Content
USC student wins top microbiology award
Ground-breaking research into the genetic make-up of bacteria responsible for causing septicaemia has earned University of the Sunshine Coast microbiology student Nubia Ramos a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Nubia, 22, is set to rub shoulders with some of the nation’s top scientists next month after being invited to present a paper on her research at the annual Australian Society for Microbiology Conference in Melbourne (6-10 July).
The PhD student earned this honour by recently winning the prestigious Becton Dickinson (BD) Award in Brisbane ahead of other top postgraduate microbiology students from across Queensland.
Nubia said her work could one day lead to a gene-targeted approach to the treatment of patients with septicaemia, a deadly disease caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream.
“My research looked at the virulence genes carried by translocating Escherichia coli … in other words, bacteria that can move from the gut or urinary tract into the bloodstream of patients in stressed states – such as after surgery – to cause septicaemia,” she said.
Nubia’s intensive laboratory work involved screening for 58 genes and determining which of those genes might be involved in E. coli’s ability to move into the bloodstream.
“I found that E. coli originating from the urinary tract had different genes to E. coli from the gut. However both groups are able to translocate,” she said.
“It seems that although some of the genes I tested for have roles in these abilities, there may be other genes not yet identified that enable translocation. During my PhD studies, this is what I will be continuing to work on.”
Nubia said she was thrilled to have won the Queensland BD Award ahead of university students from Brisbane and a representative from CSIRO.
“I'm pretty excited about presenting my research in Melbourne because it will give me the opportunity to show what research is going on at USC,” she said.
“Although I’m a bit nervous about presenting in such a big arena, I think it’s a great opportunity to put my name out in the microbiology community and to grow more confident as a public speaker.”
Nubia’s studies received an extra boost last week, when Nubia was one of three USC students to receive $2,500 Rotary Club scholarships. These are presented annually by the region’s 17 Rotary clubs to support high-achieving students.