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Peter Speck

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Associate Professor Peter Speck

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9087-258X
1991 …2026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research Biography

After completion of a PhD in latency of herpes simplex virus, at the University of Adelaide, I undertook post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Cambridge and at Northwestern University in Chicago.   In 2001 I returned to Australia to continue herpesvirus-related research at the Inst. of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide.   In July 2007 I accepted an offer to move to Flinders University.

Research Interests

Bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. A strong potential alternative is bacteriophages -"phages" -viruses that infect bacteria. I am pursuing the use of phages as a treatment for bacterial infections in a number of important medical settings:

-diabetic foot ulcer infections

-development of surgical mesh with phages bound to it, to make a mesh that resists infection. 

-development of prosthetic joints with phages bound, to make a joint that resists infection. 

This work involves post-doctoral Research Associates Braira Wahid, and Lawrence Zang, and PhD student April Van Der Kamp. Attachment of phages is in collaboration with A/Prof Melanie McGregor and Research Associate Adam Truskewycz. 

The lab also works on enhancing phages through directed evolution, and on examining the roles lipids play in phage interactions with their hosts. 

In collaboration with health economist Prof Billingsley Kaambwa we are involved with studies aimedat confirming the health economic benefits of the innovations we are developing. 

As Secretary of AVS I have initiated and driven a push to bring this society together with other professional societies, such as the Australian Society for Microbiology, the Australian Society for Immunology, the Australian Society for Clinical Immunology and Alllergy, the Australasian Society for Antimicrobials, and the Australian Society for Infectious Diseases, on key issues of policy and public advocacy. Together this umbrella group represents over 5000 scientists and clinicians. This group has made numerous public statements and representations to government on matters such as antimicrobial policy and vaccination.

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, Pathogenesis of the Herpes Simplex Virus, University of Adelaide

… → 1993

Bachelor of Science (Honours), Genetics of Wheat and Rye, University of Adelaide

… → 1988

Bachelor of Science, University of Adelaide

1984 → 1987

External positions

Secretary, Australasian Virology Society

1 Jan 2012 → …

Chair, National Scientific Advisory Committee, Virology Division, Australian Society for Microbiology

2012 → 2014

Chair, Local Organizing Committee, Biennial Scientific Meeting, Australasian Virology Society

… → Dec 2017

Member, Local Organizing Committee, Biennial Scientific Meeting, Australasian Virology Society

… → Dec 2019

Supervision

  • Registered

Research Areas

  • Medical biosciences

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  4. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  5. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  6. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  7. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water

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  • 1 Oral presentation