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Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research Group

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research GroupUniSA’s Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research Group conducts important research aimed at addressing a variety of biological challenges affecting human and animal health.

Founded in 1997, the group investigates the microbiological factors affecting a range of vital health issues including antibiotic resistance, food-borne disease, water quality, and Rhodococcus equi.

Headed up by prominent microbiologist Professor Mary Barton, the group conducts research on behalf of various industry bodies, and advises government with expert advice via groups such as the Expert Advisory Group on Antibiotic Resistance (EAGAR) and the CSIRO AAHL Security Assessment Group.

 

PeoplePeople

UniSA staff

Professor Mary Barton - group leader
Lynda Kutek - laboratory manager
Dr Heather Rickard – researcher
Susan Semple
Maurizio Costabile
Ellen Nisbet
Sumbo Ndi

Postgraduate students

Xiaoxia Qiu
Ramin Mazaheri
Jane Owens
Kate Hodgson
Brad Simpson
Hardi Ys
Yoga Jatmiko
Omer Anakok
Arkua Obeng

Associate and adjunct members

Dr Michael Heuzenroeder (IMVS)
Dr Thiru Vanniasinkam (Charles Sturt University)
Dr Darren Trott (University of Queensland)
Dr Alex Keegan (SA Water)
Dr David Jordan (NSW Agriculture)
Dr Ingrid Surono
Dr Yaoshan Pang

Collaborators

The Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research Group works with a number of partners, collaborators and clients including:

Projects

Below if a selection of current and recent research projects involving the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research Group.

Use of bacteriophage to control campylobacter in chickens
Researchers: Jane Owens, Mary Barton, Michael Heuzenroeder
Client: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (chicken meat program)
Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning and chickens are regarded as a common source of human infections. This project aims to develop a panel of bacteriophages or phage products that can be used to reduce the level of campylobacter on chicken carcasses.

Role of bacteriophage in transfer of antibiotic resistance in enterococci
Researchers: Ramin Mazaheri, Mary Barton, Michael Heuzenroeder
Enterococci are intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics and have the capacity to readily acquire more resistance genes. Bacteriophage may well play a role in the spread of resistance and virulence genes. This project aims to investigate the role of bacteriophage in transfer of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes amongst enterococcal populations. 

A study on the mechanisms of triclosan resistance and impact of wastewater environment on the prevalence of bacterial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Researchers: Xiaoxia Qiu, Alex Keegan, Chris Saint, Mary Barton, Phillip Pendleton
Funding: CRC for Water Quality
This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of triclosan resistance in Ps aeruginosa isolated from wastewater environments, including the steps involved in the breakdown of triclosan by Ps aeruginosa and any association between triclosan resistance and resistance to any other antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance in Enterotoxigenic E coli isolated from pigs
Researchers: Matt Smith, Darren Trott, Dr Toni Chapman, Dr David Jordan, Dr Tony Fahy, Dr James Chin, Professor Mary Barton
Funding: Australian Pork Ltd
This project aims to characterise antibiotic resistance genes, investigating the association between virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes in ETECs from pigs and the association between antibiotic usage on piggeries and emergence of antibiotic resistance on Australian piggeries.

Development of a vaccine and a diagnostic test for Rhodococcus equi infection in foals
Researchers: Dr Michael Heuzenroeder, Professor Mary Barton, Dr Thiru Vanniasinkam
Funding: VetBiotechnology
Rhodococcus equi is a serious disease that affects about 10% of thoroughbred foals worldwide. There is currently no vaccine and no effective laboratory test. This project aims to develop and commercialise a vaccine and a diagnostic test.

Use of bacteriophage to control enterotoxigenic E coli in pigs
Researchers: Kate Hodgson, Dr Michael Heuzenroeder and Professor Mary Barton
Funding: Pork CRC
Enterotoxigenic E coli are a major cause of illness and death in neonatal and post-weaning pigs. Various control methods include vaccines and antibiotics have been used with limited success and there are now limited choices of antibiotics to use because of extensive antibiotic resistance in pig strains of E coli. This project is investigating the effectiveness of bacteriophages to control this condition.

Potency of bacteriocins produced by indigenous lactic acid bacteria isolated from Dadih against antibiotic resistant strains of enteric bacteria.
Researchers: Yoga Jatmiko, Dr Ingrid Surono, Dr Miguel de Barros Lopes, Professor Mary Barton
Dadih is a traditional fermented buffalo milk project used in some parts of Indonesia.  There is anecdotal evidence that there are less food borne infections in people who consume the product.  This project involves isolation and characterization of bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria found in Dadih and determining their effectiveness against antibiotic resistant enteric bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance in enteric bacteria isolated from chickens.
Researchers: Akua Obeng, Dr Heather Rickard, Professor Mary Barton
A previous project in 2000 assessed antibiotic resistance in enteric bacteria in chickens. Since then there have been significant changes in the availability of antibiotics to the chicken industry.  This project is investigating changes that may have occurred over the last 8 years and will compare isolates from  intensive and free-range chickens.

