![Laura Rushton](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1208?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Laura Rushton
Senior Technician (Wastewater Testing)
Ysgol y Biowyddorau
- RushtonL3@caerdydd.ac.uk
- Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Ystafell West 2.11, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
Trosolwyg
Research Overview
My research interests are within the interdisciplinary theme of Industrial microbiology and antimicrobial resistance. I work collaboratively with global manufacturers of non-sterile preserved industrial products (Home, Beauty and Personal Care) to understand the risk, species diversity, and antimicrobial resistance of problematic bacterial contaminants.
Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics (MMI)
I am a member of the Mahenthiralingam lab which is part of the MMI working group within the Organisms and Environment Division of the Cardiff School of Biosciences at Cardiff University.
Cyhoeddiad
2021
- Rushton, L., Donoghue, D., Bull, M., Jay, P. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2021. Construction and evaluation of a bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa reporter for use in preservative efficacy testing. Microbiology 167(8), article number: 1072. (10.1099/mic.0.001072)
- Li, J. V. et al. 2021. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass-induced bacterial perturbation contributes to altered host-bacterial co-metabolic phenotype. Microbiome 9(1), article number: 139. (10.1186/s40168-021-01086-x)
2020
- Rushton, L., Khodr, A., Menard-Szczebara, F., Maillard, J., Cupferman, S. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2020. Mapping the efficacy and mode of action of ethylzingerone [4-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one] as an active agent against Burkholderia bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 86(19), article number: e01808-20. (10.1128/AEM.01808-20)
2018
- Ledwoch, K. et al. 2018. Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study. Journal of Hospital Infection 100(3), pp. e47-e56. (10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.028)
2013
- Knapp, L. et al. 2013. The effect of cationic microbicide exposure against 'Burkholderia cepacia' complex (Bcc); the use of 'Burkholderia lata' strain 383 as a model bacterium. Journal of Applied Microbiology 115(5), pp. 1117-1126. (10.1111/jam.12320)
- Rushton, L., Sass, A., Baldwin, A., Dowson, C. G., Donoghue, D. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2013. Key role for efflux in the preservative susceptibility and adaptive resistance of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 57(7), pp. 2972-2980. (10.1128/AAC.00140-13)
2011
- Rushton, L. 2011. The molecular basis for preservative resistance in Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Erthyglau
- Rushton, L., Donoghue, D., Bull, M., Jay, P. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2021. Construction and evaluation of a bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa reporter for use in preservative efficacy testing. Microbiology 167(8), article number: 1072. (10.1099/mic.0.001072)
- Li, J. V. et al. 2021. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass-induced bacterial perturbation contributes to altered host-bacterial co-metabolic phenotype. Microbiome 9(1), article number: 139. (10.1186/s40168-021-01086-x)
- Rushton, L., Khodr, A., Menard-Szczebara, F., Maillard, J., Cupferman, S. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2020. Mapping the efficacy and mode of action of ethylzingerone [4-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one] as an active agent against Burkholderia bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 86(19), article number: e01808-20. (10.1128/AEM.01808-20)
- Ledwoch, K. et al. 2018. Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study. Journal of Hospital Infection 100(3), pp. e47-e56. (10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.028)
- Knapp, L. et al. 2013. The effect of cationic microbicide exposure against 'Burkholderia cepacia' complex (Bcc); the use of 'Burkholderia lata' strain 383 as a model bacterium. Journal of Applied Microbiology 115(5), pp. 1117-1126. (10.1111/jam.12320)
- Rushton, L., Sass, A., Baldwin, A., Dowson, C. G., Donoghue, D. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2013. Key role for efflux in the preservative susceptibility and adaptive resistance of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 57(7), pp. 2972-2980. (10.1128/AAC.00140-13)
Gosodiad
- Rushton, L. 2011. The molecular basis for preservative resistance in Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Rushton, L., Khodr, A., Menard-Szczebara, F., Maillard, J., Cupferman, S. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2020. Mapping the efficacy and mode of action of ethylzingerone [4-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one] as an active agent against Burkholderia bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 86(19), article number: e01808-20. (10.1128/AEM.01808-20)
- Ledwoch, K. et al. 2018. Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study. Journal of Hospital Infection 100(3), pp. e47-e56. (10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.028)
Ymchwil
Collaborative Projects
I enjoy collaborative projects and especially relish the opportunity for inter-disciplinary research that may broaden my skill set and experience. I recently collaborated with researchers at the Medicines Discovery Institute at Cardiff University to investigate the activity of proprietary agents against priority bacterial pathogens.
