Anita Tarasenko

Anita completed a Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) in 2022 before undertaking an Honours project in the Edwards Lab, where she investigated interactions between Acinetobacter baumannii and bacteriophages. Her work focused on bacterial surface receptors, phage entry mechanisms, and the role of efflux pump systems, alongside isolating and screening bacteriophages against bacterial mutants to explore their therapeutic potential. She is now pursuing a PhD in the Edwards Lab, where her research builds on this foundation through two main projects. The first examines phage–host dynamics in A. baumannii, characterising novel bacteriophages, identifying resistance mechanisms, and assessing how surface modifications influence susceptibility to infection. The second focuses on Achromobacter species, important pathogens in cystic fibrosis infections, and involves isolating and characterising phages as potential therapies for chronic respiratory disease. By integrating microbiology, molecular biology, and genomics, Anita’s research aims to advance phage-based alternatives to antibiotics and provide new strategies for tackling multidrug-resistant and hard-to-treat infections.