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Molecular Microbiologist
James Cook Research Fellow
Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi

BSc (Hons) University of Canterbury, NZ, Research Assistant, Australian National University, Australia, PhD, Cambridge University, UK, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Cambridge University, UK

Email peter.fineran@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 7735

Google Scholar Profile
Pubmed Profile
ResearchGate

twitter.com/PeterFineran

Appointed: 2008

Teaching roles

  • GENE 221 Molecular and Microbial Genetics (Convenor)
  • GENE 221 Molecular and Microbial Genetics
  • GENE 360 Extension Topics and Research Skills
  • MICR 335 Molecular Microbiology
  • MICR 360 Research Perspectives (Convenor)
  • MICR 461 Molecular Microbiology

Current research

The Phage-host interactions (Phi) laboratory led by Professor Peter Fineran aims to understand the interactions between mobile genetic elements, such as bacteriophages and plasmids, and their bacterial hosts, and apply this fundamental knowledge to generate new biotechnologies.

The phage-bacterium 'arms race'

Background: Phages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They are abundant, central to global ecosystems and hold promise in the fight against pathogenic bacteria. Other mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmid, play critical roles in horizontal gene transfer of virulence and antibiotic resistance determinants. Bacteria have responded to phages and MGEs by evolving defence (or immune) systems that protect them from attack. However, MGEs have developed ways to counteract bacterial defences – a classic arms race.

Research overview: Our central fundamental research theme focuses on bacterial ‘immune systems’ and: 1) how these ‘immune systems’ provide resistance against phages and other MGEs and 2) ways that phages and MGEs can evade bacterial defences. This arms race has led to biological innovation, including CRISPR-Cas, restriction-modification and a multitude of other systems. Our translational research goal is to leverage our fundamental research to develop: 3) smarter phage-based antimicrobials against bacterial pathogens and 4) CRISPR-Cas (or other) tools for biotechnological applications.

The core expertise of the team is molecular microbiology, genetics, biochemistry and bioinformatics. We aim to use the methods best suited to address our chosen questions and collaborate with groups possessing complementary expertise where necessary.

Research funding

  • James Cook Research Fellowship, Royal Society of NZ Te Apārangi (RSNZ)
  • Marsden Fund (RSNZ)
  • Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
  • Bioprotection Aotearoa (CoRE, TEC)
  • Zespri International Ltd.
  • Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, Germany
  • Health Research Council (HRC)
  • European Research Commission (ERC), EU
  • Bio-Protection Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE, TEC)
  • Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (RSNZ)
  • Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)

Phage-host interactions (Phi) laboratory current group members

2025 Phage-host Interactions research teams members group photo in front of the Clocktower building

Staff

  • Peter Fineran: Principal Investigator
  • Dr Nils Birkholz - Research Fellow
  • Dr Oliver Dietrich – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr Rob Fagerlund – Senior Research Fellow
  • Dr Manuela Fuchs – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr Marion Schoof – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Dr Leah Smith - Research Fellow
  • Dr Katharina Wandera – Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Baxter Blair – Assistant Research Fellow (with Craig Bunt)
  • Ella Redmond – Assistant Research Fellow

Students

  • Shaharn Cameron - PhD Student
  • Kate Harding - PhD Student
  • Natalie Kyte - PhD Student
  • Jeremy Dubrulle – PhD Student
  • George Warren – PhD Student
  • Megan McLeod - PhD Student (with Simon Jackson)
  • Jinquan Li – PhD Student
  • Mathilde Southwick – Hons Student
  • Cian Dunwoody – PGDipSci Student

Lab alumni

Post-doctoral researchers and Research Fellows

  • Tamzin Gristwood, 2008-2009 (Scientific Writer, Oxford PharmaGenesis,UK)
  • Rita Przybilski, 2010-2012 (Research and Enterprise, University of Otago)
  • Rebekah Frampton, 2011-2012 (Scientist, Plant and Food Research, NZ)
  • Matt McNeil, 2012-2013 (Senior Research Fellow, University of Otago)
  • Ron Dy, 2013-2014 (currently Group Leader, University of the Phillipines)
  • Raymond Staals, 2014-2016 (Group Leader, Wageningen University, NL)
  • Simon Jackson, 2015-2025 (Group Leader, University of Waikato, NZ)
  • Hannah Hampton, 2018-2021 (Research Scientist, Cawthron Institute, NZ)
  • Susie Warring, 2019-2025 (Seperex, NZ)
  • Lucia Malone, 2020-2021 (Post-doc, TU Delft, NL)
  • Sean Meaden, 2020-2022 (Group Leader, University of York, UK)
  • David Mayo-Muñoz, 2023-2024 (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Leighton Payne, 2023-2024 (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Research assistants

