Professor Chloë James

Current positions

Chair in Microbiology

Biography

I first became interested in microbiology as a young teenager, fascinated by the working life of our next-door neighbour who worked at The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine investigating disease transmission. I graduated from The University of Edinburgh (1998) with a BSc hon in Medical Microbiology and a thirst to know more about bacterial disease. I conducted my PhD studies at The University of Liverpool, publishing research on how bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) infect and transfer genes between different strains of Escherichia coli and other enteric bacteria (1998-2003). I worked as a postdoctoral researcher for 10 years publishing work on different aspects of bacterial infection: Communication and gene regulation systems of oral bacteria and their role in the development of periodontitis - The University of Florida, USA (2003-2006). How mutations in porin channels control the transport of antibiotics across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria - Aix-Marseille Université, France (2006-2008). How bacteriophages affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of the cystic fibrosis lung - The University of Liverpool (2009-2012).

I was appointed as lecturer in medical microbiology at the University of Salford in 2012 and awarded chair in microbiology 2022. My primary research centres around temperate bacteriophages and how their carriage alters the biology of their bacterial hosts, with a particular focus on lung infections. I also lead projects investigating host-pathogen interactions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). I have published 30+ peer-reviewed papers (H-index 26). I welcome applications from prospective researchers with a background in molecular microbiology, and a keen interest in bacterial pathogens; bacteriophage biology; polymicrobial biofilms; infection models; bacterial evolution; antimicrobial resistance; global health.

I sit on the Microbiology Society Council as Chair of the Impact and Influence committee, which enables me to support microbiologists across the world and influence policy at national and international levels. I am passionate about the open sharing of scientific research through public engagement and outreach. I work across disciplines and with creative practitioners to develop immersive and engaging installations to improve public interest in microbiology. Our work has been highlighted at Manchester, Cheltenham, WISE, BlueDot and Pint-of-Science Festivals, as well as The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.

Research Grants Awarded:

PI - BBSRC Standard Grant 2021-24 “Prophage host interactions” BB/T016256/1 (linked to UoS partnership with Liverpool BB/T015616/1

Co-I HEIF 2021-23 Dr H Yates PI “Antimicrobial Surface Coatings for Controlling Infection Transmission”

PI – RSIF, 2015: Launch of Next Generation Sequencing Facilities at University of Salford (PI)

Areas of research

Bacteriophages, Bacterial Infection, Molecular Microbiology, Biofilms, Antibiotic Resistance, Cystic Fibrosis, Host-Microbe Interactions, Microbial Evolution

Areas of supervision

Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Bacteriophages, Antimicrobial Resistance, Host-Pathogen Interactions