Elita Jauneikaite

Biography

lita Jauneikaite is a Research Associate at the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance. Elita works in the Applied Molecular Bacteriology theme under the direction of Professors Shiranee Sriskandan (Imperial) and Neil Woodford (PHE). The HPRU is a partnership between Imperial College London, Public Health England, Cambridge University Veterinary School, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Imperial College Health Partners North West London Academic Health Science Network. Its aim is to produce excellent health protection research in HCAI/AMR which is relevant to the needs of Public Health England. Elita’s role is to co-ordinate and lead the analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) of methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus and other strains collected from specified populations. Elita studies the phenotypes of these bacteria in relation to the WGS data to determine virulence traits and that may be linked to successful colonization, transmission or invasiveness in the case of skin and soft tissue infections or bacteraemia. Elita completed her PhD in 2014 investigating the prevalence of serotypes and genotypes of disease-causing Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Singapore over the last 15 years. Elita used 1760 pneumococcal whole genome sequences to investigate the structure of this pneumococcal population in relation to the epidemiological data available and pneumococcal vaccine implementation in Singapore. This was achieved with a collaboration between four major hospitals in Singapore, Genome Institute of Singapore and University of Southampton. Prior to this, Elita was awarded Bsc (Hons) from London Metropolitan University. As part of her Bsc degree, Elita had a professional training placement at former Wyeth R&D (now Pfizer) and professional internship at PHE in Colindale

Research Interest

Molecular Bacteriology