Background

Qualifications

BSc. - Leicester 1993
PhD. - Leicester and Heidelberg (Germany) 1998

Previous Positions

1996 to 2000 Division of Mol. Microbiology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switerland
2000 to 2003 Dept. of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Memberships

Society for General Microbiology
Society for Applied Microbiology

Research

Research Interests

The flagellum is a unique molecular machine driving bacterial movement through liquid environments. Bacteria are propelled forward by rotation of an external long whip-like flagellar filament. Rotation of the filament is achieved via the action of a universal joint known as the hook and a basal motor anchored into the bacterial cell envelope. The flagellar filament is a major antigen recognized by hosts during bacterial infections. A significant number of bacterial species encode multiple copies of the filament building block - flagellin. A complex regulatory network controls the assembly of the flagellum and the number per cell, which varies between different species.

 

Our research focuses on the fundamental understanding of how bacteria regulate flagellar assembly and how a cell coordinates the assembly of unrelated molecular machines. We study how bacterial species such as the pathogen Salmonella enterica maintain a discrete number of flagellar per cell during cell growth and division. We complement our study of flagellar abundance with research to understanding how a filament is assembled from multiple flagellins, a trait maintained by many bacterial species. We are also using our work on flagellar systems to begin to investigate the distribution and localization of other molecular machines in the bacterial cell envelope and how they spatially interact with each other to maintain their functional output.

 

Other Expertise

 

My expertise utilise Bacterial genetics to study fundmental apsects of the bacterial life cycle. My laboratory uses, protein biochemistry, structural biology and microscopic techniques to validate our genetic findings.

 

I also have a strong background in bacterial pathogenesis of both Animal and Plant Hosts. During my career I have gained valuable experience working with a range of bacterial pathogens.

 

Postgraduate Supervision

 

I am prepared to supervise PhD. students on projects that exploit bacterial genetics to study bacterial protein secretion.

 

These projects would not be restricted to bacterial pathogens but would also encompass non-pathogenic bacterial species such as Caulobacter crescentus.

 

