A5054194481- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy Cows
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Ocular Infections and Treatments
- Ocular Surface and Contact Lens
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
- Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Amoebic Infections and Treatments
- Respiratory viral infections research
University of Waikato
2013-2023
Waikato Hospital
1982-2016
Auckland City Hospital
1995
Massey University
1976-1978
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde
1978
BACKGROUND--Microbial corneal infection is the most serious complication of contact lens wear. Contact cases are a recognised potential source pathogens associated with ulcers. METHODS--This survey established incidence protozoal, bacterial, and fungal case contamination in 101 asymptomatic daily wear cosmetic wearers from domiciliary practice. RESULTS--Eighty two (81%) were found to be contaminated, 19 (19%) sterile. Of all cases, 78 (77%) grew bacteria, 24 (24%) fungi, 20 (20%) protozoa....
A 10 month prospective study of all adults admitted to Waikato Hospital with community acquired pneumonia was performed assess aetiology, mortality, hospital stay, and the value a prognostic index based on that obtained from British Thoracic Society study. The 92 patients in survey had mean age 56 (range 13-97) years. microbiological diagnosis established 72%; Streptococcus pneumoniae (33%), Mycoplasma (18%), influenza virus (8%) were most common microorganisms. Other causative organisms...
Pathogenic free-living amoebae are common in nature, but few clinical infections by these have been reported. This has prompted studies of host susceptibility factors humans. A survey normal human sera from three New Zealand Health Districts was made; antibodies to pathogenic were found all sera, with titers ranging 1:5 1:20 for Naegleria spp. and 1:80 Acanthamoeba The belonged mainly immunoglobulin G M classes. presence a specific neutralizing factor against not demonstrated. Possible...
ABSTRACT Background and objective: Vitamin D regulates the production of antimicrobial peptides cathelicidin beta‐defensin‐2, which play an important role in innate immune response to infection. We hypothesized that vitamin deficiency would be associated with lower levels these worse outcomes patients admitted hospital community acquired pneumonia. Methods: Associations between mortality serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, beta‐defensin‐2 were investigated a prospective cohort 112 pneumonia during...
Very little is known about the growth and mutation rates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during latent infection in humans. However, studies rhesus macaques have suggested that infections are higher than observed active disease. Elevated presumed risk factors for development drug resistance. Therefore, investigation human latency high importance. We performed whole genome analysis M. isolates from a multi-decade outbreak New Zealand Rangipo strain. used epidemiological phylogenetic to identify...
The amoebicidal properties of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and deciquam 222 were examined in axenic conditions. Naegleria spp. found to be more sensitive dioxide than Acanthamoeba No marked difference sensitivity ozone or could detected between the pathogenic (A-1) nonpathogenic (1501) strains (MsT) (P1200f) Naegleria. Methods disinfection are discussed with reference suitability disinfectants real
Samples of soil and water were taken from the McMurdo Sound-Dry Valley region Antarctica. Of 70 samples cultured, 22 yielded amoebae capable clonal growth at 30 degrees C. None isolates was pathogenic for mice. Acanthamoeba appeared to show better survival potential than Naegleria isolates.
To describe the use of bacterial DNA amplification conserved 16S ribosomal nucleotide sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect presence septicemia in critically ill septic patients.Case series blood samples from patients comparing PCR results with conventional culture results.A general intensive care unit a tertiary referral hospital.Two sets (n = 101 and n 55) diagnosed as clinically requiring cultures. They were classified internationally accepted criteria into systemic...
Results comparing the time needed for development of cytopathic effects in cell cultures with that to cause death mice using inocula Naegleria and Acanthamoeba are presented. The significance source concentration is demonstrated. use as an indicator pathogenicity free-living amoebae discussed.
The equine disease strangles, which is characterized by the formation of abscesses in lymph nodes head and neck, one most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases horses around world. causal agent, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, establishes a persistent infection approximately 10 % animals that recover from acute disease. Such 'carrier' appear healthy are rarely identified during routine veterinary examinations pre-purchase or transit, but can transmit S. to naïve initiating new...
The VapBC toxin-antitoxin (TA) family is the largest of nine identified TA families. toxin, VapC, a metal-dependent ribonuclease that inhibited by its cognate antitoxin, VapB. Although VapBCs are family, little known about their biological roles. Here we describe new general method for overexpression and purification toxic VapC proteins subsequent determination RNase sequence-specificity. Functional was isolated expression nontoxic complex, followed removal labile antitoxin (VapB) using...
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a globally distributed bacterial pathogen whose population structure has largely been shaped by the activities of its obligate human host. Oceania was last major global region to be reached Europeans and for which dispersal evolution Mtb remains unexplored. Here, we investigated evolutionary history Euro-American L4.4 sublineage South Pacific. Using phylodynamics approach dataset 236 genomes have traced origins strains New Zealand. These are predominantly...
Selenium, a trace element with anticancer properties, can reduce harmful toxicities of chemotherapy and radiotherapy without compromising efficacy. However, the dose-response relationship in normal versus malignant human cells is unclear. We evaluated how methylseleninic acid (MSA) modulates toxicity efficacy radiation on non-malignant mononuclear blood vitro. specifically investigated its effects endoplasmic reticulum stress induction, intracellular glutathione concentration, DNA damage...
ABSTRACT We recently developed a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme to differentiate S. uberis isolates and facilitate an understanding of the population biology this pathogen. The was initially used study collection 160 bovine milk from United Kingdom showed that majority were one clonal complex (designated ST-5 complex). Here we describe MLST analysis New Zealand isolates. These obtained diverse sources, including milk, other anatomical sites, environmental sources. complete allelic...
Abstract A sample survey of 9 thermal pools or streams in 3 Health Districts the North Island New Zealand was made over a 15‐month period to determine presence absence pathogenic free‐living amoeba (PFLA) genera Naegleria and Acanthamoeba. Concurrent chemical, physical, bacteriological analyses were made. Acanthamoeba isolated Rotorua Hamilton but not Gisborne District. Most PFLA from water with high coliform content soil contamination.