Matthew Macowan

I am a PhD candidate in the School of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with the School of Dentistry. My main area of study is related to understanding the molecular and physiological changes associated with bacterial stress response to the host environment and interactions with other bacterial species in the same niche. Previously I have investigated the relationship between the oral pathology of periodontitis, and its interactions with the gut microbiome and subsequent interactions with pregnancy outcomes through the use of a murine model.

My current research is concerning Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and their interactions and stress responses to the host environment, particularly in the human pathology of cystic fibrosis through the use of continuous culture models.