Browsing by Author "Taylor M"
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- ItemCo-selection of Heavy Metal and Antibiotic Resistance in Soil Bacteria from Agricultural Soils in New Zealand(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-02-04) Heydari A; Kim ND; Horswell J; Gielen G; Siggins A; Taylor M; Bromhead C; Palmer BRAccumulation of trace elements (including heavy metals) in soil from usage of superphos-phate fertilisers induces resistance of soil bacteria to trace elements of environmental concern (TE-oEC) and may co‐select for resistance to antibiotics (Ab). This study aimed to investigate selection of co‐resistance of soil bacteria to Cd, Zn and Hg, and Ab in soils with varied management histories. Genetic diversity of these bacteria and horizontal transfer of Cd resistance genes (cadA and czcA) were also investigated. Soils with either pastoral and arable management histories and either high levels of Cd and Zn, or indigenous bush with background levels of these TEoEC from the Waikato region, New Zealand were sampled. Plate culturing with a range of TEoEC and Ab concentrations, Pollution Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) assay, antibiotic sensitivity, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) analyses were em-ployed to investigate co‐selection of TEoEC and Ab resistance. Higher levels of bacterial resistance to TEoEC and Ab correlated with higher levels of TEoEC in soil. Bacterial community structures were altered in soils with high TEoEC levels. Cd resistance genes were transferred from donor bacterial isolates, to recipients and the transconjugants also had resistance to Zn and/or Hg and a range of Ab.
- ItemRecognition of an Odour Pattern from Paenibacillus larvae Spore Samples by Trained Detection Dogs(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-12-30) Thomson N; Taylor M; Gifford P; Sainsbury J; Cross S; Valsecchi PMSpores of the bacteria Paenibacillus larvae play a central role in the transmission of American Foulbrood (AFB), a major disease of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. This study investigated whether trained detection dogs could recognise an odour pattern from P. larvae spore samples. Although dogs have previously been used to detect diseased larvae in colonies with AFB, this is the first time they have been investigated for detecting P. larvae spore samples. Given that spores are metabolically inactive, it was unknown whether the spore samples would produce enough volatile organic compounds to form an odour pattern that could be detected by dogs. Three dogs were trained to identify laboratory-produced P. larvae spore samples and were systematically desensitized to non-target odours with a series of control samples. Two of the dogs successfully completed training and were then tested by having each dog perform six searches in an odour-detection carousel with the trainer blinded to the location of the spore samples. In this high-stakes forced-choice test, each dog was asked to identify one new spore sample, containing approximately 93-265 million P. larvae spores, from seven control samples. Both dogs correctly identified the spore sample every time (100% success rate); the probability of this result occurring by chance was p = 0.0000038. Therefore, this study demonstrates that dogs can recognise an odour pattern from bacterial spore samples, in this case, P. larvae, and provides proof of concept for further investigation into the use of detection dogs to reduce the spread of AFB in beekeeping businesses.
- ItemThe equine Hendra virus vaccine remains a highly effective preventative measure against infection in horses and humans: 'The imperative to develop a human vaccine for the Hendra virus in Australia'.(2016) Peel AJ; Field HE; Reid PA; Plowright RK; Broder CC; Skerratt LF; Hayman DTS; Restif O; Taylor M; Martin G; Crameri G; Smith I; Baker M; Marsh GA; Barr J; Breed AC; Wood JLN; Dhand N; Toribio J-A; Cunningham AA; Fulton I; Bryden WL; Secombe C; Wang L-F