Erin Brazel

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Erin's research is focused on developing novel prevention and treatment strategies against bacterial pathogens.

My Research
Career
Publications
Grants and Funding
Teaching
Supervision
Professional Activities
Contact

During her PhD, Erin investigated the impact of zinc on the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. This work provided fundamental insight into the metabolic and transcriptomic impacts of zinc stress and identified a novel drug repurposing strategy that could be exploited to restore the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics.

Erin continues her research on S. pneumoniae in her current role as post-doctoral researcher in the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases. By combining her microbiology and biochemistry expertise, Erin investigates pneumococcal virulence and metabolism, with a particular interest in the function of bacterial membrane proteins and enzymes. Her research aims to define the mechanisms underlying bacterial behaviour in the host environment and the adaptation of clinical pneumococcal isolates to specific host sites. Erin also explores the mechanisms by which these bacteria signal to and communicate with neighbouring bacteria and the host. Together, this research aims to contribute to the understanding of pneumococal biology and target these pathways as new treatment strategies against pneumococcal infections.

Erin also has an interest in the development of new vaccines to address emerging and existing pathogens that threaten global health and biosecurity. Erin works closely with the R&D team at GPN vaccines Ltd in the development of a whole cell pneumococcal vaccine. This serotype-independent vaccine aims to address the major shortcomings of the currently used vaccines, including the serotype selection and high cost of manufacture. Erin brings her knowledge of fundamental S. pneumoniae biology to the team and has contributed to the invention and design of a range of next generation vaccine candidates. The current lead candidate, which is capable of providing improved immunogenicity and favourable properties for large-scale manufacture, will be tested in a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial in early 2023.

In 2022, Erin was awarded the QUT Bridge Pitch Competition ($10,000) and a Bridge Industry Fellowship ($10,000), and is gaining experience working with GPN Vaccines on business strategy and IP development.

Appointments

Date Position Institution name

2020 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Adelaide

2019 - 2020 Research Assistant University of Adelaide
Language Competencies

Language Competency

English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Date	Position	Institution name
2020 - ongoing	Postdoctoral Research Associate	University of Adelaide
2019 - 2020	Research Assistant	University of Adelaide

Language	Competency
English	Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Education

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
2016 - 2020	University of Adelaide	Australia	Doctor of Philosophy (Biological Sciences)
2015 - 2015	University of Adelaide	Australia	Bachelor of Science (Honours)
2010 - 2014	University of Adelaide	Australia	Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)

Research Interests

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Drug discovery Medical Biochemistry: Proteins and Peptides Medical Microbiology Microbiology Receptors and Membrane Biology Transition Metal Chemistry Vaccinology

