Professor Fitzgerald's lecture will include observations from his research career related to the ability of pathogenic bacteria to adapt to different environments, particularly those created by humans.

In particular, he and colleagues have studied how new bacterial strains have emerged in hospitals, farms, and industrial water systems leading to the emergence of epidemic or pandemic clones. Additionally, they have investigated the role of distinct families of bacterial proteins in disease pathogenesis in humans and animals.

Finally, Professor Fitzgerald will summarise how developments in whole genome sequencing have impacted on the work of his research group and how they are attempting to translate basic science into new ways for controlling infectious disease.