Rate My Professor Htin Aung

Associate Professor Htin Lin Aung is a Molecular Microbiologist and Rutherford Discovery Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago. He earned his BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Otago, completing his doctorate in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in 2013 before being appointed to the faculty in 2014. As an international student who began at Otago in 2001, he has advanced to Associate Professor and currently holds the position of Associate Dean (International) for the Division of Health Sciences, where he advises on international strategies, supports staff, and coordinates with the International Office.

Aung's research addresses antimicrobial resistance as a global public health crisis, focusing on drug-resistant tuberculosis including multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains. Utilizing next-generation Illumina and third-generation Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing, his investigations characterize genetic diversity and population structures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in high- and low-burden countries, elucidate virulence and host specificity of unique New Zealand strains in Māori and Pasifika populations, identify resistance-conferring genetic bases for diagnostics and new anti-TB drugs, examine Mycobacterium bovis genomics at wildlife-livestock-human interfaces through One Health, and map molecular epidemiology to inform interventions. He collaborates with communities in Myanmar's National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory and New Zealand's indigenous groups to understand TB perceptions and care barriers. Awards include the Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship (2017–2022) funded by a $500,000 Health Research Council grant for translational TB diagnostics. Select publications are 'Whole genome sequencing reveals novel resistance-conferring mutations and large genome deletions in drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Indonesia' (Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 2025), 'The identification of novel mutations in ATP-dependent protease ClpC1 assists in the molecular diagnosis of obscured pyrazinamide-resistant tuberculosis clinical isolates' (Microorganisms, 2025), and 'First 2 Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Cases From Myanmar' (Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2017). He convenes MICR 461 Molecular Microbiology and teaches GENE 223 Developmental and Applied Genetics, GENE 221 Molecular and Microbial Genetics, MELS 306 Medical Microbiology, MICR 332 Health Microbiology, MICR 335 Molecular Microbiology, and GENE 411 Current Topics in Genetics. His transdisciplinary efforts combat health inequalities and advance TB control.