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The aim of this research is to investigate why some people carry the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in their nose while others never do. S. aureus is a common bacterium with about one person in every three carrying it in their nose, or elsewhere on the skin.

For most people, carriage of S. aureus is harmless. However, a small number of people are susceptible to S. aureus infections due to a weakened immune system and, in some cases, these infections may be serious and resistant to antibiotic treatment.

Understanding why only some people are carriers while others aren’t will help design new ways to prevent and treat such infections.