Journals

Year	Citation
2022	Brazel, E. B., Tan, A., Neville, S. L., Iverson, A. R., Udagedara, S. R., Cunningham, B. A., . . . McDevitt, C. A. (2022). Dysregulation of Streptococcus pneumoniae zinc homeostasis breaks ampicillin resistance in a pneumonia infection model. Cell Reports, 38(2), 18 pages. DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC1
2022	Tikhomirova, A., Brazel, E. B., McLean, K. T., Agnew, H. N., Paton, J. C., & Trappetti, C. (2022). The Role of luxS in the Middle Ear Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolate 947. Pathogens, 11(2), 216-1-216-12. DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2022	Agnew, H. N., Brazel, E. B., Tikhomirova, A., van der Linden, M., McLean, K. T., Paton, J. C., & Trappetti, C. (2022). Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains Isolated From a Single Pediatric Patient Display Distinct Phenotypes. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 12, 16 pages. DOI
2022	David, S. C., Brazel, E. B., Singleton, E., Minhas, V., Laan, Z., Scougall, C., . . . Alsharifi, M. (2022). A Nonadjuvanted Whole-Inactivated Pneumococcal Vaccine Induces Multiserotype Opsonophagocytic Responses Mediated by Noncapsule-Specific Antibodies. MBIO, 21 pages. DOI
2021	McLean, K. T., Tikhomirova, A., Brazel, E. B., Legendre, S., Haasbroek, G., Minhas, V., . . . Trappetti, C. (2021). Site specific mutations of GalR affect galactose metabolism in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Journal of Bacteriology, 203(1), 1-12. DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2021	Adams, F. G., Trappetti, C., Waters, J. K., Zang, M., Brazel, E. B., Paton, J. C., . . . Eijkelkamp, B. A. (2021). To make or take: bacterial lipid homeostasis during infection. DOI
2021	Adams, F. G., Pokhrel, A., Brazel, E. B., Semenec, L., Li, L., Trappetti, C., . . . Eijkelkamp, B. A. (2021). Acinetobacter baumannii fatty acid desaturases facilitate survival in distinct environments. ACS Infectious Diseases, 7(8), 2221-2228. DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2021	Adams, F. G., Trappetti, C., Waters, J. K., Zang, M., Brazel, E. B., Paton, J. C., . . . Eijkelkamp, B. A. (2021). To make or take: bacterial lipid homeostasis during Infection. mBio, 12(3), e00928-21-1-e00928-21-5. DOI Scopus7 WoS5 Europe PMC2
2021	Zang, M., MacDermott-Opeskin, H., Adams, F. G., Naidu, V., Waters, J. K., Carey, A. B., . . . Eijkelkamp, B. A. (2021). The membrane composition defines the spatial organization and function of a major Acinetobacter baumannii drug efflux system. mBio, 12(3), e01070-21-1-e01070-21-6. DOI Scopus5 WoS2 Europe PMC3
2020	Kelliher, J. L., Brazel, E. B., Radin, J. N., Joya, E. S., Párraga Solórzano, P. K., Neville, S. L., . . . Kehl-Fie, T. E. (2020). Disruption of phosphate homeostasis sensitizes Staphylococcus aureus to nutritional immunity. Infection and Immunity, 88(6), 1-12. DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2019	Eijkelkamp, B. A., Morey, J. R., Neville, S. L., Tan, A., Pederick, V. G., Cole, N., . . . McDevitt, C. A. (2019). Dietary zinc and the control of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. PLoS pathogens, 15(8), 1-26. DOI Scopus26 WoS27 Europe PMC11
2019	Radin, J. R., Zhu, J., Brazel, E. B., McDevitt, C., & Kehl-Fie, T. E. (2019). Synergy between nutritional immunity and independent host defenses contributes to the importance of the MntABC manganese transporter during Staphylococcus aureus infection. Infection and Immunity, 87(1), 1-14. DOI Scopus28 WoS29 Europe PMC20
2018	Bohlmann, L., De Oliveira, D. M. P., El-Deeb, I. M., Brazel, E. B., Harbison-Price, N., Ong, C. L. Y., . . . Walker, M. J. (2018). Chemical synergy between ionophore PBT2 and zinc reverses antibiotic resistance. mBio, 9(6), e02391-18-1-e02391-18-12. DOI Scopus31 WoS33 Europe PMC13
2017	Martin, J., Edmonds, K., Bruce, K., Campanello, G., Eijkelkamp, B., Brazel, E., . . . Giedroc, D. (2017). The zinc efflux activator SczA protects Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 2 D39 from intracellular zinc toxicity. Molecular Microbiology, 104(4), 636-651. DOI Scopus23 WoS21 Europe PMC17
2017	Grim, K., San Francisco, B., Radin, J., Brazel, E., Kelliher, J., Párraga Solórzano, P., . . . Kehl-Fie, T. (2017). The metallophore staphylopine enables Staphylococcus aureus to compete with the host for zinc and overcome nutritional immunity. mBio, 8(5), 1-16. DOI Scopus72 WoS70 Europe PMC45

Patents

Year	Citation
2021	David, S., Alsharifi, M., Brazel, E., Hirst, T., & Paton, J. (2021). US20210361758A1, Streptococcal vaccines and methods for use. US.
2021	Brazel, E., Alsharifi, M., David, S., Hirst, T., & Paton, J. (2021). US20210361757A1, Streptococcal vaccine formulations and uses thereof. US.

REDI Bridge Industry Fellowship (2022), $10,000
School of Biological Sciences EMCR Association Small Grant Scheme (2022). "Structural studies of the Streptococcus pneumoniae sugar uptake protein FruA" - $1,000
QUT/MTPConnect Bridge Program Pitch Competition (2022) $10,000
School of Biological Sciences EMCR Association Small Grant Scheme (2021). "A metabolite screening approach to uncover new Streptococcus pneumoniae treatments" - $1,000
Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Grant (2021), "Expanding the toolkit for the treatment of ear infections" - $40,000

Lecturer, Infection and Immunity IIIA (MICRO 3000, MICRO 3007, MICRO 3102), 2022

Practical Demonstrator, Infection and Immunity IIIA (MICRO 3000), 2016-2018

Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
2022	Co-Supervisor	Investigating Streptococcus pneumoniae pathogenicity	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Miss Hannah Naomi Agnew
2021	Co-Supervisor	Influenza A Virus Vaccine Development	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Ms Chloe Gates

Committee Memberships

Date	Role	Committee	Institution	Country
2022 - ongoing	Secretary	Australian Society for Microbiology SA/NT Branch	Australian Society for Microbiology	Australia
2019 - ongoing	Chair	Adelaide Protein Group	Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Australia
2019 - ongoing	Representative	Professional Development Standing Committee	Australian Society for Microbiology	Australia
2019 - 2019	Representative	Faculty of Sciences Gender Equity and Diversity	The University of Adelaide	Australia
2019 - 2019	Secretary	Adelaide Protein Group	Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Australia
2018 - ongoing	Representative	Australian Society for Microbiology SA/NT Branch	Australian Society for Microbiology	Australia
2018 - 2019	Representative	Institutional Biosafety Committee	The University of Adelaide	Australia
2017 - 2018	Member	Adelaide University Biosciences Network	The University of Adelaide	Australia
2016 - ongoing	Representative	Adelaide Protein Group	-	Australia

Email: erin.brazel@adelaide.edu.au

Erin Brazel

Appointments

Language Competencies

Education

Research Interests

Journals

Patents

Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Committee Memberships

Connect With Me

External Profiles