Dr Claire Turner

School of Biosciences

Senior Research Fellow

c.e.turner@sheffield.ac.uk
Firth Court

Full contact details

Dr Claire Turner
School of Biosciences
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2024-present: Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, University of Sheffield
  • 2017-2024: Royal Society/ Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale Research Fellow, University of Sheffield
Research interests

I am a senior research fellow and Wellcome Trust Career Development fellow.

My research program is dedicated to unraveling the complex mechanisms that drive upsurges in disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (also known as Group A Streptococcus or Strep A). Infection upsurges occur frequently and can be associated with the emergence of specific bacterial genotypes, posing a significant public health challenge.

Our Approach
In the lab, we employ a multi-faceted approach to investigate bacterial success in causing disease:
•        Whole Genome Sequencing: We analyse the genetics of the S. pyogenes population to identify genomic features associated with virulence and spread.
•        Epidemiology & Clinical Analysis: We integrate clinical data and population-level patterns of infection to understand how strains behave in real-world settings.
•        Phenotypic Work: We conduct experiments to characterise the observable traits of different S. pyogenes strains, such as their ability to adhere, invade, and cause damage to host tissues.

A unique strength of our research lies in the development and application of 3D tissue-engineered models of human tonsil and human skin. These advanced models provide a physiologically relevant platform to precisely study pathogen-host interactions and the progression of infection, offering insights that are difficult to obtain from traditional 2D cell cultures or animal models.

We are particularly focused on characterising clinical isolates collected from both the UK, through a vital collaboration with colleagues at Laboratory Medicine, Northern General, Sheffield, and The Gambia, West Africa, in partnership with the MRC Unit The Gambia and the broader StrepA working group. This geographical diversity allows us to investigate how different host and environmental factors influence S. pyogenes adaptation and success.

