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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 5091
Email
htin.aung@otago.ac.nz
Position
Associate Professor and Associate Dean (International), Division of Health Sciences
Department
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Qualifications
PhD
Research summary
Next-generation sequencing, diagnostic microbiology, molecular microbiology, structural biology

Research

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global public health emergency. Drug-resistant tuberculosis including multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) is the main cause of deaths related to AMR.

Our research goal is to tackle AMR with a multidisciplinary, integrative approach using cutting-edge technologies such as next- and third generation whole-genome sequencing (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore).

Our research focuses on:

  • Identification of novel molecular signatures associated with antimicrobial resistance particularly drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  • Identification of the genetic basis for resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis for the development of diagnostics and anti-TB drugs
  • Insights into the transmission of drug-resistant tuberculosis at community and national level for effective and targeted interventions

Publications

Baleivanualala, S., Sahai, T., Ussher, J., & Aung, H. L. (2025). Genomic epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Fiji. Proceedings of the Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness Summit. (pp. 60-61). Retrieved from https://www.teniwha.com Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Aung, H. L., Chaidir, L., Pitaloka, D. A. E., Miyahara, Y., Kumar, N., Soeroto, A. Y., Cook, G. M., … Hill, P. C. (2025). Whole genome sequencing reveals novel resistance-conferring mutations and large genome deletions in drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Indonesia. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 44, 314-318. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2025.07.017 Journal - Research Other

Adnan Hameed, H. M., Fang, C., Liu, Z., Gao, Y., Wang, S., Chen, X., … Aung, H. L., … Zhang, T. (2025). The identification of novel mutations in ATP-dependent protease ClpC1 assists in the molecular diagnosis of obscured pyrazinamide-resistant tuberculosis clinical isolates. Microorganisms, 13(6). doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13061401 Journal - Research Article

Tian, X., Gao, Y., Li, C., Ma, W., Zhang, J., Ju, Y., … Aung, H. L., … Cook, G. M., … Zhang, T. (2025). A novel non-invasive murine model for rapidly testing drug activity via inhalation administration against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 15, 1400436. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1400436 Journal - Research Article

August, C., Baleivanualala, S., Gimenez, G., & Aung, H. L. (2024, September). Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates circulating in Māori Communities. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Research Week (QRW) Pathogen Genomics Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

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