Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Academic Biography
- 2014-present Senior Lecturer, University of Bath
- 2014 Habilitation, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany
- 2009-2014 Junior Group Leader, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany
- 2006-2009 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Otago, NZ
- 2003-2006 PhD, University of Otago, NZ
- 2000 Graduate Diploma in Applied Science, University of Waikato, NZ
- 1996-2003 Biology Diploma, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany
Research Interests
Bacteria are found in almost any habitat on Earth, and one key to their success is their extraordinary ability to monitor their environment and respond to changes and stresses they might encounter. They achieve this by means of sophisticated signalling pathways that can relay specific information from the outside to the inside of the cell and trigger the most appropriate response.
My group is interested in understanding how these signalling systems work, what information they gather, how the different protein components communicate, which genes are switched on or off as a result of signalling, and how these responses adapt the bacterium to the encountered stress. Our work is focussed in two main areas.
Antibiotic stress responses
The first step in antibiotic resistance very often is the detection of the drug by the bacterium, which leads to activation of dedicated resistance systems that protect the cell. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches, supported by bioinformatics and mathematical modelling, we study signalling pathways involved in resistance against cell wall antibiotics in the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis. Sub-projects range from mechanistic investigations of individual signalling pathways to systems-level investigation of whole regulatory networks. Ultimately, if we can fully understand these processes, it may be possible to design drugs that can avoid detection and thereby bypass resistance.
Environmental stress
Many bacteria are uniquely adapted to very stressful environments where they might encounter extreme conditions of pH, temperature or salinity, to name a few. We are interested in finding bacteria in natural habitats that reflect conditions found in the built environment, e.g. concrete or similar building materials. If these bacteria also possess the ability to precipitate calcite minerals, they can be harnessed for industrial applications, e.g. in self-healing bio-concrete, where they can heal micro-fractures to prevent more serious damage to buildings or structures like bridges or tunnels. In an interdisciplinary collaboration with civil engineers and material scientists we are aiming to take this project from the natural environment to commercial application.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
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A New Paradigm for Engineering Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation via Meso-Scale Simulations
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/09/19 → 31/12/22
Project: Research council
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RM4L - Resilient Materials for Life
Paine, K., Ball, R., Gebhard, S., Heath, A., Tan, L. & Tzoura, E.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
3/04/17 → 2/10/22
Project: Research council
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Utilising biofilm-driven mineral precipitation for sustainable construction materials and a healthy built environment
National Biofilms Innovation Centre
1/10/21 → 12/07/22
Project: Research council
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Bringing Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy to the University of Bath
Kelsh, R., De Bank, P., Ellis, M., Gebhard, S., Gill, R., Jones, B., Mrsny, R. & Vance, K.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/07/19 → 30/06/20
Project: Research council
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IAA - Microbial Self Healing Plasters
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/06/19 → 31/08/19
Project: Research council
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Aerobic non-ureolytic bacteria-based self-healing concrete: Effects of environmental and exposure conditions
Paine, K., Tan, L., Skevi, L., Justo Reinoso, I., Hamley-Bennett, C., Reeksting, B. & Gebhard, S., 20 Jun 2022, p. 73-74.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
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Air-entraining admixtures as a protection method for bacterial spores in self-healing cementitious composites: Healing evaluation of early and later-age cracks
Justo Reinoso, I., Reeksting, B., Hamley-Bennett, C., Heath, A., Gebhard, S. & Paine, K., 11 Apr 2022, In: Construction and Building Materials. 327, 126877.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Antimicrobial tolerance and its role in the development of resistance: lessons from enterococci
Darnell, R., Paxie, O., Todd Rose, F., Morris, S., Krause, A., Monk, I., Smith, M., Stinear, T., Cook, G. M. & Gebhard, S., 19 Jul 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) Advances in Microbial Physiology. Elsevier, (Advances in Microbial Physiology).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Engineered Transcription Factors and Logic Gates to Enhance Heavy Metal Biosensor Design in Bacillus Subtilis
Ghataora, J., Gebhard, S. & Reeksting, B., 3 May 2022.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
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Evaluation of Cyclic Healing Potential of Bacteria-Based Self-Healing Cementitious Composites
Justo Reinoso, I., Reeksting, B., Heath, A., Gebhard, S. & Paine, K., 3 Jun 2022, In: Sustainability. 14, 11, 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Datasets
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Dataset for "Air-entraining admixtures as a protection method for bacterial spores in self-healing cementitious composites: Healing evaluation of early and later-age cracks"
Justo Reinoso, I. (Creator), Reeksting, B. (Creator), Hamley-Bennett, C. (Creator), Heath, A. (Creator), Gebhard, S. (Creator) & Paine, K. (Creator), University of Bath, 24 Feb 2022
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-01087
Dataset