In the first part of my talk, I will present examples from recent work in my group that explore the dramatic shape changes undergone by Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) during model urinary tract infections (UTIs). Using high-resolution and dynamic fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate how the normally rod-shaped UPEC adapts to both coccoid and highly filamentous morphologies at different stages of the infection cycle.

In the second part, I will discuss the unique research opportunities available at the University of Technology Sydney in forensic taphonomy—the study of human remains from the time of death to their discovery. Specifically, I will focus on our research in forensic microbiology conducted at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER), the only facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Collaborating with law enforcement agencies, our goal is to enhance the accuracy of postmortem interval (PMI) determination by leveraging the rapid changes in the postmortem microbiome.

Bill Söderstrom is invited by Molly Ingersoll.