  • Andrew McCaw, 2008-2009 (currently Monash University, Australia)
  • Marina Iglesias Cans, 2009-2010 (currently Monaghan Biosciences, Ireland)
  • James Clulow, 2010 (currently Nestle, Switzerland)
  • James Chang, 2012 (currently University of Otago)
  • Corinda Taylor, 2012-2018 (currently LifeMatters, NZ)
  • Max Wilkinson, 2014-2015 (currently Cambridge University, UK)
  • Susie Warring, 2018-2019 (Seperex, NZ)
  • Tom Wiggins, 2019 (currently Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA)
  • Manuela Centanni 2019-2023

PhD students

  • Matthew McNeil, 2009-2012 (currently University of Otago)
  • Corinna Richter, 2010-2013 (currently Lund University, Sweden)
  • Ron Dy, 2010-2013 (currently Group Leader, University of the Phillipines)
  • Adrian Patterson, 2014-2017 (currently BPac, NZ)
  • Hannah Hampton, 2014-2018 (currently Cawthron Institute, NZ)
  • Bridget Watson, 2015-2018 (currently University of Exeter, UK)
  • Mariya Yevstigneyeva, 2016-2019 (currently CytoSMART, Netherlands)
  • Lucia Malone, 2016-2020 (currently TU Delft, NL)
  • Leah Smith, 2016-2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Aroa Rey Campa, 2016-2020 (currently Leitat, Spain)
  • Nils Birkholz, 2017-2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Tess McBride, 2019-2022 (currently Western Sydney University)
  • Howard Maxwell, 2018-2023 (currently Scientific Officer for Māori Health Advancement University of Otago)
  • David Mayo-Muñoz, 2019-2022 (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Leighton Payne, 2020-2023 (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Kotaro Kamata, 2021-2024 (currently Stanford University, USA)
  • Marina Mahler, 2021-2024 (currently Biozentrum University of Basel, Switzerland)
  • Hazel Sisson, 2021-2024 (currently University of Otago)

MSc students

  • Reuben Vercoe, 2010-2012 (currently University of Otago)
  • Thomas Paterson, 2010-2013 (currently Forage Agronomist, PGG Wrightson, NZ)
  • James Chang, 2012-2013 (currently University of Otago)
  • Koen Semeijn, 2013 (currently University of Sheffield, UK)
  • Anne Vogel, 2014 (currently Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)
  • Sebastian Kieper, 2014-2015 (currently Technical University of Delft, NL)
  • Nils Birkholz, 2016 (currently University of Otago)
  • Brian Tong, 2016-2018 (currently AsureQuality, NZ)
  • Carolin Warnecke, 2017 (currently Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Switzerland)
  • Tim Ferguson, 2018 (currently AgResearch, NZ)
  • Zacharie Parquet, 2019 (currently University of Wageningen, NL)
  • Bridget Fellows, 2019-2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Stephanie Trickey, 2020-2021 (currently Walter and Eliza Hall institute of Medical Research, Australia)
  • Sarah de Roode, 2023 (currently Wageningen University, NL)
  • Timothe Malaterre, 2024

BSc and BBioMedSci (Hons) students

  • James Clulow, 2009 (currently Nestle, Switzerland)
  • Iris Chan, 2011 (currently Nursing)
  • James Chang, 2011 (currently University of Otago)
  • Hannah Hampton, 2013 (currently University of Otago)
  • Rebecca McKenzie, 2013 (currently Technical University of Delft, NL)
  • Bridget Watson, 2014 (currently University of Exeter, UK)
  • Max Wilkinson, 2014 (currently Cambridge University, UK)
  • Howard Maxwell, 2017 (currently University of Otago)
  • Nick Donaldson, 2018 (currently Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, USA)
  • Tess McBride, 2018 (currently University of Otago)
  • Leighton Payne, 2019 (currently University of Otago)
  • Maureen Yin, 2019 (currently Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
  • Kotaro Kamata, 2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Hazel Sisson, 2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Thomas Ware, 2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Natalie Kyte, 2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Kate Harding, 2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Shaharn Cameron, 2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Fern Booker, 2021
  • Tom Hughes, 2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Lela Hassan, 2022
  • Ella Silk, 2022 (currently University of Otago)
  • Josh Byford-Pothan, 2022
  • Megan McLeod, 2022 (Jackson, currently University of Otago)
  • Joel Haste, 2022 (Jackson, currently University of Otago)
  • Grace Suhono, 2022 (Gumy)
  • Natasha Drummy, 2023 (University of Heidelberg, Germany)
  • Holly Wakelin, 2024

