Doctor Björn Espedido

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Grants / Current Projects
• Awards and Recognition
• Selected Publications
• Memberships and Engagement
• Contact Details

Biography

Dr Björn Espedido is a Post-doctoral Scientific Officer in the Antibiotic Resistance & Mobile Elements Group (ARMEG), based in the Infectious Diseases & Microbiology Unit, University of Western Sydney School of Medicine. His research interests are in the area of molecular bacteriology with a primary focus on the genetic mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

During his PhD he detected and characterised the genetic context of a carbapenem resistance gene (blaIMP-4) previously not seen in Australia. Furthermore, he examined the balance between carbapenem hydrolysis and outer membrane permeability defects in conferring antibiotic resistance in the Enterobacteriaceae.

Dr Espedido is currently working on understanding the genetic mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance and its spread in Staphylococcus aureus. Comparative whole genome approaches are being used to examine the impact of antibiotics on the evolution of clinical S. aureus strains and to identify genetic determinants that confer not only antibiotic resistance but also increased virulence. Additionally, he is interested in plasmid partitioning systems in S. aureus with a view to understanding the biology of these mobile elements that play an important role in the spread of antibiotic resistance.

^ Back to top

Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

• Antibiotic Resistance
• Mobile Genetic Elements
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Bacterial evolution
• Genomics

^ Back to top

Grants / Current Projects

Dr Espedido is currently involved in the following projects:

• Studying the evolution of MRSA ST239 in Liverpool Hospital, Australia
• Identifying mechanisms of resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics
• Understanding plasmid partitioning systems in S. aureus

^ Back to top

Awards and Recognition

UWS Advanced Bio-Imaging Workshop Grant (2010)
International Symposium on Staphylococcus and Staphylococcal Infections Travel Bursary (2010)
Westmead Hospital Charitable Trust Award (2006)
American Society for Microbiology Student Travel Grant (2005 & 2007)
Australian Postgraduate Award (2004)
UTS Faculty of Science Dean’s Merit List (2003)

^ Back to top

Selected Publications

Invited Reviews

Espedido, B. A. & Gosbell, I. B. (2011) Chromosomal mutations involved in antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Front. Biosci. Accepted: MsNo1931

Journal Articles

van Hal, S., Wiklendt, A., Espedido, B., Ginn, A., Iredell, J.R. (2009) Immediate appearance of plasmid mediated multiple antibiotic resistance upon antibiotic selection: an argument for systematic resistance epidemiology. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47(7):2325-2327

Jiang X., Espedido, B.A., Partridge, S.R., Thomas, L.C., Wang, F., Iredell, J.R. (2009) Paradoxical effect of Klebsiella pneumoniae OmpK36 porin deficiency. Pathology 41(4):388-92.

Espedido, B. A., Partridge, S. R., Iredell, J. R. (2008) blaIMP-4 in Different Genetic Contexts in Enterobacteriaceae from Australia. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52(8): 2984-2987.

Espedido, B. A., Thomas, L. C., Iredell, J. R. (2007) Metallo-ß-lactamase or Extended Spectrum & ß-lactamase: a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.J. Clin. Microbiol. 45(6): 2034-2036

Iredell, J., Thomas, L., Espedido, B. (2006) ß-lactam Resistance in the Gram Negatives: Increasing Complexity of Conditional, Composite and Multiply Resistant Phenotypes. Pathology 38(6):498-506.

Espedido, B., Zelynski, A., Thomas, L. & Iredell, J. (2005) A Carbapenemase Plasmid Outbreak in Gram-Negative Bacteria: Implications of the Variable Phenotype. J. Clin. Micro. 43(9):4918-4919

Thomas, L., Espedido, B., Watson, S. & Iredell, J. (2005) Forewarned is Forearmed: Antibiotic Resistance Gene Surveillance in Critical Care. J. Hosp. Infect. 60(3):291

^ Back to top

Memberships

• Australian Society for Antimicrobials
• University of Western Sydney Molecular Medicine Research Group

^ Back to top