Research

Sharon Peacock is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine. Her research group are evaluating the use of microbial whole genome sequencing in diagnostic and public health microbiology, including its application to outbreak investigation and antimicrobial prescribing. They are also undertaking a series of genome-based studies to identify reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare facilities, farms, the food chain and the environment. Several members of her group use bacterial genome-wide association studies to explore mechanisms of bacterial transmission and disease. Members of the group are also working on the biological basis of carriage of the common human pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. Professor Peacock has a long-term interest in melioidosis and the causative bacterium (Burkholderia pseudomallei), and has published on its clinical epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, routes of infection, preventive guidelines, molecular epidemiology and environmental sampling. Her group are currently using a combination of sequence-based and other laboratory approaches to understand the mechanisms by which B. pseudomallei causes human disease.

Sharon is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, an elected Member of EMBO, and was awarded a CBE for services to medical microbiology in 2015.

Selected References

Coll F, Harrison EM, Toleman MS, Reuter S, Raven KE, Blane B, Palmer B, Kappeler ARM, Brown NM, Török ME, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ. Longitudinal genomic surveillance of MRSA in the UK reveals transmission patterns in hospitals and the community. Science Translational Medicine 2017;9(413).

Chewapreecha C, Holden MT, Vehkala M, Välimäki N,Yang Z, Harris SR, Mather AE, Tuanyok A, De Smet B, Le Hello S,Bizet C, Mayo M, Wuthiekanun V, Limmathurotsakul D, Phetsouvanh R, Spratt BG, Corander J, Keim P, Dougan G, Dance DA, Currie BJ, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ. Global and regional dissemination and evolution of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Nature Microbiology 2017;2:16263.

Raven KE, Reuter S, Gouliouris T, Reynolds R, Russell JE, Brown NM, Török ME, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ. Whole-genome sequencing defines the population structure and evolution of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis. Nature Microbiol. 2016;1:15033.

Limmathurotsakul D, Golding N, Dance DA, Messina JP, Pigott DM, Moyes CL, Rolim DB, Bertherat E, Day NP, Peacock SJ, Hay SI. Predicted global distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei and burden of melioidosis. Nature Microbiology 2016;1(1):15008.

Reuter S, Török ME, Holden MT, Reynolds R, Raven KE, Blane B, Donker T, Bentley SD, Aanensen DM, Grundmann H, Feil EJ, M. Spratt BG, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ. Building a genomic framework for prospective MRSA surveillance in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Genome Res. 2016;26:263-70.

Tong SY, Holden MT, Nickerson EK, Cooper BS, Köser CU, Cori A, Jombart T, Cauchemez S, Fraser C, Wuthiekanun V, Thaipadungpanit J, Hongsuwan M, Day NP, Limmathurotsakul D,Parkhill J, Peacock SJ. Genome sequencing defines phylogeny and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a high transmission setting. Genome Research 2015;25:111-8.

Chetchotisakd P, Chierakul W, Chaowagul W, Anunnatsiri S, Phimda K, Mootsikapun P, Chaisuksant S, Pilaikul J, Thinkhamrop B, Piphitaporn S, Susaengrat W, Toondee C, Wongrattanacheewin S, Wuthiekanun V, Thaipadungpanit J, Day NP, Limmathurotsakul D, Peacock SJ. Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole versus trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole plus doxycycline as oral eradicative treatment for melioidosis (MERTH): a multicentre, double-blind, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2014;383:807-814.

Harris SR, Cartwright EJP, Török ME, Holden MT, Brown NM, Ogilvy-Stuart AL, Ellington MJ, Quail MA, Bentley SD, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ. Whole-genome sequencing for analysis of an outbreak of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013;13:130-6.

Köser CU, Holden MTG, Ellington MJ, Cartwright EJP, Brown NM, Ogilvy-Stuart AL, Hsu LY, Chewapreecha C, Croucher NJ, Harris SR, Sanders M, Enright MC, Dougan G, Bentley SD, Parkhill J, Fraser LJ, Betley JR, Schulz-Trieglaff OB, Smith GP, Peacock SJ. Rapid whole-genome sequencing for investigation of a neonatal MRSA outbreak. New Engl J Med. 2012;363:2267-2275.

Chantratita N, Rholl DA, Sim B, Wuthiekanun V, Limmathurotsakul D, Amornchai P, Thanwisai A, Chua HH, Ooi WF, Holden MT, Day NP, Tan P, Schweizer HP, Peacock SJ. Antimicrobial resistance to ceftazidime involving loss of penicillin-binding protein 3 in Burkholderia pseudomallei. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011;108:17165-70.