Broader Interests
While our primary focus is on S. pyogenes, we also have a keen interest in other streptococcal species, including the Lancefield group C and G streptococci, which can also cause significant human disease. Furthermore, we actively collaborate with researchers working on other important bacterial pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridioides difficile, reflecting a broader commitment to understanding bacterial pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Hall JN, Bah SY, Khalid H, Brailey A, Coleman S, Kirk T, Hussain N, Tovey M, Chaudhuri RR, Davies S , Tilley L et al (2024) . Microbial Genomics, 10(8).
  • Li HK, Zhi X, Vieira A, Whitwell HJ, Schricker A, Jauneikaite E, Li H, Yosef A, Andrew I, Game L , Turner CE et al (2023) . Microbial Genomics, 9(4).
  • Bah S, Keeley A, Armitage E, Khalid H, Chaudhuri R, Senghore E, Manneh J, Tilley L, Marks M, Darboe S , Sesay A et al (2023) . mSphere, 8(1).
  • Turner CE, Holden MTG, Blane B, Horner C, Peacock SJ & Sriskandan S (2019) . mBio, 10(6).
  • Lynskey NN, Jauneikaite E, Li HK, Zhi X, Turner CE, Mosavie M, Pearson M, Asai M, Lobkowicz L, Chow JY , Parkhill J et al (2019) . The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 19(11), 1209-1218.
  • Armitage EP, Senghore E, Darboe S, Barry M, Camara J, Bah S, Marks M, Cerami C, Roca A, Antonio M , Turner CE et al (2019) . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 13(10).
  • Reglinski M, Sriskandan S & Turner C (2019) . Journal of Infection, 78(5), 358-363.
  • Turner CE, Bedford L, Brown NM, Judge K, Török ME, Parkhill J & Peacock SJ (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7.
  • Turner CE, Pyzio M, Song B, Lamagni T, Meltzer M, Chow JY, Efstratiou A, Curtis S & Sriskandan S (2016) . Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22(6), 1075-1078.
  • Turner CE, Abbott J, Lamagni T, Holden MT, David S, Jones MD, Game L, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S (2015) . MBio, 6(4).
  • Afshar B, Turner CE, Lamagni T, Smith K, Al-Shahib A, Underwood A, Holden M, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S () . Virulence.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Keeley AJ, Camara FE, Armitage EP, de Crombrugghe G, Sillah J, Fofana ML, Rollinson V, Senghore E, Jammeh M, Whitcombe AL , Bittaye A et al (2025) . Nature Medicine, 31(10), 3360-3371.
  • de Crombrugghe G, Armitage EP, Keeley AJ, Senghore E, Camara F, Jammeh M, Bittaye A, Ceesay H, Ceesay I, Samateh B , Manneh M et al (2025) . The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 232(3), 550-559.
  • Keeley A, Camara F, Armitage E, Salje H, Sillah J, Fofana ML, Rollinson V, de Crombrugghe G, Senghore E, Jammeh M , Whitcombe A et al (2025) . Clinical Infection in Practice, 25.
  • Hall JN, Armitage EP, Senghore E, Darboe S, Barry M, Camara J, Bah S, Keeley AJ, McCarthy JS, Smeesters P , Turner CE et al (2025) . The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 231(1), e28-e37.
  • Buddle JE, Thompson LM, Williams AS, Wright RCT, Durham WM, Turner CE, Chaudhuri RR, Brockhurst MA & Fagan RP (2024) . PLOS Biology, 22(8).
  • Hall JN, Bah SY, Khalid H, Brailey A, Coleman S, Kirk T, Hussain N, Tovey M, Chaudhuri RR, Davies S , Tilley L et al (2024) . Microbial Genomics, 10(8).
  • Armitage EP, de Crombrugghe G, Keeley AJ, Senghore E, Camara FE, Jammeh M, Bittaye A, Ceesay H, Ceesay I, Samateh B , Manneh M et al (2024) . The Lancet Microbe, 5(7), 679-688.
  • Hall J, Angyal A, Armitage E, Senghore E, Darboe S, Barry M, Camara J, Bah S, Keeley A, McCarthy J , Turner C et al (2023) . Clinical Infection in Practice, 20(Supplement 1).
  • Green LR, Issa R, Albaldi F, Urwin L, Thompson R, Khalid H, Turner CE, Ciani B, Partridge LJ & Monk PN (2023) . mBio, 14(4).
  • Keeley AJ, Groves D, Armitage EP, Senghore E, Jagne YJ, Sallah HJ, Drammeh S, Angyal A, Hornsby H, de Crombrugghe G , Smeesters PR et al (2023) . The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 228(7), 957-965.
  • Li HK, Zhi X, Vieira A, Whitwell HJ, Schricker A, Jauneikaite E, Li H, Yosef A, Andrew I, Game L , Turner CE et al (2023) . Microbial Genomics, 9(4).
  • Catton EA, Bonsor DA, Herrera C, StÃ¥lhammar-Carlemalm M, Lyndin M, Turner CE, Soden J, van Strijp JAG, Singer BB, van Sorge NM , Lindahl G et al (2023) . Nature Communications, 14.
  • Carrilero L, Urwin L, Ward E, Choudhury NR, Monk IR, Turner CE, Stinear TP & Corrigan RM (2023) . Microbiology Spectrum, 11(2).
  • Bah S, Keeley A, Armitage E, Khalid H, Chaudhuri R, Senghore E, Manneh J, Tilley L, Marks M, Darboe S , Sesay A et al (2023) . mSphere, 8(1).
  • Turner CE (2022) . The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
  • Jagne I, Keeley AJ, Bojang A, Camara B, Jallow E, Senghore E, Oluwalana C, Bah SY, Turner CE, Sesay AK , D’Alessandro U et al (2022) . BMC Infectious Diseases, 22(1).
  • Tan LKK, Reglinski M, Teo D, Reza N, Lamb LEM, Nageshwaran V, Turner CE, Wikstrom M, Frick IM, Bjorck L & Sriskandan S (2021) . npj Vaccines, 6(1).
  • Jabang S, Erhart A, Darboe S, Baldeh A-K, Delforge V, Watson G, Foster-Nyarko E, Salaudeen R, Lawal B, Mackenzie G , Botteaux A et al (2021) . Vaccines, 9(2).
  • Remmington A, Haywood S, Edgar J, Green LR, de Silva T & Turner CE (2021) . Microbial Genomics, 7(1).
