B.Sc. (Hons. I), Ph.D. Monash
Molecular Genetics Laboratory
School of Biological Sciences
Macleay Building A12
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
AUSTRALIA
Office: Rm 208
Lab: Rm 216
Ph. (Office): +61 2 9351-3369
Ph. (Lab): +61 2 9351-4825
FAX: +61 2 9351-4771
E-mail: nfirth@bio.usyd.edu.au
or n.firth@biotech.usyd.edu.au
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Research Interests
- Primary interests centre on the nature and consequences of
genetic exchange between bacteria, with research focussing on
Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), Staphylococcus aureus
and coagulase-negative staphylococci (Gram-positive).
- Significance of gene transfer mechanisms and mobile DNA in the
evolution, maintenance and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.
- Molecular biology of transposons and insertion sequence (IS) elements.
- Mechanistic basis of conjugation (DNA transfer via cell-to-cell
contact) and related macromolecular transport systems.
- Intercellular interactions/communication.
- Molecular genetics of bacterial plasmids:
replication/maintenance/ conjugation/mobilisation.
- Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance.
- Bacterial pathogenesis.
- Protein targeting: protein secretion/translocation, membrane proteins.
- Bioinformatics: phylogenetic, structural and functional
inference.
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