adjuvants in non-human primates for improved Group A Streptococcus (GAS) vaccine efficacy
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Breaking drug resistance in community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) (NHMRC Development grant administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Mining the host-pathogen interface to deliver a drug pipeline for treating intractable and emerging infections
    NHMRC Synergy Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2028
    Development of an mRNA vaccine to prevent Group A Streptococcus pharyngeal infection
    ModernaTX, Inc
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Novel ionophore combination therapeutic treatment (CARB-X grant administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Testing of prototype GSK vaccines in a mouse model of GAS invasive disease.
    GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Scarlet fever pandemic and reversing antibiotic resistance
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Breaking antibiotic resistance in high priority Gram-negative sepsis pathogens
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Deploying next-generation adjuvants to enhance protection of a group A streptococcal vaccine candidate
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019
    In vivo imaging system for tracking inflammation, infection, cancer, pain and bioactive molecules
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Epifluorescent and live-cell imaging microscopes for the investigation of host-pathogen interactions and for molecular and cellular biology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) - Achieving excellence in isotope geochemistry and geochronology
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Worldwide molecular analysis of Streptococcus pyogenes scarlet fever outbreaks
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Facility for characterisation of bionanomaterials
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Evaluation of immunological efficacy and safety parameters of experimental GAS vaccines in non-human primates
    Queensland Emory Development Alliance
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Epidemiology, pathogenesis and prevention of group A streptococcal infection
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Instrumentation for the analysis of cellular and metabolic phenotypes
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Next-generation multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) with laser-ablation capability for in situ high-throughput and high resolution isotope dating and characterizat
    UQ Major Research Facility Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of circulating GAS strains for the CANVAS project (Subcontract to Murdoch Childrens Research Institute under NHMRC Special Initiative administered by UWA)
    Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    GAS Switch from Colonizing Bacterium to Invasive Pathogen (NIH application submitted by University of California, San Diego)
    University of California, San Diego
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Proteins and glycans in host-pathogen interactions: targets for novel drugs and vaccines (NHMRC Program Grant administered by The University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    A pan-genome reverse vaccinology approach to disease prevention in farmed fish
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014
    A confocal microscope for investigation of live bacterial and viral pathogens and for molecular cell biology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Evolution of bacterial pathogenesis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Non-human primate studies of group A streptococcal vaccine candidates
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Development and immunological evaluation of a broadly-protective Group A Streptococcal vaccine, incorporating six highly-conserved protective antigens, in non-human primates
    Queensland Emory Development Alliance
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Interaction of group A streptococci with intracellular innate immune defence
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Post-genomic analysis of novel Streptococcus pyogenes virulence pathways
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    A high-throughput screening and sequencing facility for single cell genomics
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Multi angle light scattering detector for the measurement of absolute molecular weight, size, and conformation of macromolecules in solution
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Defining domains within Mycoplasma hyopneumaoniae surface proteins that interact with host extracellular matrix: efficacy testing of candidate vaccines in swine
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Cell culture facilities for studying host-pathogen interactions and immune function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Mass spectrometer for biomolecule discovery, structural analysis and quantification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    GAS Switch from Colonizing Bacterium to Invasive Pathogen
    University of California, San Diego
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Preclinical studies of group A Streptococcal vaccine candidates
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2015
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Does viral programming cause group A streptococcal invasive disease?
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    An integrated high -throughput fluorescence imaging facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of bacterial infectious diseases (NHMRC Program Grant administered by the University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Mapping cell wall and surface structures of Gram-positive cocci
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Mark Walker is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The contribution of superantigens to the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Breaking antibiotic resistance in multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumanni

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Deploying ex vivo intranasal and tonsillar epithelial models to investigate Streptococcus pyogenes colonisation

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Studying the synergistic effects of streptococcal SLO and NADase on toxification of the host redox metabolism

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kate Schroder

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Preclinical refinement of a UQ-Moderna vaccine developed to prevent StrepA infection

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Discovery and development of an Antibiotic Modulator to Break Antibiotic Resistance in a Mouse Infection Model

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Andy Kuo, Emeritus Professor Maree Smith

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Mark Walker directly for media enquiries about:

  • Cellulitis
  • Disease
  • Impetigo
  • Invasive disease
  • Pharyngitis
  • Scarlet fever
  • Skin infections
  • Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
  • Streptococcus
  • Toxic shock syndrome

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