Phoebe Do Carmo Silva
Phoebe is a final year BBSRC MIBTP funded PhD student at the University of Warwick, investigating the role of early colonisers in cystic fibrosis lung infection. Her work focuses on optimising synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum media for growth with non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae as well as investigating Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa co-infection in different published polymicrobial infection models. Prior to this, Phoebe completed her Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Warwick, where she undertook her Master’s year on placement at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Here, she conducted research into potentiating the efficacy of antibiotics using organic acids against high priority pathogens to tackle the rising global issue of antimicrobial resistance. Following her Master’s degree, Phoebe continued to work at UKHSA as a Technologist, where she undertook a breadth of projects, including leading a public outreach engagement programme for sepsis patients, aiding in the development of a novel tuberculosis diagnostic assay, and further researching into antimicrobial resistance mechanisms which sparked her interest in researching cystic fibrosis lung infections. Alongside her academic studies, Phoebe is keen on communicating science to the public, and currently co-runs a social media account ‘BiofilmBaddies’ on Instagram and TikTok.
FeaturesThe rise of the early cystic fibrosis lung coloniser, Haemophilus influenzae
With the increasing availability of modulator therapies for people with cystic fibrosis, end-stage infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is becoming less common. But are we going to see a rise in the prevalence of the early cystic fibrosis lung pathogen Haemophilus influenzae?