Dr. Rebecca McHugh
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Roe Group Member: 2017 – Present
My research centres on the use of novel anti-virulence therapies to treat E. coli infections of the gut. Specifically, focusing on potential clinical applications of natural products which are derived from the soil-dwelling genus of Actinobacteria, Streptomyces. This has included investigating the mechanism of action and biosynthesis of natural products and industrial strain optimization in collaboration with Glaxo Smith Klein.
Outside of the lab, I am involved with the Microbiology Society, sitting on both their Building Communities Committee and Industrial Engagement Panel. In 2022 I was awarded the UK Infection Science Award for my work on the natural product virulence inhibitor, aurodox.
Publications
Mark, D.R., Trolan, M.Y., Douce, G.R., Roe, A.J. and McHugh, R.E. (2024) 'The Enemy Within: how pathogen-free are your commercial specific pathogen-free mice?', bioRxiv, 2024.07. 05.602177, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.05.602177.
Hibbert, T., Krpetic, Z., Latimer, J., Leighton, H., McHugh, R., Pottenger, S., Wragg, C. and James, C.E. (2024) 'Antimicrobials: An update on new strategies to diversify treatment for bacterial infections', Advances in Microbial Physiology, 84, 135-241, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.12.002.
Tucker, S.K., McHugh, R.E. and Roe, A.J. (2024) 'One problem, multiple potential targets: Where are we now in the development of Shiga toxin inhibitors?', Cellular Signalling, 111253, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111253.
Mark, D., O'Boyle, N., Wale, K., Tucker, S.K., McHugh, R.E. and Roe, A.J. (2024) 'Aurodox, a polyketide from Streptomyces goldiniensis, inhibits transcription of the type III secretion system of multiple Gram-negative pathogens', bioRxiv, 2024.04. 19.589875, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.04.19.589875.
McHugh, R. E, Giard, J., Braes, R.E., McKean, I., Roe, A.J. and Hoskisson, P.A. (2023) 'Optimisation of aurodox production by Streptomyces goldiniensis', Access Microbiology, 000572. v1, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000572.v1.
McHugh, R.E., Munnoch, J.T., Braes, R.E., McKean, I.J., Giard, J., Taladriz-Sender, A., Peschke, F., Burley, G.A., Roe, A.J. and Hoskisson, P.A. (2022) 'Biosynthesis of aurodox, a Type III secretion system inhibitor from Streptomyces goldiniensis', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 88(15), e00692-22, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.00692-22.
Feeney, M.A., Newitt, J.T., Addington, E., Algora-Gallardo, L., Allan, C., Balis, L., Birke, A.S., Castaño-Espriu, L., Charkoudian, L.K. and Devine, R. (2022) 'ActinoBase: tools and protocols for researchers working on Streptomyces and other filamentous actinobacteria', Microbial genomics, 8(7), 000824, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.000824.
McHugh, R.E., Munnoch, J.T., Roe, A.J. and Hoskisson, P.A. (2022) 'Genome sequence of the aurodox-producing bacterium Streptomyces goldiniensis ATCC 21386', Access Microbiol, 4(5), acmi000358, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000358.
Pollock, J., Low, A., McHugh, R., Muwonge, A., Stevens, M.P., Corbishley, A. and Gally, D.L. (2020) 'Alternatives to antibiotics in a One Health context and the role genomics can play in reducing antimicrobial use', Clinical microbiology and infection, 26(12), 1617-1621, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2020.02.028.
McHugh, R.E., O’Boyle, N., Connolly, J.P., Hoskisson, P.A. and Roe, A.J. (2019) 'Characterization of the mode of action of aurodox, a type III secretion system inhibitor from Streptomyces goldiniensis', Infection and immunity, 87(2), 10.1128/iai. 00595-18, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00595-18.
Awards & Prizes
2023:
- Carnegie Research Incentive Grant
2022:
- UK Infection Science Award for work on the natural product virulence inhibitor Aurodox
- Outstanding Science Prize, Mining for Antimicrobials and Postbiotics with theraupetic potential
- Mike Goodfellow award, Runner Up, International Symposium of the Biology of Actinomycetes
