缅北禁地

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Staff Profile

Dr James Stach

Senior Lecturer

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 4813
  • Personal Website:
  • Address: Biology
    School of Natural & Environmental Sciences
    Devonshire Building
    缅北禁地
    缅北禁地 upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Introduction

Principal research interests include the ecology of marine actinomycetes, (diversity, abundance and biogeography), novel natural products from marine actinomycetes, the application of peptide nucleic acids in species-specific bactericide and the development of antisense-based antibacterial screens

Background

Abyssomicin made the National press including , and

Qualifications

  • BSc 1996 Microbiology and Biotechnology (University of Kent)
  • PhD 2001 Microbiology (University of Kent)

Memberships

  • Member of the Society of General Microbiology
  • Member of the American Society for Microbiology
Research


Current Work

Verrucosispora AB18-032 and natural products


One of our main research interests is the marine actinomycete species Verrucosispora AB18-032. This species is responsible for the production of the first-in-class natural product abyssomicin C. Abyssomicin C inhibits the essential folic acid pathway present in bacteria and plants. In collaboration with Prof Sussmuth, we recently published how abyssomicin C is biosynthesized. We have completed the full genome sequence of the abyssomicin producer and are currently using genome mining techniques to identify novel bioactive compounds.

Peptide-PNA conjugates as species-specific antimicrobials


This research is funded by a Nuffield new lecturers award. The aim of the research is to develop peptide-PNA conjugates that can specifically target, and prevent transcription of, specific essential bacterial genes. Research in other labs has shown that it is possible to use such conjugates to target bacterial genes. However, the novelty of this research lies in the combination of using essential genes with species-specific sequences. Thus, peptide-PNA conjugates could be used to select target species without providing selection pressure for resistance in non-target organisms. We have recently proven that it is indeed possible to target species for bactericide in a species-specific manner that is not achievable using conventional antibiotics (see publications).

Antisense-based antimicrobial screens


This research is funded by a BBSRC DTG grant. The aim of the study is to develop and validate screens for antibacterial compounds. Induction of antisense RNA reduces the expression of its cognate protein and sensitises the strain to inhibition of that protein. This is of particular value in natural products research where effective antimicrobial compounds may be present in extracts but in amounts below the minimum inhibitory concentration for a wild-type screen. We have recently used this methodology to identify plant-derived inhibitors of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ . We have also used this methodology to identify the stringency of requirement for essential genes in E. coli that will aid in prioritising targets for drug discovery. Current research aims at validating the screens by correlating protein abundance with mRNA abundance during antisense expressing and using microarrays to demonstrate the specificity of the gene silencing. As such we are developing and validating novel methods that will enable absolute quantification of the amount of specific protein per cell in E. coli.

Research Roles

School of Biology research committee member.

Postgraduate Supervision

Esteem Indicators

Act as a referee for a number of microbiology journals.
Referee for BBSRC, NERC and the NSF (USA)


Invited to write review article for Trends in Microbiology


Invited to give research papers at International conferences (ISBA, ISME)


Invited to contributed chapters to multi-authored books including American Society for Microbiology Press: Microbial Diversity and Bioprospecting


Was invited to be one of five academics on the Department of Trade and Industry’s Global Watch Mission to Japan on Bioprocessing.

Funding

Nuffield Foundation new lecturers award: Species-specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based antibiotics

BBSRC: Identification, cloning and heterologous expression of the abyssomicin C biosynthetic gene cluster

BBSRC Partnering China award: Cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters from marine bacteria

Royal Society: Genome mining of Verrucosispora AB18-032 

Industrial Relevance

Founding director (along with Prof Barnes, Dr Singleton and Dr Taybi) of Geneius Laboratories, a spin-out company which is revolutionizing microbial testing and food analysis using state-of-the-art DNA technology. Geneius has recently won the CELS most promising start-up award.

