Role
Researcher in the School of Biological Sciences
Qualifications & background
PhD - Molecular Microbiology, University of Plymouth:
'Characterisation and Molecular Typing of Clinical and Environmental Isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus'
BSc (Hons) - Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth
Honours project: 'Cloning and restriction site mapping of sac+, genes for sucrose utilisation in Escherichia coli.'
Professional membership
Society for General Microbiology
Society for Applied Microbiology
Association of Vibrio Biologists
Associate of the Higher Education Academy
Teaching interests
I have demonstated on several undergradute modules (BIOL: 1002, 1005, 2305, 2306) in the areas of: Aplied Immunology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Microbiology & Molecular Biology, as well as Basic Laboratory Skills in other modules. I have also assisted project students in laboratory work and mark student coursework.
Outside academia , I have had a passion for Chinese based martial arts (Wu Shu) since my early teenage years. I teach classes locally in Kung Fu (Wing Chun) ,Tai Chi (Taiji Quan) and related martial arts for self-defence, health and reduce stress.
Research interests
PhD: 'Characterisation and molecular typing of clinical and environmental isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus'
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a natural inhabitant of coastal waters worldwide and is the leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis. The organism is phylogenetically close to V. cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. V. parahaemolyticus has one of the fastest growth rates (doubling times of 8 mins approx.) with high copy numbers of both ribosomal operons and tRNA genes. It is an emerging worldwide pathogen and over the last few years, there have been some exciting developments in elucidating the pathogenicity of this organism. Virulent isolates possess genes for two heat stable haemolysins that are rarely detected in environmental isolates. It is estimated that only 0.3 to 3 % of environmental isolates harbour these genes and consequently, the significance of finding these isolates in environmental and seafood samples remain unclear.
This study employed a wide range of molecular characterisation methods to assess whether such techniques can reliably be used to distinguish pathogenic isolates of V. parahaemolyticus. These included fundamental bacteriology, gene detection (single/multiplex PCR and DNA hybridisation assays) and molecular typing techniques such as PFGE and PCR methods that utilised conserved tDNA, 16S and 23S regions of the genome. This project also examined the distribution of type III secretion system (TTSS) genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) amongst clinical and environmental isolates.
Supervisors:
Drs Martyn Gilpin, Colin Munn and Rachel Rangdale
