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Revision as of 13:38, 14 January 2025 by MainlyTwelve (talk | contribs) (added Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester using HotCat)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) British researcher| Petra Claire Farquhar Oyston | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Florida Defence Science and Technology Laboratory |
Petra Claire Farquhar Oyston OBE is a British researcher and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Fellow. She has developed the UK's engineering and synthetic biology research programme. She was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2025 New Year's Honours.
Early life and education
Oyston was born in High Wycombe and grew up in Whitley Bay in the North East England. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a civil engineer. She studied at the University of Manchester, where she earned an undergraduate and PhD in microbiology. Her doctorate looked at anaerobic bacteria in the guy that can cause sepsis. She moved to the University of Florida as a postdoctoral researcher. Here she studied streptococcus mutans, bacteria that give rise to tooth decay.
Research and career
Oyston has worked at Porton Down in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory since 1992. She specialises in the area of chemical, biological and radiological research. She is interested in the study of pathogens, the evolution of bacteria and the development of medical strategies to protect public health.
At Porton Down she developed anti bio-warfare vaccines, including vaccines to prevent bacterial infection and the spread of plague. She has used synthetic biology to develop armour materials. For example, she developed a genetically modified E. coli that could be used to toughen ceramics and showed that it was possible to turn barnacle genes into powerful adhesives. At Porton Down department respond to international chemical situations, including the 2001 anthrax attacks and poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.
Personal life
Oyston is neurodiverse.
Awards and honours
- 2018 Women In Defence Award for Innovation
- 2024 Ministry of Defence CSA Commendations
- 2025 Elected to the Order of the British Empire
Select publications
- Petra C F Oyston; Anders Sjostedt; Richard W Titball (1 December 2004). "Tularaemia: bioterrorism defence renews interest in Francisella tularensis". Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2 (12): 967–978. doi:10.1038/NRMICRO1045. ISSN 1740-1534. PMID 15550942. Wikidata Q35954270.
- Sarah E Maddocks; Petra C F Oyston (1 December 2008). "Structure and function of the LysR-type transcriptional regulator (LTTR) family proteins". Microbiology. 154 (Pt 12): 3609–3623. doi:10.1099/MIC.0.2008/022772-0. ISSN 1350-0872. PMID 19047729. Wikidata Q37338823.
- Matthew T G Holden; Richard W Titball; Sharon J Peacock; et al. (28 September 2004). "Genomic plasticity of the causative agent of melioidosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101 (39): 14240–5. Bibcode:2004PNAS..10114240H. doi:10.1073/PNAS.0403302101. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 521101. PMID 15377794. Wikidata Q24564168.
References
- ^ Evans, Barbara (2021-06-19). "Petra Oyston". Her Salisbury Story. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- "University members recognised in 2025 New Year Honours". University members recognised in 2025 New Year Honours. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- ^ "My Lab Unlocked: Professor Petra Oyston at Porton Down". RSB. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- "Developing novel materials with synthetic biology". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- ^ "Women in Defence awards showcase Dstl scientists". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- "Dstl experts recognised in the King's New Year Honours 2025". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- "Petra OYSTON | Order of the British Empire | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
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