  • Siggins MK, Lynskey NN, Lamb LE, Johnson LA, Huse KK, Pearson M, Banerji S, Turner CE, Woollard K, Jackson DG & Sriskandan S (2020) . Nature Communications, 11(1).
  • Turner CE, Holden MTG, Blane B, Horner C, Peacock SJ & Sriskandan S (2019) . mBio, 10(6).
  • Lynskey NN, Jauneikaite E, Li HK, Zhi X, Turner CE, Mosavie M, Pearson M, Asai M, Lobkowicz L, Chow JY , Parkhill J et al (2019) . The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 19(11), 1209-1218.
  • Armitage EP, Senghore E, Darboe S, Barry M, Camara J, Bah S, Marks M, Cerami C, Roca A, Antonio M , Turner CE et al (2019) . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 13(10).
  • Sharma H, Turner CE, Siggins MK, El-Bahrawy M, Pichon B, Kearns A & Sriskandan S (2019) . mSphere, 4(5).
  • Davies FJ, Olme C, Lynskey NN, Turner CE & Sriskandan S (2019) . Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 197(1), 83-94.
  • Turner CE, Bubba L & Efstratiou A (2019) . Microbiology Spectrum, 7(3).
  • Reglinski M, Sriskandan S & Turner C (2019) . Journal of Infection, 78(5), 358-363.
  • Davies FJ, Olme C, Lynskey NN, Turner CE & Sriskandan S (2018) .
  • Lamb LE, Siggins MK, Scudamore C, Macdonald W, Turner CE, Lynskey NN, Tan LKK & Sriskandan S (2018) . Virulence, 9(1), 1074-1084.
  • Edwards RJ, Pyzio M, Gierula M, Turner CE, Abdul-Salam VB & Sriskandan S (2018) . Scientific Reports, 8(1).
  • Remmington A & Turner CE (2018) . Microbiology, 164(3), 242-250.
  • Sharma H, Smith D, Turner CE, Game L, Pichon B, Hope R, Hill R, Kearns A & Sriskandan S (2018) . Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24(2).
  • Turner CE, Bedford L, Brown NM, Judge K, Török ME, Parkhill J & Peacock SJ (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7.
  • Al-Shahib A, Underwood A, Afshar B, Turner CE, Lamagni T, Sriskandan S & Efstratiou A (2016) . Microb Genom, 2(11).
  • Al-Shahib A, Underwood A, Afshar B, Turner CE, Lamagni T, Sriskandan S & Efstratiou A (2016) . Microbial Genomics, 2(6).
  • Turner CE, Pyzio M, Song B, Lamagni T, Meltzer M, Chow JY, Efstratiou A, Curtis S & Sriskandan S (2016) . Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22(6), 1075-1078.
  • Smith DS, Siggins MK, Gierula M, Pichon B, Turner CE, Lynskey NN, Mosavie M, Kearns AM, Edwards RJ & Sriskandan S (2016) . Microbial Genomics , 2.
  • Lamb L, MacDonald W, Scudamore C, Tan L, Lynskey N, Turner CE & Sriskandan S (2015) . Journal of Infection, 71(6), 686-686.
  • Turner CE, Lamagni T, Holden MT, David S, Jones MD, Game L, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S (2015) . MBio, 6(6).
  • Turner CE, Abbott J, Lamagni T, Holden MT, David S, Jones MD, Game L, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S (2015) . MBio, 6(4).
  • Turner CE & Sriskandan S (2015) . Journal of Infection, 71(3), 338-346.
  • Lynskey NN, Turner CE, Heng LS & Sriskandan S (2015) . Infection and Immunity, 83(4), 1732-1733.
  • Alam FM, Bateman C, Turner CE, Wiles S & Sriskandan S (2013) . PLoS One, 8(11).
  • Al-Shahib A, Afshar B, Underwood A, Turner C, Sriskandan S, Holden M, Parkhill J & Efstratiou A (2013) . International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 42, S103-S104.
  • Turner CE, Dryden M, Holden MT, Davies FJ, Lawrenson RA, Farzaneh L, Bentley SD, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S (2013) . Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 51(7), 2089-2095.
  • Turner CE, Sommerlad M, McGregor K, Davies FJ, Pichon B, Chong DL, Farzaneh L, Holden MT, Spratt BG, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S (2012) . PLoS One, 7(10).
  • Davies F, Turner C, Boyle J & Sriskandan S (2010) . Journal of Infection, 61(6), 518-518.
  • (2009) . The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 200(8), 1353-1353.
  • Turner CE, Kurupati P, Jones MD, Edwards RJ & Sriskandan S (2009) . The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 200(4), 555-563.
  • Turner CE, Kurupati P, Wiles S, Edwards RJ & Sriskandan S (2009) . Vaccine, 27(36), 4923-4929.
  • Zinkernagel AS, Timmer AM, Pence MA, Locke JB, Buchanan JT, Turner CE, Mishalian I, Sriskandan S, Hanski E & Nizet V (2008) . Cell Host & Microbe, 4(2), 170-178.
  • Turner C & Sriskandan S (2007) . Nature Medicine, 13(8), 909-910.
  • Edwards RJ, Taylor GW, Ferguson M, Murray S, Rendell N, Wrigley A, Bai Z, Boyle J, Finney SJ, Jones A , Russell HH et al (2005) . The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 192(5), 783-790.
  • Keeley AJ, Camara FE, Armitage EP, de Crombrugghe G, Sillah J, Fofana ML, Rollinson V, Senghore E, Jammeh M, Whitcombe AL , Bittaye A et al () . Nature Medicine.
  • Catton EA, Bonsor DA, Herrera C, StÃ¥lhammar-Carlemalm M, Lyndin M, Turner CE, Soden J, van Strijp JAG, Singer BB, van Sorge NM , Lindahl G et al () . Nature Communications, 14(1).
  • Afshar B, Turner CE, Lamagni T, Smith K, Al-Shahib A, Underwood A, Holden M, Efstratiou A & Sriskandan S () . Virulence.
  • Lynskey NN, Goulding D, Gierula M, Turner CE, Dougan G, Edwards RJ & Sriskandan S () . PLoS Pathogens, 9(12), e1003842-e1003842.
  • Alam FM, Turner CE, Smith K, Wiles S & Sriskandan S () . PLoS ONE, 8(9).
  • Alam FM, Turner CE, Smith K, Wiles S & Sriskandan S () . PLoS ONE, 8(4), e61655-e61655.
  • Kurupati P, Turner CE, Tziona I, Lawrenson RA, Alam FM, Nohadani M, Stamp GW, Zinkernagel AS, Nizet V, Edwards RJ & Sriskandan S () . Molecular Microbiology, 76(6), 1387-1397.

