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A profile photo of Dr Htin Lin AungMolecular Microbiologist
Rutherford Discovery Fellow
Associate Dean Pacific Research
Councillor, Royal Society Te Apārangi New Zealand Council
Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellow (2017–2022)

BSc(Hons) (Otago), PhD (Otago)

Appointed: 2014

Email htin.aung@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 4795091
Twitter @DrHtinLinAung
Linkedin https://bit.ly/2QO3l5K

Teaching roles

Research interests

Antimicrobial resistance, health inequalities, genome sequencing, clinical microbiology, molecular microbiology, molecular diagnostics, molecular epidemiology, host-pathogen interaction, global public health

Current research

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global public health emergency. Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) including multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) is the main cause of deaths related to AMR. In addition, TB disproportionally affects socio-economically disadvantaged individuals and communities across the world.

Using TB as an examplar, our research goal is to tackle health inequalities and AMR with a transdisciplinary, integrative approach employing cutting-edge technologies such as next- and third generation whole-genome sequencing (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore).

Research in my group is focused on:

  1. Characterisation of genetic diversity and population structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in low- and high TB burden settings
  2. Decoding the genetic basis of NZ unique Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains for their virulence and host specificity in Māori and Pasifika
  3. Identification of the genetic basis for resistance in Mtb and the consequent development of diagnostics and anti-TB drugs
  4. Investigating the genomic landscape of Mycobacterium bovis, a causative agent of bovine TB, at the wildlife-livestock-human interface using a One Health approach
  5. Understanding the molecular epidemiology of TB transmission in the populations/communities for effective policy interventions
  6. Engagement with affected communities to understand perceptions of TB and barriers to care

A photo of Assoc Prof Htin Lin Aung and thirteen students Aung Lab

A photo of Dr Aung and some students on a lunchtime run

Lab Lunchtime Run

Tackling tuberculosis in the lab and on the frontline

A photo of people in the Tuberculosis Clinic lab, Yangon, Myanmar

Tuberculosis Clinic, Yangon, Myanmar

A photo of Dr Aung and the Myanmar Team at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory

Myanmar Team at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory

A photo of Dr Aung with two students working on the next-generation illumina iSeq sequencing at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Myanmar

Next-generation illumina iSeq sequencing at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Myanmar

A photo of Dr Aung and two students doing third-generation long-read Nanopore sequencing

Third-generation long-read Nanopore sequencing

A photo of Dr Aung talking with children in a classroom

Community Engagement

A photo of Dr Aung with Māori and Pasifika students from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology

With Māori and Pasifika students from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Dr Aung with Māori students at Wairoa College, Hawkes Bay

With Māori students at Wairoa College, Hawkes Bay

A photo of Dr Aung at the Pacific Intermediate Sciences Holiday Programme at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Pacific Intermediate Sciences Holiday Programme at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology

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