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

Currently Teaching on MIC2026, MIC2025, MIC2028, MIC3043 and MIC3047

Postgraduate Teaching

PhD. Supervisor for 4 students

Publications

• Saini S, Floess E, Aldridge C, Brown J, Aldridge PD, Rao CV. Continuous control of flagellar gene expression by the σ²⁸–FlgM regulatory circuit in Salmonella enterica. Molecular Microbiology 2011, 79(1), 264-278.
• Aldridge C, Poonchareon K, Saini S, Ewen T, Soloyva A, Rao CV, Imada K, Minamino T, Aldridge PD. The interaction dynamics of a negative feedback loop regulates flagellar number in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Molecular Microbiology 2010, 78(6), 1416-1430.
• Saini S, Koirala S, Floess E, Mears PJ, Chemla TR, Golding I, Aldridge C, Aldridge PD, Rao CV. FliZ induces a kinetic switch in flagellar gene expression. Journal of Bacteriology 2010, 192(24), 6477-6481.
• Brown J, Faulds-Pain A, Aldridge P. The Coordination of Flagellar Gene Expression and the Flagellar Assembly Pathway. In: Jarrell KF, ed. Pili and Flagellar: Current Research and Future Trends. Norwich: Caister Academic Press, 2009, pp.99-120.
• Scharf BE, Aldridge PD, Kirby JR, Crane BR. Upward mobility and alternative lifestyles: a report from the 10th biennial meeting on Bacterial Locomotion and Signal Transduction. Molecular Microbiology 2009, 73(1), 5-19.
• Saini S, Brown JD, Aldridge PD, Rao CV. FliZ is a posttranslational activator of FlhD4C 2-dependent flagellar gene expression. Journal of Bacteriology 2008, 190(14), 4979-4988.
• Brown JD, Saini S, Aldridge C, Herbert J, Rao CV, Aldridge PD. The rate of protein secretion dictates the temporal dynamics of flagellar gene expression. Molecular Microbiology 2008, 70(4), 924-937.
• Aldridge P, Karlinsey JE, Becker E, Chevance FFV, Hughes KT. Flk prevents premature secretion of the anti-σ factor FlgM into the periplasm. Molecular Microbiology 2006, 60(3), 630-642.
• Aldridge PD, Wu C, Gnerer J, Karlinsey JE, Hughes KT, Sachs MS. Regulatory protein that inhibits both synthesis and use of the target protein controls flagellar phase variation in Salmonella enterica. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2006, 103(30), 11340-11345.
• Aldridge PD, Karlinsey JE, Aldridge C, Birchall C, Thompson D, Yagasaki J, Hughes KT. The flagellar-specific transcription factor, σ28, is the Type III secretion chaperone for the flagellar-specific anti- σ28 factor FlgM. Genes & Development 2006, 20(16), 2315-2326.
• Aldridge P, Gnerer J, Karlinsey JE, Hughes KT. Transcriptional and translational control of the Salmonella fliC gene. Journal of Bacteriology 2006, 188(12), 4487-4496.
• Aldridge PD, Gray MA, Hirst BH, Khan CMA. Who's talking to whom? Epithelial-bacterial pathogen interactions. In: International Symposium on Epithelial-Bacterial Pathogen Interactions. 2004, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Molecular Microbiology: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Aldridge P, Paul R, Goymer P, Rainey P, Jenal U. Role of the GGDEF regulator PleD in polar development of Caulobacter crescentus. Molecular Microbiology 2003, 47(6), 1695-1708.
• Aldridge P, Karlinsey J, Hughes KT. The type III secretion chaperone FlgN regulates flagellar assembly via a negative feedback loop containing its chaperone substrates FlgK and FlgL. Molecular Microbiology 2003, 49(5), 1333-1345.
• Aldridge P, Hughes KT. Regulation of flagellar assembly. Current Opinion in Microbiology 2002, 5(2), 160-165.
• Fischer B, Rummel G, Aldridge P, Jenal U. The FtsH protease is involved in development, stress response and heat shock control in Caulobacter crescentus. Molecular Microbiology 2002, 44(2), 461-478.
• Aldridge P, Hughes KT. How and when are substrates selected for type III secretion?. Trends in Microbiology 2001, 9(5), 209-214.
• Hughes KT, Aldridge PD. Putting a lid on it. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 2001, 8(2), 96-97.
• Aldridge P, Jenal U. Cell cycle-dependent degradation of a flagellar motor component requires a novel-type response regulator. Molecular Microbiology 1999, 32(2), 379-391.
• P. Aldridge,F. Bernhard,P. Bugert,D. L. Coplin,K. Geider. Characterization of a gene locus from Erwinia amylovora with regulatory functions in exopolysaccharide synthesis of Erwinia spp. Can J Microbiol 1998, 44(7), 657-66.
• P. Aldridge,M. Metzger,K. Geider. Genetics of sorbitol metabolism in Erwinia amylovora and its influence on bacterial virulence. Mol Gen Genet 1997, 256(6), 611-9.
• S. Bereswill,P. Aldridge,J.G. Janse,K. Geider. Partial characterization of natural levan deficient Erwinia amylovora strains. 51: 215-225. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 1997, 51, 215-225.
• Mowbray CA, Shams S, Chung G, Stanton A, Aldridge P, Suchenko A, Pickard RS, Ali ASM, Hall J. High molecular weight hyaluronic acid: a two-pronged protectant against infection of the urogenital tract?. Clinical & Translational Immunology 2018, 7(6), e1021.
• Sim M, Koirala S, Picton D, Strahl H, Hoskissin PA, Rao CV, Gillespie CS, Aldridge PD. Growth rate control of flagellar assembly in Escherichai coli strain RP437. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 41189.
• Ali ASM, Mowbray C, Lanz M, Stanton A, Bowen S, Varley CL, Hilton P, Brown K, Robson W, Southgate J, Aldridge P, Tyson-Capper A, Abraham S, Pickard RS, Hall J. Targeting Deficiencies in the TLR5 Mediated Vaginal Response to Treat Female Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 11039.
• Minamino T, Morimoto YV, Hara N, Aldridge PD, Namba K. The Bacterial Flagellar Type III Export Gate Complex Is a Dual Fuel Engine That Can Use Both H⁺ and Na⁺ for Flagellar Protein Export. PLoS Pathogens 2016, 12(3), e1005495.
• Koirala A, Mears P, Sim M, Golding I, Chemla YR, Aldridge PD, Rao CV. A Nutrient-Tunable Bistable Switch Controls Motility in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. mBio 2014, 5(5), e01611-14.
• Cairns LS, Marlow VL, Kiley TB, Birchall C, Ostrowski A, Aldridge PD, Stanley-Wall NR. FlgN Is Required for Flagellum-Based Motility by Bacillus subtilis. Journal of Bacteriology 2014, 196(12), 2216-2226.
• Minamino T, Morimoto YV, Kinoshita M, Aldridge PD, Namba K. The bacterial flagellar protein export apparatus processively transports flagellar proteins even with extremely infrequent ATP hydrolysis. Scientific Reports 2014, 4, 7579.
• Drage L, Lanz M, Ali A, Birchall C, Hall J, Pickard R, Aldridge P. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli behaviour in different growth mediums and avoidance of the innate immune response. In: Annual Meeting of the Society-of-Academic-and-Research-Surgery. 2014, Univ Cambridge, Robinson Coll, Cambridge, ENGLAND: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
• Lanz ML, Aldridge P, Birchall C, Ali A, Townes C, Walton K, Lim LY, Pickard RS, Hall J. Comparison of the motility and NF-Kappab activating properties of clinical isolates associated with urinary tract infections. In: Annual Meeting of the Society of Academic and Research Surgery. 2013, Royal Soc Med (RSM), London, ENGLAND: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
• Minamino T, Kinoshita M, Hara N, Takeuchi S, Hida A, Koya S, Glenwright H, Imada K, Aldridge PD, Namba K. Interaction of a bacterial flagellar chaperone FlgN with FlhA is required for efficient export of its cognate substrates. Molecular Microbiology 2012, 83(4), 775-788.
• Pohl S, Tu WY, Aldridge PD, Gillespie C, Hahne H, Mäder U, Read TD, Harwood CR. Combined proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of the response of Bacillus anthracis to oxidative stress. Proteomics 2011, 11(15), 3036-3055.
• Faulds-Pain A, Birchall C, Aldridge C, Smith WD, Grimaldi G, Nakamura S, Miyata T, Gray J, Li GL, Tang JX, Namba K, Minamino T, Aldridge PD. Flagellin Redundancy in Caulobacter crescentus and Its Implications for Flagellar Filament Assembly. Journal of Bacteriology 2011, 193(11), 2695-2707.