Academic partner on 4 Collaborative Innovation Partnership (CIP) awards

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

BIO1010 Biology in Action

BIO2017 Microbiology 2

BIO3019 Genomics

BIO3021 Laboratory Workshop

BIO3030 Antimicrobial Drug Discovery

BIO3194 Biological Literature Review 

BIO3095 Biological Information Project

BIO3096 Research Project

Postgraduate Teaching

BIO8041 Antimicrobial Drug Discovery

BIO8043 Techniques in Molecular Biology

BIO8047 Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology

BIO8046 Applied Bioinformatics

BIO8096 Research Thesis


Publications

  • Articles

    • Laverick A, Convey K, Harrison C, Tomlinson J, Stach J, Howard TP. . Synthetic Biology 2025, 10(1).
    • Cea-Torrescassana E, Montero-Calasanz MdC, Knight M, Stach J, Howard TP. . BMC Microbiology 2025, 25, 651.
    • Williams SE, Faurdal D, Jorgensen TS, Back CR, Rooms LD, Hayes MA, Willis CL, Stach JEM, Curnow P, Race PR. . Microbiology Resource Announcements 2025, 14(2).
    • Cea-Torrescassana E, Howard TP, Stach J, Montero-Calasanz MdC. . Microbiology Resource Announcements 2024, 13(6), e00735-23.
    • Maddock RMA, Marsh CO, Johns ST, Rooms LD, Duke PW, van der Kamp MW, Stach JEM, Race PR. . Extremophiles 2024, 28(3), 42.
    • Williams SE, Varliero G, Lurgi M, Stach JEM, Race PR, Curnow P. . Microbiology 2024, 170(7), 001478.
    • Mbatha SZ, Back CR, Devine AJ, Mulliner HM, Johns ST, Lewin H, Cheung KA, Zorn K, Stach JEM, Hayes MA, van der Kamp MW, Race PR, Willis CL. . Chemical Science 2024, 34(15), 14009-14015.
    • Devine AJ, Parnell AE, Back CR, Lees NR, Johns ST, Zulkepli AZ, Barringer R, Zorn K, Stach JEM, Crump MP, Hayes MA, van der Kamp MW, Race PR, Willis CL. . Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2023, 62(3), e202213053.
    • Williams SE, Back CR, Best E, Mantell J, Stach JEM, Williams TA, Race PR, Curnow P. . Microbial Genomics 2023, 9(5), 000996.
    • Back CR, Stennett HL, Williams SE, Wang L, Ojeda Gomez J, Abdulle OM, Duffy T, Neal C, Mantell J, Jepson MA, Hendry KR, Powell D, Stach JEM, Essex-Lopresti AE, Willis CL, Curnow P, Race PR. . Marine Drugs 2021, 19(2), 105.
    • Iglesias A, Latorre-Perez A, Stach JEM, Porcar M, Pascual J. . Frontiers in Microbiology 2020, 11, 645.
    • Golinska P, Swiecimska M, Montero-Calasanz MDC, Yaramis A, Igual JM, Bull AT, Goodfellow M. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2020, 70(5), 3513-3527.
    • Lees NR, Han LC, Byrne MJ, Davies JA, Parnell AE, Moreland PEJ, Stach JEM, van der Kamp MW, Willis CL, Race PR. . Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2019, 58(8), 2305-2309.
    • Marsh CO, Lees NR, Han L-C, Byrne MJ, Mbatha SZ, Maschio L, Pagden-Ratcliffe S, Duke PW, Stach JEM, Curnow P, Willis CL, Race PR. . ChemCatChem 2019, 11(20), 5027-5031.
    • Villapún VM, Zhang H, Howden C, Cheung Chow L, Esat F, Pérez P, Sort J, Bull S, Stach J, González S. . Materials and Design 2017, 115, 93-102.
    • Mohammadipanah F, Montero-Calasanz MC, Schumann P, Sproer C, Rohde M, Klenk H-P. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2017, 67(2), 262-267.
    • Byrne MJ, Lees NR, Han LC, van der Kamp MW, Mulholland AJ, Stach JEM, Willis CL, Race PR. . Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016, 138(19), 6095-6098.
    • Chindera K, Mahalo M, Sharma A, Horsley H, Kloc-Muniak K, Kamaruzzamabn N, Kumar S, McFarlane A, Stach J, Bentin T, Good L. . Nature Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 23121.
    • Chaouch FC, Bouras N, Mokrane S, Zitouni A, Schumann P, Spröer C, Sabaou N, Klenk H-P. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 1-29.
    • Boubetra D, Bouras N, Zitouni A, Schumann P, Sproer C, Sabaou N, Klenk HP. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 66, 1034-1038.
    • Chaouch FC, Bouras N, Mokrane S, Zitouni A, Schumann P, Sproer C, Sabaou N, Klenk HP. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 66, 2484-2490.
    • Bouznada K, Bouras N, Mokrane S, Chaouch FC, Zitouni A, Potter G, Sproer C, Klenk HP, Sabaou N. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 66, 4785-4790.
    • Franca L, Albuquerque L, Zhang DC, Nouioui I, Klenk HP, da Costa MS, Margesin R. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 66, 5460-5464.
    • Bouznada K, Bouras N, Schumann P, Spröer C, Sabaou N, Klenk HP. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 66, 2760-2765.