Book chapters

  • Efstratiou A, Lamagni T & Turner CE (2017) , Infectious Diseases 2 Volume Set (pp. 1523-1536.e2).
  • Efstratiou A, Lamagni T & Turner CE (2017) , Infectious Diseases (pp. 1523-1536.e2). Elsevier
  • Efstratiou A, Lamagni T & Turner CE (2016) Streptococci and Enterococci In Cohen J, Powderly W & Opal S (Ed.), Infectious Diseases 4th edition Elsevier
  • Turner CE, Bubba L & Efstratiou A () , Gram-Positive Pathogens (pp. 264-274). ASM Press

Conference proceedings

  • Alam F, Bateman C, Turner C, Sriskandan S & Wiles S (2010) Bioluminescence imaging of a clinical isolate of Streptococcus pyogenes. LUMINESCENCE, Vol. 25(2) (pp 179-181)

Preprints

  • Buddle JE, Pennington VK, Kirk JA, Faber F, Turner CE, Brockhurst MA & Fagan RP (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • de Crombrugghe G, Armitage EP, Keeley AJ, Senghore E, Camara F, Jammeh M, Bittaye A, Ceesay H, Ceesay I, Samateh B , Manneh M et al (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Keeley AJ, Camara FE, Armitage E, de Crombrugghe G, Sillah J, Fofana ML, Rollinson V, Senghore E, Jammeh M, Whitcombe AL , Bittaye A et al (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Hall JN, Bah SY, Khalid H, Brailey A, Coleman S, Kirk T, Hussain N, Tovey M, Chaudhuri RR, Davies S , Tilley L et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Hall JN, Armitage EP, Senghore E, Darboe S, Barry M, Camara J, Bah S, Keeley AJ, McCarthy JS, Smeesters P , Turner CE et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Green LR, Issa R, Albaldi F, Urwin L, Khalid H, Turner CE, Ciani B, Partridge LJ & Monk PN (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Li HK, Zhi X, Vieira A, Whitwell HJ, Schricker A, Jauneikaite E, Li H, Yosef A, Andrew I, Game L , Turner CE et al (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Keeley AJ, Groves D, Armitage EP, Senghore E, Jagne YJ, Sallah HJ, Drammeh S, Angyal A, Hornsby H, de Crombrugghe G , Smeesters P et al (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Bah SY, Keeley AJ, Armitage EP, Khalid H, Chaudhuri RR, Senghore E, Manneh J, Tilley L, Marks M, Darboe S , Sesay AK et al (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Jagne I, Keeley AJ, Bojang A, Camara B, Jallow E, Senghore E, Oluwalana C, Bah SY, Turner CE, Sesay AK , D’Alessandro U et al (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Tan LKK, Reglinski M, Teo D, Reza N, Lamb LEM, Nageshwaran V, Turner CE, Wikstrom M, Frick I-M, Bjorck L & Sriskandan S (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Remmington A, Haywood S, Edgar J & Turner CE (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Armitage EP, Senghore E, Darboe S, Barry M, Camara J, Bah S, Marks M, Cerami C, Roca A, Antonio M , Turner CE et al () .
  • Lynskey NN, Jauneikaite E, Kwong Li H, Zhi X, Turner CE, Mosavie M, Pearson M, Asai M, Lobkowicz L, Chow JY , Parkhill J et al () .
Research group

Current research group members:

  • Jessica Buddle, PDRA
  • Saikou Bah, PDRA
  • Henna Khalid, Research technician
  • Sona Jabang, Research technician/PhD
Professional activities and memberships
  • Co-director for The Florey Institute of Infection
  • Editor for Microbial Genomics

Links