ProfessorSiobhán McClean

CHRONIC INFECTION:
Chronic infection is the hallmark of cystic fibrosis lung disease. I have a key interest in respiratory pathogens that cause opportunistic infections in cystic fibrosis patients and in more recent years, in vaccine development. In particular, I focus on Burkholderia cepacia complex. This is a highly antimicrobial resistant pathogen and effective treatments are challenging. I also have an interest host responses of epithelial cells, mechanisms of pathogenesis and mechanisms of bacterial adaptation which facilitate chronic colonisation. We are currently examining the role of stress proteins in chronic colonization and the switch that controls the transition from acute to chronic infection. We also investigate two other pathogens associated with CF-infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and genus Pandoraea .

VACCINES:
As a result of our investigations on mechanisms of attachment of pathogens to lung epithelial cells, we developed a proteomic platform technology to identify proteins that bacteria use to attach to human cells. Consequently, we have identified a number of novel bacterial adhesins, which are potential vaccine candidates. The antigens protect mice against Burkholderia and have potential as novel vaccine antigens. We have identified vaccine candidates against Burkholderia cepacia complex, Burkholderia pseudomallei , the causative agent of the tropical disease, melioidosis and verotoxigenic E. coli. Using this approach we have identified several candidate vaccine antigens against three ESKAPE pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ESKAPE pathogens are bacterial pathogens that are very resistant to antibiotics and are considered to "escape" most available antibiotics.

RECENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:
BactiVax: Since 2019 I have coordinated a successful Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Network proposal in collaboration with other PIs in Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium and UK to develop novel vaccines against antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections. This project will train 15 PhD students across the 8 countries.

AVACTA: In 2020, I was awarded HEA North-South Strand II funding to lead a collaborative vaccine programme in collaboration with QUB, UCC and TCD. The All-island Vaccine Research and Training Alliance will train 11 PhDs and 4 PDRs in Vaccinology and vaccine development on the island of Ireland. This cross-border research network focus on ESKAPE pathgens.

OneHealth Approach to VTEC infection: In collaboration with UC Davis, we are developing new vaccines to prevent verotoxigenic E. coli infections.

CURRENT RESEARCH TEAM:
Post doctoral researchers:
Dr Joanna Drabinska
Dr Julen Tomás Cortázar
Dr Yueran Hou

PhD researchers
Niamh Duggan
Irene Jurado Martín
Maite Sainz
Chaoying Ma
Ciarán Carey
Nouran Rezk
Deirdre Keating (PT)

Research assistant:
Rhys Bruce