Academic Research Projects
- May 2020 – present: a Sêr Cymru Industrial funded Fellowship at Cardiff University (BIOSI) in collaboration with Unilever R&D (Port Sunlight, UK) ‘Characterising the diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria as key risk industrial contaminants.’
- Oct 2019 – Mar 2020: Postdoctoral researcher on a project at Cardiff University (BIOSI) funded by Procarta Biosystems Ltd. (UK), ‘Investigating the‘ Efficacy and mode of action of Procarta antimicrobial formulations on Burkholderia bacteria.’
- Mar 2019 – Oct 2019: Senior Research Technician role at the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London (Funder) and BIOSI Cardiff University, ‘Investigating the effects of gastric bypass surgery on the human gut microbiota.’
- Jun 2017 – Oct 2018: Postdoctoral Researcher working on a collaboration funded by L’Oréal R&D, (Paris, France), at Cardiff University (BIOSI) and Cardiff School of Pharmaceutical sciences ‘Mapping the mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance of Burkholderia to a proprietary preservative.’
- Nov 2011- Mar 2014: Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate Researcher, at Cardiff University (BIOSI) and Unilever R&D (Port Sunlight, UK), an Innovate UK & Unilever funded project ‘To develop novel preservative systems that target bacterial resistance mechanisms and set new industrial standards for using cultivation independent microbial analysis in preservative challenge testing.’
- Oct 2007 – Sept 2011; BBSRC-case sponsored PhD Student at BIOSI Cardiff University in partnership with Unilever R&D Port Sunlight, Wirral, UK, investigating ‘The molecular basis for preservative resistance in Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria.’
Grants
- Co-investigator, Welsh Government Innovation for All Public Engagement Funding(2021): 'Engaging the public with antimicrobial resistance using blended arts and science events.'
- PI: Sêr Cymru II Industrial Fellowship Award (2020): ‘Characterising the diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria as key risk industrial contaminants.’
Bywgraffiad
Education and Qualifications
- Research Team Leadership AdvanceHE Endorsed Certificate (2018); Cardiff University
- City & Guilds 7300 qualification in Trainer skills (2013): Cardiff, UK
- CMI Endorsed Certificate in Management (2011); Ashorne Hill Management College, UK
- PhD in Microbiology (2007-2011)
- B.Sc. (hons) Microbiology (2002-2005); Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
Career
- Sêr Cymru Industrial Fellow (May 2020 – present), Cardiff School of Biosciences (BIOSI), Cardiff University, Wales, UK and Unilever R&D Port Sunlight, Wirral UK
- Postdoctoral Researcher (Oct 2019 – Mar 2020), BIOSI Cardiff University and Procarta Biosystems
- Senior Research Technician (Mar 2019 – Oct 2019), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London and Honorary Research Associate of BIOSI Cardiff University
- Postdoctoral Researcher (Jun 2017 – Oct 2018), Cardiff University BIOSI and L’Oréal R&D, Paris, France
- Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate Researcher (Nov 2011- Mar 2014), BIOSI Cardiff University and Unilever R&D Port Sunlight, Wirral, UK
- BBSRC case sponsored PhD Student (Oct 2007 – Sept 2011), BIOSI Cardiff University and Unilever R&D Port Sunlight, Wirral, UK
- Research & Development Scientist (Nov 2005 – Sept 2007), British Biocell International, UK
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
- Microbiology Society (2002 onwards)
- Society for Applied Microbiology (2007 onwards)
- American Society for Microbiology (2007 onwards