Dr Emily Stevens
- Title
- Lecturer in Microbiology and Immunology
- Location
- Huxley 105
- Contact me
Biography
My research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis and evolution. In particular, I am interested in the evolution of bacterial opportunistic pathogens, with a focus on understanding how these organisms transition from harmless commensals to harmful pathogens. I am also interested in the interactions between opportunistic pathogens and host microbiota, and in the role of microbiota components in protecting against the onset of infectious disease.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Bath in 2015, before completing my PhD in Microbiology at the University of Bristol in 2019. I then worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford until taking up a lectureship position at Keele in 2024.
Research and scholarship
Virulence is a key driver of a pathogen’s ability to cause disease. It encompasses various aspects of infection, including initial colonisation of a host, evasion of the immune system and invasion of tissues and organs. My research started with a focus on the genetic basis of virulence factor production, specifically toxins, in the opportunistic pathogens Staphylococcus aureus (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14110-8) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000784). Both are medically important pathogens, causing a range of diseases from mild skin and upper respiratory tract infections to life threatening septicaemia and pneumonia. Using functional genomics, I identified novel genes which contribute to toxin production in these species.
Following this, I began studying the evolutionary dynamics of pathogen virulence, with a focus on how host microbiota might drive changes in virulence evolution. Using a C. elegans nematode worm model of invasive S. aureus infection, I have characterised how competitive interactions between S. aureus and a native host microbiota community affect pathogen virulence over evolutionary time.
My current work focuses on the transition of opportunistic pathogens from asymptomatic colonisers of the human nasopharynx to invasive pathogens. I am particularly interested in characterising in more detail the interactions between these opportunists and host microbiota communities, to better understand the context in which the transition to pathogenesis takes place.
Publications
Supervision
Co-supervisor for PhD student: Samuel Greenrod (University of Oxford) 2022-2024
Co-supervisor for Masters student: Alexander Tchernev (University of Oxford) 2022-2023
School address
School of Life Sciences
Huxley Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 734414
Email: lifesciences.office@keele.ac.uk
Accessibility
Accessibility information for Huxley Building can be found on its AccessAble page.
Technical Manager: Chris Niles
Faculty Operations Manager: Maria Kyriacou
Enquiries
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 734414
Email: lifesciences.office@keele.ac.uk
Health and safety
Health and Safety Lead
Dr M Skidmore
Human Tissue Authority License
Dr D Tonge
Biological Safety Officer (University Level)
Ms R Harrison
Staff wellbeing champion
Dr Jenny Moran
A full list of School staff is available with details of individual room and telephone numbers, email addresses, details of research interests and other information.
Programme directors
Biology
David Hulse
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733640
Email: d.r.hulse@keele.ac.uk
Bioveterinary Science
Dr N Kareem
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733671
Email: n.o.kareem1@keele.ac.uk
Biochemistry
Dr David Watson
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733676
Email: d.watson@keele.ac.uk
Biomedical Science
Glenn Hussey (Admissions Tutor)
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733880
Email: g.d.hussey@keele.ac.uk
Ecology and Conservation
Jamie Pringle
Email: j.k.pringle@keele.ac.uk
Environmental Science
Michael Montenari
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733162
Email: m.montenari@keele.ac.uk
Human Biology
Dr Mirna Mourtada (Admissions tutor)
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733679
Email: m.m.maarabouni@keele.ac.uk
Geography
Angie Turner
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733620
Email: a.c.turner@keele.ac.uk
Geology
Steve Rogers
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733752
Email: s.l.rogers@keele.ac.uk
Geology and Physical Geography
Steve Rogers
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733752
Email: s.l.rogers@keele.ac.uk
Life Sciences
Research Centre Lead: Dr Helen Price
PGR Lead: Dr Marcelo Lima
Email: h.price@keele.ac.uk, m.andrade.de.lima@keele.ac.uk
Neuroscience
Dr Chris Adams
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733943
Email: c.adams@keele.ac.uk
Microbiology and Immunology
Dr Jenny Moran
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733594
Email: j.a.moran@keele.ac.uk
Neuroscience
Dr Chris Adams
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733943
Email: c.adams@keele.ac.uk
Pharmacology
Dr A Winter
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733117
Email: a.winter@keele.ac.uk
Sustainability and Environmental Management
Michael Montenari
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733162
Email: m.montenari@keele.ac.uk