DrElita Jauneikaite

Overview
Dr Jauneikaite leads a research programme in bacteria-microbiome dynamics, bacterial pathogenesis, global trends in vaccine preventable infections and antibiotic resistance using bacterial genomics, bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques.


Research Interest
Bacterial Genomics
Bacterial Evolution
Antimicrobial Resistance

Maternal-Neonatal Health

Bacteria-Microbiome Dynamics 
Global spread of vaccine preventable bacterial infections
Person-to-person transmission
Nosocomial outbreaks
Host-pathogen interactions
Bacterial pathogenesis


Current Projects

Understanding evolution of microbiome changes and pathogens in materal and neonatal health

Evolution, transmission and antimicrobial resistance of Group B Streptococci 
Investigating CPE infections using whole genome sequencing
Molecular characterisation of staphylococcal carriage and disease isolates
Identifying microbial and host risk factors for E. coli bacteraemia


Fellowships
Imperial College Research Fellowship (2017-2024), funded by Rosetrees Trust and the Stoneygate Trust


Research Student supervision
Present PhD students:
Mirza, S. Investigation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) transmission of multi-drug resistant bacteria in clinical settings utilising next-generation sequencing, and their translation into Point-of-Care diagnostics for AMR surveillance

Williams, F. Defining Host-Microbial Interactions, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Risk in Maternal and Neonatal Health

Rzaska, J. Defining microbiome and resistome with focus on pathogen diversity in preterm baby gut

Puddicombe-Coles B. Metagenomics for One Health: Exploring Microbial and AMR Gene Diversity in UK Farm Environments

Past PhD students:

Rodgus, J. Understanding changes in key bacterial pathogens affecting patients in acute care. 2025

Boonyasiri, A. Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae among hospitalised patients in Bangkok and West London. 2023
To, K. Investigation of genetic associations of mother to neonate Group B Streptococcus transmission. 2022
Khan, U. Comparative genomics of disease-causing Group B streptococci. 2022
Aliabadi, S. Developing and evaluating interventions to target antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across healthcare settings.
Wallis, R. Comparative genomics of Streptococcus pneumoniae during the implementation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.