Professor Nick West
Professor

Nick West

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54093

Background

Associate Professor West is a molecular microbiologist, expert in bacterial pathogenesis. He is Head of “Tuberculosis Research” in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland. Nick has a particular interest in drug development for TB. His research utilises modern molecular technologies to identify the genetic requirements for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to cause Tuberculosis (TB) with these genetic discoveries translated into novel antibiotic therapies. Research within his group falls largely into one of the following four themes: Essential Gene Identification in M. tuberculosis, Understanding TB Latency, Targeted TB Drug Development and Improving TB Vaccination.

Nick conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Returning to Australia in 2004, he spent several years at Sydney’s Centenary Institute as an Associate Faculty member before relocating to University of Queensland in 2012. In addition to drug development, Nick’s research portfolio includes programmes of vaccine and diagnostic development and testing.

Availability

Professor Nick West is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Medical microbiology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Wollongong

Search Professor Nick West’s works on UQ eSpace

81 works between 1997 and 2024
All (81) Journal Article (77) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (1) Other Outputs (2)

41 - 60 of 81 works

2018

Journal Article

The endopeptidase PepO regulates the SpeB cysteine protease and is essential for the virulence of invasive M1T1 Streptococcus pyogenes

Brouwer, Stephan, Cork, Amanda J., Ong, Cheryl-Lynn Y., Barnett, Timothy C., West, Nicholas P., McIver, Kevin S. and Walker, Mark J. (2018). The endopeptidase PepO regulates the SpeB cysteine protease and is essential for the virulence of invasive M1T1 Streptococcus pyogenes. Journal of Bacteriology, 200 (8) e00654-17, e00654-17. doi: 10.1128/JB.00654-17

The endopeptidase PepO regulates the SpeB cysteine protease and is essential for the virulence of invasive M1T1 Streptococcus pyogenes

2017

Journal Article

Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Phan, Minh-Duy, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Achard, Maud E. S., Forde, Brian M., Hong, Kar Wai, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, West, Nicholas P., Walker, Mark J., Paterson, David L., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 72 (10), 2729-2736. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkx204

Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2017

Journal Article

Isothermal point mutation detection: toward a first-pass screening strategy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Ng, Benjamin Y. C., Wee, Eugene J. H., Woods, Kyra, Anderson, Will, Antaw, Fiach, Tsang, Hennes Z. H., West, Nicholas P. and Trau, Matt (2017). Isothermal point mutation detection: toward a first-pass screening strategy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Analytical Chemistry, 89 (17), 9017-9022. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b01685

Isothermal point mutation detection: toward a first-pass screening strategy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

2017

Journal Article

The PerR-regulated P1B-4 type ATPase (PmtA) acts as a ferrous iron efflux pump in Streptococcus pyogenes

Turner, Andrew G., Ong, Cheryl-lynn Y., Djoko, Karrera Y., West, Nicholas P., Davies, Mark R., McEwan, Alastair G. and Walker, Mark J. (2017). The PerR-regulated P1B-4 type ATPase (PmtA) acts as a ferrous iron efflux pump in Streptococcus pyogenes. Infection and Immunity, 85 (6) e00140-17, e00140-17.1-e00140-17.13. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00140-17

The PerR-regulated P1B-4 type ATPase (PmtA) acts as a ferrous iron efflux pump in Streptococcus pyogenes

2017

Journal Article

Sansanmycin natural product analogues as potent and selective anti-mycobacterials that inhibit lipid I biosynthesis

Tran, Anh T., Watson, Emma E., Pujari, Venugopal, Conroy, Trent, Dowman, Luke J., Giltrap, Andrew M., Pang, Angel, Wong, Weng Ruh, Linington, Roger G., Mahapatra, Sebabrata , Saunders, Jessica, Charman, Susan A., West, Nicholas P., Bugg, Timothy D. H., Tod, Julie, Dowson, Christopher G., Roper, David I., Crick, Dean C., Britton, Warwick J. and Payne, Richard J. (2017). Sansanmycin natural product analogues as potent and selective anti-mycobacterials that inhibit lipid I biosynthesis. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 14414, 14414. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14414

Sansanmycin natural product analogues as potent and selective anti-mycobacterials that inhibit lipid I biosynthesis

2016

Journal Article

Differing efficacies of lead Group A Streptococcal vaccine candidates and full-length M protein in cutaneous and invasive disease models

Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Pandey, Manisha, Henningham, Anna, Cole, Jason, Choudhury, Biswa, Cork, Amanda J., Gillen, Christine M., Ghaffar, Khairunnisa Abdul, West, Nicholas P., Silvestri, Guido, Good, Michael F., Moyle, Peter M., Toth, Istvan, Nizet, Victor, Batzloff, Michael R. and Walker, Mark J. (2016). Differing efficacies of lead Group A Streptococcal vaccine candidates and full-length M protein in cutaneous and invasive disease models. mBio, 7 (3) e00618-16, e00618-16.1-e00618-16.9. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00618-16

Differing efficacies of lead Group A Streptococcal vaccine candidates and full-length M protein in cutaneous and invasive disease models

