Dr Patrick Tan obtained his Honours degree from University Sains Malaysia in 2008 and went on to complete his Masters in Biotechnology in 2011. A year later, he secured a research fellowship to complete his doctoral work at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany. Dr Tan was trained in the field of microbial genetics and biotechnology. His doctoral studies focused on understanding the role of small RNAs (sRNAs) in Helicobacter pylori, a human pathogen that causes gastric ulcer.

His goal is to contribute to betterment of our society through life science research and education. Besides work, Dr Tan enjoys promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education to children and the public. He is also an avid photographer and a chess fan.

My first research interest is to study the RNA biology of pathogens.  During infection, pathogens often encounter various environmental stresses which require rapid response. RNA-based regulation (riboregulation) is often used by bacteria because it is faster compared to protein-based regulation. The importance of riboregulation in pathogens has gained much attention in recent years. It is now accepted that extensive post-transcriptional control of gene expression in bacteria regulates many cellular processes including virulence and adaptation. I am interested in using global RNA biology approaches to characterise transcriptome profiles and uncover RNA-based control mechanisms of clinically relevant pathogens.

My second interest is to develop riboregulators as alternative targets for antimicrobials via RNA-based Synthetic Biology approaches. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens calls for the development of new targeted antimicrobials. Recent developments in the field of RNA biology have positioned RNAs as potential antimicrobial agents. Why RNA? These molecules are well-characterized, modular, and consume less cellular resources compared to proteins, making RNA an attractive substrate for bioengineering.

We are currently working on elucidating the antimicrobial response of Shigella spp. in vitro and in vivo using a combination of next generation sequencing (NGS), genetic engineering and biochemical approaches. For the latest updates on this project, please visit our research page at https://www.researchgate.net/lab/Patrick-HS-Tan-Lab-Hock-Siew-Tan.

For interest in potential collaborations and research projects (undergraduate and postgraduate), please contact me at the email address above.

• BIO1022 (Life on Earth)
• BTH2732 (Recombinant DNA Technology)
• GEN2041 (Foundation of Genetics)
• BTH3752 (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)