Prof Chloe James
School of Science, Engineering & Environment
Current positions
Professor of Microbiology
Biography
I graduated from The University of Edinburgh in 1998 with a BSc hon in Medical Microbiology and a thirst to know more about bacterial disease. I discovered the awesomeness of bacteriophages during my MAFF-Funded PhD case studentship at The University of Liverpool (1998-2003): Shigatoxigenic phage infection of Escherichia coli. I moved on to explore inter-species interactions in polymicrobial dental biofilms as an NIH-funded post-doctoral researcher at The University of Florida, USA (2003-2006). Next, I joined a Marie-Curie RTN Networks project on transport of antibiotics across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria in Aix-Marseille Université, France (2006-2008). Moving back to the UK with my young family, I returned to The University of Liverpool and to phages as a named Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellow investigating how bacteriophages affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of the cystic fibrosis lung (2009-2012).
I was appointed lecturer in medical microbiology at The University of Salford in 2012 and was awarded chair in microbiology in 2022.
Areas of Research
My primary research centers around temperate bacteriophages and how their carriage alters the biology of their bacterial hosts. I also lead projects investigating host-pathogen interactions and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
I am passionate about the open sharing of scientific research through public engagement and outreach. I work across disciplines and with creative practitioners to develop immersive and engaging installations to improve public interest in microbiology.
Areas of Supervision
Molecular Microbiology, Bacterial Pathogens, Bacteriophages, Polymicrobial Biofilms, Infection Models, Bacterial Evolution, Antimicrobial Resistance, Global Health, Science Communication.
Qualifications
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Fellow of The Higher Education Academy
2013 - 2014 -
PhD Microbiology
1998 - 2003 -
BSc Hon Medical Microbiology
1994 - 1998
Publications
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Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda
Ackers-Johnson, G., Kibombo, D., Kusiima, B., Nsubuga, M., Kigozi, E., Kajumbula, H., …James, C. (2021). Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda. Microbiology, 167(5), 001000. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001000
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Temperate phages both mediate and drive adaptive evolution in pathogen biofilms
Davies, E., James, C., Williams, D., O'Brien, S., Fothergill, J., Haldenby, S., …Brockhurst, M. (2016). Temperate phages both mediate and drive adaptive evolution in pathogen biofilms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(29), 8266-8271. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1520056113
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Polylysogeny magnifies competitiveness of a bacterial pathogen in vivo
Burns, N., James, C., & Harrison, E. (2015). Polylysogeny magnifies competitiveness of a bacterial pathogen in vivo. Evolutionary Applications, 8(4), 346-351. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12243
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Lytic activity by temperate phages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in long-term cystic fibrosis chronic lung infections
James, C. E., Davies, E. V., Fothergill, J. L., Walshaw, M. J., Beale, C. M., Brockhurst, M. A., & Winstanley, C. (2015). Lytic activity by temperate phages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in long-term cystic fibrosis chronic lung infections. ISME Journal, 9(6), 1391-1398. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2014.223
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Differential infection properties of three inducible prophages from an epidemic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
James, C., Fothergill, J., Kalwij, H., Hall, A., Cottell, J., Brockhurst, M., & Winstanley, C. (2012). Differential infection properties of three inducible prophages from an epidemic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BMC Microbiology, 12(216), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-12-216