2016

Journal Article

Commercial herbicides can trigger the oxidative inactivation of acetohydroxyacid synthase

Lonhienne, Thierry, Nouwens, Amanda, Williams, Craig M., Fraser, James A., Lee, Yu-Ting, West, Nicholas P. and Guddat, Luke W. (2016). Commercial herbicides can trigger the oxidative inactivation of acetohydroxyacid synthase. Angewandte Chemie, 128 (13), 4319-4323. doi: 10.1002/ange.201511985

Commercial herbicides can trigger the oxidative inactivation of acetohydroxyacid synthase

2016

Journal Article

Commercial Herbicides Can Trigger the Oxidative Inactivation of Acetohydroxyacid Synthase

Lonhienne, Thierry, Nouwens, Amanda, Williams, Craig M., Fraser, James A., Lee, Yu-Ting, West, Nicholas P. and Guddat, Luke W. (2016). Commercial Herbicides Can Trigger the Oxidative Inactivation of Acetohydroxyacid Synthase. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 55 (13), 4247-4251. doi: 10.1002/anie.201511985

Commercial Herbicides Can Trigger the Oxidative Inactivation of Acetohydroxyacid Synthase

2015

Journal Article

Naked-eye colorimetric and electrochemical detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis—toward rapid screening for active case finding

Ng, Benjamin Y. C., Wee, Eugene J. H., West, Nicholas P. and Trau, Matt (2015). Naked-eye colorimetric and electrochemical detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis—toward rapid screening for active case finding. ACS Sensors, 1 (2), 173-178. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.5b00171

Naked-eye colorimetric and electrochemical detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis—toward rapid screening for active case finding

2015

Journal Article

Rapid, Single-Cell Electrochemical Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles

Ng, Benjamin Y. C., Xiao, Wei, West, Nicholas P., Wee, Eugene J. H., Wang, Yuling and Trau, Matt (2015). Rapid, Single-Cell Electrochemical Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles. Analytical Chemistry, 87 (20), 10613-10618. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03121

Rapid, Single-Cell Electrochemical Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Using Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles

2015

Journal Article

Rapid DNA detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-towards single cell sensitivity in point-of-care diagnosis

Ng, Benjamin Y.C., Wee, Eugene J. H., West, Nicholas P. and Trau, Matt (2015). Rapid DNA detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-towards single cell sensitivity in point-of-care diagnosis. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 15027, 15027.1-15027.7. doi: 10.1038/srep15027

Rapid DNA detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-towards single cell sensitivity in point-of-care diagnosis

2015

Journal Article

Host-pathogen interaction during bacterial vaccination

Barnett, Timothy C., Lim, Jin Yan, Soderholm, Amelia T., Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, West, Nicholas P. and Walker, Mark J. (2015). Host-pathogen interaction during bacterial vaccination. Current Opinion in Immunology, 36, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.04.002

Host-pathogen interaction during bacterial vaccination

2015

Journal Article

First crystal structures of mycobacterium tuberculosis 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase: complexes with GMP and pyrophosphate and with acyclic nucleoside phosphonates ehose prodrugs have antituberculosis activity

Eng, Wai Soon, Hockova, Dana, Spacek, Petr, Janeba, Zlatko, West, Nicholas P., Woods, Kyra, Naesens, Lieve M. J., Keough, Dianne T. and Guddat, Luke W. (2015). First crystal structures of mycobacterium tuberculosis 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase: complexes with GMP and pyrophosphate and with acyclic nucleoside phosphonates ehose prodrugs have antituberculosis activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 58 (11), 4822-4838. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00611

First crystal structures of mycobacterium tuberculosis 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase: complexes with GMP and pyrophosphate and with acyclic nucleoside phosphonates ehose prodrugs have antituberculosis activity

2015

Journal Article

Manganese homeostasis in group A Streptococcus is critical for resistance to oxidative stress and virulence

Turner, Andrew G., Ong, Cheryl-lynn, Gillen, Christine M., Davies, Mark R., West, Nicholas P., McEwan, Alastair G. and Walker, Mark J. (2015). Manganese homeostasis in group A Streptococcus is critical for resistance to oxidative stress and virulence. mBio, 6 (2) e00278-15, 1-10. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00278-15

Manganese homeostasis in group A Streptococcus is critical for resistance to oxidative stress and virulence

2014

Journal Article

The contribution of non-human primate models to the development of human vaccines

Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Carnathan, Diane G., Moyle, Peter M., Toth, Istvan, West, Nicholas P., Young, Paul L., Silvestri, Guido and Walker, Mark J. (2014). The contribution of non-human primate models to the development of human vaccines. Discovery Medicine, 18 (101), 313-322.