Recent publications

UniSA researchers names are indicated in bold type

Saijuntha W, Sithithiaworn P, Wongkham S, Laha T, Chilton N, Petney T, Barton MD, Andrews R (2008) Mitachondrial DNA sequence variation among geographic isolates of Opithorcis viverrini in Thailand and Lao PDR and phylogenetic relationships with other trematodes. Parasitology. 135(12):1479-86.

Phumoona T, Barton MD, Vanniasinkam T, Heuzenroeder MW (2008) Chimeric vapA/groEL2 DNA vaccines enhance clearance of Rhodococcus equi in aerosol challenged C3H/He mice. Vaccine. 26(20):2457-65.

Ndi CP, Semple SJ, Griesser HJ, Pyke SM, Barton MD. (2007) Antimicrobial Compounds from the Australian Desert Plant Eremophila neglecta. J.Nat. Prod., 70 (9), 1439–1443.

Ndi CP, Semple SJ, Griesser HJ, Pyke SM, Barton MD. (2007) Antimicrobial compounds from Eremophila serrulata. Phytochemistry 68(21), 2684-90.

Barton MD (2007) Antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine –Issues and controversies from an Australian perspective. Microbiology Australia. 28(4):179-181.

Owens J, Heuzenroeder MW, Barton MD (2007) Therapeutic use of bacteriophages in animals and in foods to reduce contamination. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources. 2, No 90.

Akinbowlale OL, Peng H, Barton MD (2007) Diversity of tetracycline resistance genes in bacteria from aquaculture sources in Australia. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 30(2):177-82.

Akinbowale OL, Peng H, Grant P, Barton MD (2007) ‘Antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in motile Aeromonads and Pseudomonas spp. from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in Australia’. Int J Antimicrobial Agents 30: 177-182.

Bell JM, Chitsaz M, Turnidge JD, Barton MD, Walters LJ, Jones RN (2007) ‘Prevalence and significance of a negative extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) confirmation test after a positive ESBL screening test among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: Results from the SENTRY Asia-Pacific surveillance program’. J Clin Microbiol, 45:1478-82.

Malik S, Christensen H, Peng H, Barton MD (2007) ‘Presence and diversity of the -lactamase gene in cat and dog staphylococci.’ Vet Microbiol. 123: 162-168

Malik S, Coombs G, O'Brien F, Peng H, Barton MD (2006) ‘Molecular typing of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from cats and dogs’. JAC, 58:428-31.

Hart WS, Heuzenroeder MW, Barton MD (2006) ‘A study of the transfer of tetracycline resistance genes between Escherichia coli in the intestinal tract of an animal model’. J Vet Med B.53:333-40.

Phumoonna T, Muscatello G, Chicken C, Gilkerson JR, Browning GF, Barton MD, Heuzenroeder MW (2006) ‘Clinical evaluation of a peptide-ELISA based upon N-terminal B-cell epitope of the VapA protein for diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals’. J Vet Med B 53, 1-7.

Akinbowale O, Peng H, Barton MD. (2006) ‘Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from aquaculture sources in Australia’. J Appl Microbiol  100:1103-1113

Malik, S., Peng H, Barton MD (2006) ‘Partial nucleotide sequence determination of the mecA genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cats and dogs’. J Clin Microbiol. 44, 413-6.

Moore JE, Barton MD, Blair IS, Corcoran D, Dooley JSG, Fanning S, Kempff I, Lastovica AJ, Lowery CJ, Matsuda M, McDowell DA, McMahon A, Millar BC, Rao JR, Rooney PJ, Seal BS, Snelling WJ, Tolbaa O (2006) ‘The epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in campylobacter’. Microbes and Infection Control.  8:1955-66..

Phumoonna T., Barton MD, Heuzenroeder MW (2005) ‘Recognition of B cell epitope of the VapA protein of Rhodococcus equi in newborn and experimentally infected foals’. J Vet Med B 52: 291-295.

Malik, S, Peng H, Barton MD (2005) ‘Antibiotic resistance in staphylococci associated with cats and dogs’. J  Appl Microbiol 99:1283-93.

 

Contact

For more information on the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Research Group, please contact group leader Professor Mary Barton on:

Phone: +61 8 8302 2933
Fax: +61 8 8302 2389
Email: mary.barton@unisa.edu.au

 

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