    • Lahoum A, Bouras N, Verheecke C, Mathieu F, Schumann P, Sproer C, Klenk HP, Sabaou N. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2016, 66, 2724-2729.
    • Doubetra D, Zitouni A, Bouras N, Schumann P, Sproer C, Klenk HP, Sabaou N. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2015.
    • Mohammadipanah F, Hamedi J, Spröer C, Schumann P, Montero-Calasanz MC, Klenk H-P. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2015, 65, 4544-4549.
    • Souza WR, Silva RE, Goodfellow M, Busarakam K, Figueiro FS, Ferreira D, Rodrigues E, Moraes LAB, Zucchi TD. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2015, 65, 1786-1793.
    • Boudjlal F, Zitouni A, Bouras N, Schumann P, Spröer C, Sabaou N, Klenk H-P. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2015, 65, 2006-2010.
    • Mondhe M, Chessher A, Goh S, Good L, Stach JEM. . PLoS ONE 2014, 9(2), e89082.
    • Goh S, Stach JEM, Good L. . Methods in Molecular Biology 2014, 1050, 223-236.
    • Mohammadipanah F, Hamedi F, Spröer C, Montero-Calasanz MDC, Schumann P, Klenk HP. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2014, 64(9), 3314-3319.
    • Prieto-Davo A, Villarreal-Gomez LJ, Forschner-Dancause S, Bull AT, Stach JEM, Smith DC, Rowley DC, Jensen PR. . FEMS Microbiology Ecology 2013, 84(3), 510-518.
    • Uguru GC, Mondhe M, Goh S, Hesketh A, Bibb MJ, Good L, Stach JEM. . PLoS ONE 2013, 8(6), e67509.
    • Goodfellow M, Brown R, Ahmed L, Pathom-aree W, Bull AT, Jones AL, Stach JEM, Zucchi TD, Zhang LX, Wang J. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2013, 103(3), 493-502.
    • Zucchi TD, Kim BY, Bonda ANV, Goodfellow M. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2013, 63(2), 576-580.
    • Goodfellow M, Stach JEM, Brown R, Bonda ANV, Jones AL, Mexson J, Fiedler HP, Zucchi TD, Bull AT. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2012, 101(1), 185-193.
    • Ghosal A, Vitali A, Stach JEM, Nielsen PE. . ACS Chemical Biology 2012, 8(2), 360-367.
    • Roh H, Uguru GC, Ko HJ, Kim S, Kim B-Y, Goodfellow M, Bull AT, Kim KH, Bibb MJ, Choi IG, Stach JEM. . Journal of Bacteriology 2011, 193(13), 3391-3392.
    • Gottardi EM, Krawczyk JM, von Suchodoletz H, Schadt S, Mühlenweg A, Uguru GC, Pelzer S, Fiedler H-P, Bibb MJ, Stach JEM, Süssmuth RD. . ChemBioChem 2011, 12(9), 1401-1410.
    • Jones AL, Payne GD, Goodfellow M. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2010, 60, 2548-2551.
    • Boberek JM, Stach JEM, Good L. . PLoS One 2010, 5(10), e13745.
    • Stach J. . Microbiology Today 2010, 37(2), 104-109.
    • Goh S, Boberek J, Nakashima N, Stach J, Good L. . PLoS One 2009, 4(6), e6061.
    • Hohmann C, Schneider K, Bruntner C, Irran E, Nicholson G, Bull AT, Jones AL, Brown R, Stach JEM, Goodfellow M, Beil W, Kramer M, Imhoff JF, Sussmuth RD, Fiedler HP. . Journal of Antibiotics 2009, 62(2), 99-104.
    • Antony-Babu S, Stach JEM, Goodfellow M. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology 2008, 94(1), 63-74.
    • Maldonado LA, Stach JEM, Ward AC, Bull AT, Goodfellow M. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2008, 94(2), 289-298.
    • Herrera A, Hery M, Stach JEM, Jaffre T, Normand P, Navarro E. . European Journal of Soil Biology 2007, 43(2), 130-139.
    • Bull AT, Stach JEM, Ward AC, Goodfellow M. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology 2005, 87(1), 65-79.
    • Bringmann G, Lang G, Maksimenka K, Hamm A, Gulder TAM, Dieter A, Bull AT, Stach JEM, Kocher N, Muller WEG, Fiedler H-P. . Phytochemistry 2005, 66(11), 1366-1373.
    • Maldonado LA, Stach JEM, Pathom-Aree W, Ward AC, Bull AT, Goodfellow M. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology 2005, 87(1), 11-18.
    • Stach JEM, Maldonado LA, Ward AC, Bull AT, Goodfellow M. . International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 2004, 54(1), 191-194.
    • Stach JEM, Maldonado LA, Masson DG, Ward AC, Goodfellow M, Bull AT. . Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003, 69(10), 6189-6200.
    • Stach JEM, Maldonado LA, Ward AC, Goodfellow M, Bull AT. . Environmental Microbiology 2003, 5(10), 828-841.
    • Stach JEM, Burns RG. . Environmental Microbiology 2002, 4(3), 169-182.
    • Stach JEM, Bathe S, Clapp JP, Burns RG. . FEMS Microbiology Ecology 2001, 36(2-3), 139–151.