The contribution of non-human primate models to the development of human vaccines

2014

Journal Article

ZapE is a novel cell division protein interacting with FtsZ and modulating the Z-ring dynamics

Marteyn, Benoit S., Karimova, Gouzel, Fenton, Andrew K., Gazi, Anastasia D., West, Nicholas, Touqui, Lhousseine, Prevost, Marie-Christine, Betton, Jean-Michel, Poyraz, Oemer, Ladant, Daniel, Gerdes, Kenn, Sansonetti, Philippe J. and Tang, Christoph M. (2014). ZapE is a novel cell division protein interacting with FtsZ and modulating the Z-ring dynamics. mBio, 5 (2) e00022-14. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00022-14

ZapE is a novel cell division protein interacting with FtsZ and modulating the Z-ring dynamics

2014

Journal Article

Plasmin(ogen) acquisition by group A Streptococcus protects against C3b-mediated neutrophil killing

Ly, Diane, Taylor, Jude M., Tsatsaronis, James A., Monteleone, Mercedes M., Skora, Amanda S., Donald, Cortny A., Maddocks, Tracy, Nizet, Victor, West, Nicholas P., Ranson, Marie, Walker, Mark J., McArthur, Jason D. and Sanderson-Smith, Martina L. (2014). Plasmin(ogen) acquisition by group A Streptococcus protects against C3b-mediated neutrophil killing. Journal of Innate Immunity, 6 (2), 240-250. doi: 10.1159/000353754

Plasmin(ogen) acquisition by group A Streptococcus protects against C3b-mediated neutrophil killing

2013

Journal Article

Inhibition studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis N-acetylglucosamine-1- phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU)

Tran, A. T., Wen, D., West, N. P., Baker, E. N., Britton, W. J. and Payne, R. J. (2013). Inhibition studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis N-acetylglucosamine-1- phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU). Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 11 (46), 8113-8126. doi: 10.1039/c3ob41896k

Inhibition studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis N-acetylglucosamine-1- phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU)

2013

Journal Article

TLR2-targeted secreted proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are protective as powdered pulmonary vaccines

Tyne, Anneliese S., Chan, John Gar Yan, Shanahan, Erin R., Atmosukarto, Ines, Chan, Hak-Kim, Britton, Warwick J. and West, Nicholas P. (2013). TLR2-targeted secreted proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are protective as powdered pulmonary vaccines. Vaccine, 31 (40), 4322-4329. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.07.022

TLR2-targeted secreted proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are protective as powdered pulmonary vaccines

2013

Journal Article

Inhibition of the Escherichia coli 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases by nucleoside phosphonates: potential for new antibacterial agents

Keough, Dianne T., Hocková, Dana, Rejman, Dominik, Spaček, Petr, Vrbková, Silvie, Krečmerová, Marcela, Eng, Wai Soon, Jans, Harmen, West, Nicholas P., Naesens, Lieve M. J., de Jersey, John and Guddat, Luke W. (2013). Inhibition of the Escherichia coli 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases by nucleoside phosphonates: potential for new antibacterial agents. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 56 (17), 6967-6984. doi: 10.1021/jm400779n

Inhibition of the Escherichia coli 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases by nucleoside phosphonates: potential for new antibacterial agents

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2027
    A Faster Cure for Tuberculosis: Revealing Adjunctive Antimicrobial Solutions
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Mycobacterial Cholesterol Degradation: A Unique Metabolic Weakness?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Blocking TB Latency: The Key to Reducing Therapy Duration
    NHMRC Project Grant
    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
  • 2018 - 2021
    Ketol-acid reductoisomerase: An important antituberculosis drug target
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Killing infected cells as a mechanism to eradicate tuberculosis (NHMRC Project Grant led by The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
    Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Novel TB Drug Candidates via the Inhibition of Lipid I Biosynthesis (NHMRC Project Grant led by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Preventing the evolution of transmissible nitroimidazole resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (NHMRC Project Grant led by Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Instrumentation for the analysis of cellular and metabolic phenotypes
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Uncovering Nutrient Acquisition and Metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Wellcome Trust grant administered by the Francis Crick Institute)
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    A new class of inhibitors for the treatment of tuberculosis (NHMRC Project Grant administered by The University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Discovery of new tuberculosis drug leads targeting cell wall biosynthesis (NHMRC Project Grant administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Latent Vaccine Development as Directed by in vivo Modeling
    Centenary Institute
    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
  • 2013
    Facility of Tuberculosis Research
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis essential for Latent Tuberculosis Infection
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Improving subunit vaccines against tuberculosis for pulmonary delivery (NHMRC Project Grant administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Potent antibiotics against drug-resistant Tuberculosis
    NHMRC Development Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Towards new drugs to treat TB
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Design, development and analysis of new tuberculosis drugs
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (Biomedical Level 2): Determining the bacterial contributions to tuberculosis and identification of drug targets
    NHMRC Career Development Award
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Nick West is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identifying Novel Vaccine and Drug Targets of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Brian Forde

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Boosting BCG: The use of Potent Immunostimulatory Secreted Antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Emily Strong

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advanced Genetic Toolkit for Cryptococcus neoformans: Iterating Upon Currently Used Techniques in the WHO¿s Top-Ranked Fungal Pathogen

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor James Fraser

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Nick West directly for media enquiries about:

  • TB Drug Development
  • TB Vaccine Development
  • Tuberculosis (TB)

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