Bacteriophage (or phage for short) are the most abundant and diverse microbe found in the body. Phages control and manipulate bacterial populations, prevent infection and disease and have important roles in regulating the microbiome and body that have not yet been fully elucidated.
Our lab is broadly split into two main research themes. The first research theme investigates the therapeutic use and translation of bacteriophages in a process known as Phage Therapy. Here, our research typically studies the fundamental cellular and phage biology of understudied antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) clinical pathogens. Our second research theme looks at the gut virome from a number of lens, including the discovery of novel temperate gut phages, the interactions between phage and mammalian cells, along with the use of our gut-on-a-chip microfluidic device as a model of the human gut.
We are an experimental biology lab and utilise a range of cross-disciplinary techniques to investigate fundamental and mechanistic bacteriophage biology.
The Barr Lab is based at the School of Biological Sciences in Monash University.
