A5035788206- Food Safety and Hygiene
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
- Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy Cows
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Metal and Thin Film Mechanics
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Ion-surface interactions and analysis
- Travel-related health issues
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Renal Transplantation Outcomes and Treatments
- Infection Control in Healthcare
UK Health Security Agency
2021-2025
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
2005-2023
Public Health England
2013-2021
University of Sussex
2012
Southampton General Hospital
1999-2010
Environment Agency
2005
Johns Hopkins Hospital
1973-1976
University of Michigan
1974
Deposition of low surface energy plasma polymer layers onto microroughened PTFE substrates is found to give rise high repellency toward polar and nonpolar probe liquids. This behavior has been interpreted in terms Wenzels theory the Cassie−Baxter relationship.
Room-temperature pulsed plasma polymerization of long-chain perfluoroacrylates produces well-adhered liquid-repellent (hydrophobic and oleophobic) films. Critical surface tension values as low γc = 4.3 mN m-1 have been measured on coated flat glass substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, atomic force microscopy characterization these surfaces indicates that the energy perfluoroalkyl chains remain intact, while occurs predominantly via acrylate carbon−carbon...
Repetitive bursts of continuous wave plasma polymerization on the minute time scale are found to lead deposition well-defined polymeric nanospheres. This unique mode film growth is attributed a high level monomer replenishment in combination with minimal secondary reaction processes (e.g., fragmentation, cross-linking, and etching). In case 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl acrylate precursor, contact angle (super-hydrophobic) surfaces produced by this method.
An increase in the number of cases Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 phage type 2 (PT2) England September 2013 was epidemiologically linked to watercress consumption. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) identified a phylogenetically related cluster 22 (outbreak 1). The isolates comprising this were not closely any other United Kingdom strain Public Health WGS database, suggesting possible imported source. A second outbreak STEC PT2 2) following detection 1. Isolates associated...
Culture remains the gold-standard for enumeration of environmental Legionella. However, it has several drawbacks including long incubation and poor sensitivity, causing delays in response times to outbreaks Legionnaires' disease. This study aimed validate real-time PCR assays quantify Legionella species (ssrA gene), pneumophila (mip gene) Leg. serogroup-1 (wzm support culture-based detection a frontline public health laboratory.Each qPCR assay had 100% specificity, excellent sensitivity (5...
Reactive epoxide groups can be directly fixed onto solid surfaces by pulsed plasma polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate. These functionalized substrates are ideally suited for subsequent derivatization chemistries utilizing nucleophilic reagents, and also adhesion promotion.
We investigated a large outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 in the United Kingdom (UK) with 165 cases between 31 May and 29 July 2016. No linked were reported other countries. Cases predominately female (n = 128) adult 150), 66 attended hospital nine had features haemorrhagic uraemic syndrome. A series epidemiological studies (case–control, case–case, ingredients-based venue-based studies) supply chain investigations implicated mixed salad leaves from Supplier as likely vehicle. Whole genome...
SUMMARY Five cases of STEC O157 phage type (PT) 21/28 reported consumption raw cows' drinking milk (RDM) produced at a dairy farm in the South West England. PT21/28 was isolated from faecal specimens milking cows on implicated farm. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that human and cattle isolates were same strain. Further analysis WGS data confirmed sequences an additional four (who did not report RDM when first questioned) fell within five single nucleotide polymorphism cluster as...
Abstract In September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) South West Protection Team received notification of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa perichondritis. All five cases had attended same cosmetic piercing studio and a multi-disciplinary outbreak control investigation was subsequently initiated. An additional attending were found. Seven ten isolates available for Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) typing at UKHSA national reference laboratory. Clinical environmental P....
Pulsed plasma polymerization of precursors containing long perfluoroalkyl chains can lead to the formation structurally well-defined low surface energy films. Greater chemical selectivity and faster deposition rates are found for monomers carbon−carbon double bonds compared their saturated analogues. Critical tension values (γc) as 1.5 mN m-1 have been achieved, which corresponds exceptional hydrophobic oleophobic liquid repellency behavior.
A combination of X-ray photoelectron, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies have shown that pulsed plasma polymerization 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) leads to the deposition structurally well-defined poly(HEMA) films. The molecular weight surface hydroxyl density these polymer layers can be controlled by varying electrical discharge pulse duty cycle parameters. These films are found display hydrogel behavior, groups readily undergo reaction with...
Background: Triclosan (TCS) exposure of Escherichia coli selects for tolerant clones, mutated in their enoyl–acyl carrier protein reductase (FabI). It has been inferred that this phenomenon is widespread amongst bacterial genera and might be associated with resistance to third party agents. Methods: Ex‐situ, low passage isolates enteric, human axilla, oral origin bacteria isolated from a domestic drain, together selected type cultures were exposed escalating concentrations TCS over 10...
Background. Cattle are the second most common source of human campylobacteriosis. However, routes to account for this scale transmission have not been identified. In contrast chicken, red meat is heavily contaminated at point sale. Although effective pasteurization prevents milk-borne infection, apparently sporadic infections may include undetected outbreaks from raw or perhaps incompletely pasteurized milk. Methods. A rise in Campylobacter gastroenteritis an isolated population was...
This study aimed to review the microbiological results for raw drinking milk (RDM) samples submitted Public Health England laboratories between 2014 and 2016 in order produce up‐to‐date data on safety of RDM inform future risk assessments its sale. A total 902 were collected from retail sale examination. Overall, 454 770 (59·0%) taken routine monitoring a satisfactory quality, whilst eight (1·0%) 'unsatisfactory potentially injurious health' due presence Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia...
Pasteurisation of raw milk, colostrum, dairy or colostrum-based products must be achieved using at least 72°C for 15 s, 63°C 30 min any equivalent combination, such that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test immediately after treatment gives a negative result. For cows' result is when measured activity ≤ 350 milliunits enzyme per litre (mU/L) ISO standard 11816-1. The use and limitations an ALP possible alternative methods verifying pasteurisation those from other animal species (in particular...
Frozen reformulated (FR) breaded chicken products have previously been implicated in causing human salmonellosis. A multi-country Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis outbreak involving several strains with >400 reported cases the UK occurred 2020. Initially S. Infantis was detected one sample from a case home but then also isolated using specific PCR combination isolation via Craigie-tube. This prompted survey to examine presence and levels of E. coli ready-to-cook FR poultry England...
Journal Article Evaluation of the TEMPO® most probable number technique for enumeration Enterobacteriaceae in food and dairy products Get access M. Owen, Owen Health Protection Agency Food Water Environmental Microbiology Network (Southampton Laboratory), Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK Search other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C. Willis, Willis Caroline Level B South Block, SO16 6YD, UK. E‐mail: Caroline.willis@hpa.org.uk D. Lamph Applied...
The use of Whole genome sequencing (WGS) identified a multi-country outbreak human listeriosis associated with consumption frozen sweet corn produced in Hungary. purpose this report was to summarise information on the cases occurring UK which were part and outline investigations presence Listeria monocytogenes affected food chain. Prior international recall product 2018, 12 as infected by strain between 2015 18. Epidemiological microbiological confirmed these belonging outbreak. A further...
Pulsed plasma polymerization of 2-cyanoethyl acrylate leads to the deposition structurally well-defined cyano-functionalized thin films. These layers are found readily complex silver ions from solution and also exhibit pressure-sensitive adhesive behavior.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance chromogenic agars, Agar Listeria according Ottaviani and Agosti (ALOA) Rapid L. mono agar, compared with Oxford agar for enumeration detection species in food.