Andrea Puhar

Andrea Puhar is a Lecturer at the Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, part of Queen's University Belfast. Her research focuses on understanding how extracellular ATP (eATP) regulates infection and inflammation in the gut, particularly involving Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli. She explores both host immune responses and microbial adaptation to host environments.

Her work integrates mechanosensing (e.g., PIEZO1) and bacterial signal transduction pathways, with implications for developing novel antimicrobial strategies. Key contributions include discovering eATP's role as a danger signal during bacterial infections and identifying fitness factors in Shigella that could target antibiotic resistance.

Recent publications highlight advancements in CRISPR-based mutagenesis, mechanosensor-driven immune signaling, and antibacterial compound discovery. She actively participates in academic activities, including peer review and conference presentations, and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.