Dr Luke Acton PhD

• Bsc in Biological Sciences with Year in Industry, University of East Anglia, 2015-2019
• PhD Molecular Microbiology, Quadram Institute and University of East Anglia, 2019-2023

Dr Luke Acton is a Research Fellow within the department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes at University of Birmingham. His research focuses on understanding how beneficial gut bacteria acquire and utilise essential nutrients, and how these processes influence the developing infant gut microbiome and early-life health.

Luke completed his BSc in Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia in 2019 before undertaking a PhD at the Quadram Institute Bioscience. His doctoral research investigated how bacteriophages interact with bacterial hosts and how these interactions could be exploited to improve phage-based approaches to controlling bacterial pathogens. Using functional genomics, including transposon insertion sequencing, Luke investigated bacterial determinants of phage susceptibility and resistance, with the aim of developing more rational approaches to bacteriophage cocktail design.

Following his PhD, Luke continued his research at the Quadram Institute, applying molecular microbiology, genomics and bacteriophage biology to the development of phage-based strategies against Salmonella across the food chain. His work combined experimental microbiology with genomic approaches to investigate phage–host interactions and identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness of bacteriophage applications. Alongside his research, Luke contributed to the supervision and training of postgraduate students.

In 2024, Luke joined the University of Birmingham as a Research Fellow in Professor Lindsay Hall’s laboratory, where his research shifted towards the nutritional ecology of the early-life gut microbiome. He is investigating iron acquisition systems in Bifidobacterium, a group of beneficial bacteria that commonly colonise the infant gut and contribute to early-life development. His work aims to characterise the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial iron uptake and determine how iron availability influences bacterial physiology, metabolism and interactions within the gut microbiome.

Across his research career, Luke has developed an interdisciplinary skill set spanning bacterial genetics, bacteriophage biology, genomics, bioinformatics and translational microbiology. His overarching research interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms that shape microbial behaviour and use this knowledge to develop evidence-based strategies that improve human health.

Micronutrient Acquisition and Early-Life Microbiome

Investigating iron uptake mechanisms in beneficial infant gut bacteria, particularly Bifidobacterium. Current research examines how iron availability influences bacterial physiology, fitness and interactions within the developing infant gut microbiome, with the aim of understanding the links between micronutrient availability, microbial metabolism and early-life health.

Bacteriophage Biology

Investigating bacteriophage–host interactions to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning bacterial susceptibility, resistance and phage synergy. This research has focused on phage cocktails against bacterial pathogens and investigating their effects on the wider microbiome composition and assembly.

Functional Genomics

Leveraging genome-wide approaches, including transposon mutagenesis, to identify bacterial genes underpinning important biological processes and interactions with a specific focus on gut microbiome.