PGDipSci students

  • Annie Huang, 2009 (currently AsureQuality, NZ)
  • Brian Tong, 2015 (currently AsureQuality, NZ)
  • Tim Ferguson, 2016 (currently AgResearch, NZ)

Summer students

  • James Clulow, 2008-2009 (currently Nestle, Switzerland)
  • Thomas Paterson, 2009-2010 (currently Forage Agronomist, PGG Wrightson, NZ)
  • Tahlia Whiting, 2010-2011 (currently Lincoln High School Science teacher)
  • James Chang, 2011-2012 (currently University of Otago)
  • Bridget Watson, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 (currently University of Otago)
  • Max Wilkinson, 2013-2014 (currently Cambridge University, UK)
  • Elizabeth Prentice, 2013-2014 (currently University of Otago)
  • Blair Ney, 2014-2015 (currently University of Canberra, Australia)
  • Danni Chen, 2014-2015 (currently University of Otago)
  • Alison Morey, 2015-2016 (currently Monash University, Australia)
  • Howard Maxwell, 2016-2017 (currently University of Otago)
  • Nick Donaldson, 2017-2018 (currently Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, USA)
  • Maureen Yin, 2018-2019 (currently Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
  • Tess McBride, 2018-2019 (currently University of Otago)
  • Leighton Payne, 2019-2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Thomas Ware, 2019-2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Natalie Kyte, 2019-2020 (currently University of Otago)
  • Nicholas Keestra, 2020-2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Aileen Harwood, 2020-2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Kate Harding, 2020-2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Fern Booker, 2020-2021 (currently University of Otago)
  • Shaharn Cameron, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 (currently University of Otago)
  • Ella Silk, 2021-2022 (currently University of Otago)
  • Daniel Vallabhjee, 2021-2022
  • Megan McLeod, 2021-2022 (currently University of Otago)
  • Natasha Drummy, 2022-2023
  • Holly Wakelin, 2023-2024
  • Asha Bhakta, 2024-2025
  • Vinny Wong, 2024-2025

Visitors

  • Desiree Cossyleon, 2010 (currently Indiana University, USA)
  • Angela Holguin Moreno, 2012 (currently University of Toronto, Canada)
  • Elena Lopez Acedo, 2014 (Extremadura, Spain)
  • Jacob Marogi, 2018 (Gettysberg, USA)
  • Gisela Parmeciano Di Noto, 2018 (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Luciano Rigano, 2018 (Universidad de Mendoza, Argentina; currently MPI NZ)

Publications

Hodgkinson-Bean, J., Ayala, R., Jayawardena, N., Rutter, G. L., Watson, B. N. J., Mayo-Muñoz, D., … Fineran, P. C., … Bostina, M. (2025). Global structural survey of the flagellotropic myophage φTE infecting agricultural pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum. Nature Communications, 16, 3257. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58514-x Journal - Research Article

McLeod, M., Morgaine, K., Fineran, P., Priest, P., & Jackson, S. (2024, August). Developing phage therapies for carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumannii and exploring public acceptance. Verbal presentation at the BMS Postgraduate Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Harding, K. R., Malone, L. M., Kyte, N. A. P., Jackson, S. A., Smith, L. M., & Fineran, P. C. (2024). Genome-wide identification of bacterial genes contributing to nucleus-forming jumbo phage infection. Nucleic Acids Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkae1194 Journal - Research Article

Wang, X., Jowsey, W. J., Cheung, C.-Y., Smart, C. J., Klaus, H. R., Seeto, N. E. J., Waller, N. J. E., … Fineran, P. C., Cook, G. M., Jackson, S. A., & McNeil, M. B. (2024). Whole genome CRISPRi screening identifies druggable vulnerabilities in an isoniazid resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nature Communications, 15, 9791. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54072-w Journal - Research Article

Warring, S. L., Sisson, H. M., Fineran, P. C., & Rabiey, M. (2024). Strategies for the biocontrol Pseudomonas infections pre-fruit harvest. Microbial Biotechnology, 17, e70017. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.70017 Journal - Research Article

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