A5073348707- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
Queen's University Belfast
2020-2025
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are outbreaks of aquatic toxic microalgae emerging as a global problem driven by nutrient enrichment, climate change and invasive species. We uniquely describe HAB unprecedented duration, extent magnitude during 2023 in Lough Neagh; the UK Ireland's largest freshwater lake, using an unparalleled combination satellite imagery, analysis, 16S rRNA gene sequencing cyanotoxin profiling. The causative agent Microcystis aeruginosa accounted for over third DNA water...
As of 8 July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) have reported 1010 probable cases acute hepatitis unknown aetiology in children worldwide, including approximately 250 United Kingdom (UK). Clinical presentations often been severe, with liver transplantation a frequent clinical outcome. Human adenovirus F41 (HAdV-F41) has detected most hepatitis, but its role pathogenesis this infection yet to be established. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) become well-established tool for...
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe infections in infants, immunocompromised or elderly individuals resulting annual epidemics of respiratory disease. Currently, limited clinical surveillance and the lack predictable seasonal dynamics limit public health response. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has recently been used globally as a key metric determining prevalence acute syndrome coronavirus 2 community, but its application to other viruses is limited. In this study, we...
Abstract Effective monitoring of wildlife populations forms the foundation modern‐day conservation biology. Without reliable estimates population size, it is not possible to determine trends, a key requirement in determining species status under international legislation. Carnivores are one more difficult taxonomic groups monitor due low densities and elusive behavior. Here, we compare conventional live trapping two modern, noninvasive field methods estimation: genetic fingerprinting from...
Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe infections in infants, immunocompromised or elderly individuals resulting annual epidemics of respiratory disease. Currently, limited clinical RSV surveillance and the lack predictable seasonal dynamics limits public health response. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has capacity to determine levels health-associated biomarkers recently been used globally as a key metric determining prevalence SARS-CoV-2 community. However,...
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Although endemic in birds, novel IAV strains can emerge, jump species, cause epidemics, like the latest variant H5N1. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been shown capable detecting human IAVs. We aimed to assess whether whole-genome sequencing (WGS) IAVs from wastewater is possible be used discriminate between circulating any non-human IAVs, such as those avian origin.
Abstract Farmland ponds are a highly threatened freshwater habitat which has undergone dramatic losses during the last 200 years due to land drainage schemes and agricultural intensification. Agri‐environment (AES) incentivize farmers adopt farming methods benefit biodiversity, yet there paucity of data evaluating success artificially created AES as analogues natural in an attempt recreate lost environments. We examined variation environmental parameters aquatic terrestrial invertebrate...
Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) has become an integral part of the public health effort to track levels SARS-CoV-2 within communities. Detection in wastewater can be challenging due relatively low virus sample. The matrix is also comprised commercial and domestically derived contaminants, as well RNases, all which adversely affect RT-qPCR analysis. To improve detection samples we investigated both effect template dilution (as a means reduce inhibition) sample stabilisation via addition...
Abstract Habitat fragmentation and loss reduce population size connectivity, which imperils populations. Functional connectivity is key for species persistence in human-modified landscapes. To inform conservation management, we investigated spatial genetic structure, gene flow inferred dispersal between twelve breeding sites of the Natterjack toad ( Bufo calamita ); regionally Red-Listed as Endangered Ireland. Spatial structure was determined using both Bayesian non-Bayesian clustering...
Abstract According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, 41% world's amphibian species are threatened with extinction, making them more than any other vertebrate group nowadays. Given global crisis, comprehensive understanding demographics and population trends declining is essential effective management conservation strategies. Counting egg spawns widely used assess abundance in pond breeding anurans. However, it unknown how such counts translate into robust size...
Background: Influenza A viruses (IAV) are significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Although endemic in birds, novel IAV strains can emerge, jump species, cause epidemics, like the latest variant H5N1. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has very recently been shown to detect human but whether it avian-origin IAV, if whole genome sequencing (WGS) be used discriminate circulating wastewater remains unknown.Methods: Using a pan-IAV RT-qPCR assay, six treatment works (WWTWs) across...
Abstract The global amphibian crisis is driven by a range of stressors including disease, habitat loss, and environmental contamination. role climate change remains poorly studied likely to influence suitability, ranges, reproduction, phenology. This study aimed characterize the bioclimatic‐habitat niche space Natterjack toad ( Epidalea calamita ) throughout its European assess impact on toad's suitability breeding behavior in Ireland, where declines recent decades have resulted it being...
Abstract Molecular methods can play a crucial role in species management and conservation. Despite the usefulness of genetic approaches, they are often not explicitly included as part recovery plans conservation practises. The Natterjack toad ( Epidalea calamita ) is regionally Red-Listed Endangered Ireland. declining now present at just seven sites within highly restricted range. This study used 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers to analyse population diversity structure. Genetic was...
ABSTRACT Background Robust methods to track pathogens support public health surveillance. Both wastewater (WW) and individual whole genome sequencing (WGS) are used assess viral variant diversity spread. However, their relative performance the information provided by each approach have not been sufficiently quantified. Therefore, we conducted a comparative evaluation using extensive longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 WGS datasets in Northern Ireland (NI). Methods of was performed on >4k WW samples...
Abstract The Natterjack toad ( Epidalea calamita ) is the rarest amphibian species in Ireland, regionally Red-Listed as Endangered. We applied an eDNA approach to detect presence breeding pond water samples. developed a species-specific qPCR assay targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). was tested silico, vitro (DNA extracted from tissue) and vivo samples). Water samples were collected five ponds with known or absence validate sensitivity specificity of assay. shown be highly...
Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) is an integral component of the global COVID-19 surveillance strategy and has become a key public health tool. By detecting increasing incidence SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater WBE can inform Public Health teams community level infection rates. Levels are however influenced by amount water flowing through treatment system. Daily variances flow rates, due to rainfall, lead underestimation or overestimation viral fragment prevalence. To account for this...
Abstract Background Influenza A viruses (IAV) are significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Although endemic in birds, novel IAV strains can emerge, jump species, cause epidemics, like the latest variant H5N1. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has very recently been shown to detect human but whether it avian-origin IAV, if whole genome sequencing (WGS) be used discriminate circulating wastewater remains unknown. Methods Using a pan-IAV RT-qPCR assay, six treatment works (WWTWs)...