  • Book Chapters

    • Maschio L, Parnell AE, Lees NR, Willis CL, Schaffitzel C, Stach JEM, Race PR. . In: Methods in Enzymology. Academic Press, 2019, pp.63-82.
    • Bull AT, Stach JEM. . In: Bull, A.T, ed. Microbial Diversity and Bioprospecting. Washington, DC, USA: ASM Press, 2003, pp.15-28.
    • Burns RG, Stach JEM. . In: Violante, A, ed. Soil Mineral-organic Matter-microorganism Interactions and Ecosystem Health. Amsterdam: Elsevier Press, 2002, pp.17-42.

  • Note

    • Back CR, Stennett HL, Williams SE, Wang L, Ojeda Gomez J, Abdulle OM, Duffy T, Neal C, Mantell J, Jepson MA, Hendry KR, Powell D, Stach JEM, Essex-Lopresti AE, Willis CL, Curnow P, Race PR. . Marine Drugs 2023, 21(4), 214.

  • Reviews

    • Good L, Stach JEM. Synthetic RNA silencing in bacteria - antimicrobial discovery and resistance breaking. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2011, 2.
    • Bull AT, Stach JEM. . Trends in Microbiology 2007, 15(11), 491-499.
    • Stach JEM, Bull AT. . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology 2005, 87(1), 3-9.