MRC PhD students

MRC Career award, final year

Project title: Construction and phenotypic characterization of M. tuberculosis mutants.

Dr Bhavna Gordhan conducted her post doctoral study at the Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit (MMRU) as part of the GlaxoWelcome Action TB Initiative. She is currently holding the position of Senior Research Scientist at the MMRU.

As part of a collaborative effort with laboratories at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Dr Gordhan has been instrumental in developing and applying genetic tools for the identification, validation and characterization of drug and vaccine targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis under the Action TB program since its inception in 1994. One of the major functions of the collaboration was to develop, optimize and apply methods for the targeted knockout of genes in M. tuberculosis by homologous recombination as identified by GSK. This effort was highly successful and the methodology has become a global standard for the construction of mutants for M. tuberculosis. Her focus now has shifted from the construction to the in vitro and in vivo characterization of these mutants, to gain insights into the pathogenicity, physiology and immunology of the tubercle bacilli, which should have a major impact on the processes of drug discovery and vaccine development against tuberculosis. In this light she has recently set up a macrophage model at the MMRU to analyze the various mutants that she has constructed over the years. This ex-vivo system will be a step closer to better understanding the role(s) of genes identified as important targets in M. tuberculosis and will be invaluable in bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo characterization of these mutants.

Since M. tuberculosis is an air borne human pathogen and requires Biosafety level III containment facilities Dr Gordhan has dedicated much effort in the past 10 years in setting up two such facilities in-house. Currently she is solely responsible for the full operation, safety protocols and maintenance of the unit’s two Biosafety Level III research laboratories as well as the training and supervision of junior staff and students.