Rhys White

Rhys White

PhD in Microbial Genomics | Comparative Genomics | Bioinformatics | Antibioic Resistance | Phylogenomics

Blog posts

2023

The first genomic insight into Chlamydia psittaci sequence type (ST)24 from a healthy captive psittacine host in Australia demonstrates evolutionary proximity with strains from psittacine, human, and equine hosts

2 minute read

Published:

In 2022, we went into a pet shop and collected a faecal sample from a healthy (asymptomatic) pet bird. We discovered that a strain of Chlamydia psittaci found in a pet bird in 2022 is very similar to the C. psittaci strains that caused foal loss in horses in 2016. This is a bit concerning because it means that there’s a possibility that people and animals could get sick from C. psittaci, so we need to keep a close eye on it to make sure everyone stays healthy. To do that, we need to figure out who is giving C. psittaci to whom so we can come up with evidence-based ways to stop C. psittaci from spreading.

2022

One clone to rule them all: Culture-independent genomics of Chlamydia psittaci from equine and avian hosts in Australia

2 minute read

Published:

In Australia, novel C. psittaci infections in horses raise biosecurity concerns. Here, we used limited whole-genome sequencing to figure out ’who is giving it to who’ and when these modern C. psittaci strains may have appeared in Australia. Our findings suggest that strains from parrots and horses have likely descended from a single progenitor strain.

Phase variation in the glycosyltransferase genes of Pasteurella multocida associated with outbreaks of fowl cholera on free-range layer farms

2 minute read

Published:

In poultry, P. multocida causes fowl cholera which leads to acute and fatal septicaemia with significant economic loss on the poultry industry. In Australia, gene-centric molecular studies are valuable in studying the epidemiology of outbreaks and guiding autogenous vaccination programmes. But these techniques do not provide the resolution for insight into the LPS structure of strains - enter whole-genome sequencing.

2021

Completing the genome sequence of Chlamydia pecorum strains MC/MarsBar and DBDeUG: New insights into this enigmatic koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) pathogen

2 minute read

Published:

We present the first two complete C. pecorum genomes sequenced from diseased koalas. With these genomes, we expand on previous works by improving the gene annotations and by providing the genomic context of important virulence and accessory gene content. These findings lay the foundations for identifying and understanding species specificity and host adaptation behind chlamydial infections affecting koalas.

2020

2019

Networking: a personal touch on tackling social anxiety & introversion

5 minute read

Published:

All of us face networking opportunities throughout our careers. From institutional social mixers to (inter)national conferences, symposia to workshops. In most instances, building networks can be crucial and even life changing. Don’t panic, I don’t know anyone who finds networking easy! Yet, introverts are repeatedly told to act like extroverts?!? Hopefully this blog post will come in handy at your next networking opportunity.