![Rebecca Weiser](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1251?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Rebecca Weiser
Cydymaith Ymchwil
Ysgol y Biowyddorau
- WeiserR@caerdydd.ac.uk
- Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
Trosolwyg
I am a postdoctoral research associate working in the Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics group in the School of Biosciences.
I am very interested in bacteriophage research, particularly the isolation and characterision of bacteriophages that infect Burkholderia bacteria and the use of phages in biocontrol applications. My long term goal is to develop an independent research programme in this area.
Currently I am working on a project that investigates how bacteriophages can be used to treat bacterial onion rot caused by Burkholderia and Pectobacterium species. This is funded by an Innovate UK SMART grant and is in collaboration with APS Biocontrol, Allium & Brassica Agronomy and P. G. Rix (Farms) LTD.
My other research interests include cystic fibrosis microbiology, microbiota analysis and bacterial contamination and preservative resistance in industry.
Cyhoeddiad
2022
- Mahenthiralingam, E., Weiser, R., Floto, R. A., Davies, J. C. and Fothergill, J. L. 2022. Selection of relevant bacterial strains for novel therapeutic testing. Current Clinical Microbiology Reports 9, pp. 33-45. (10.1007/s40588-022-00182-2)
- Weiser, R. et al. 2022. The lung microbiota in children with cystic fibrosis captured by induced sputum sampling. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 21(6), pp. 1006-1012. (10.1016/j.jcf.2022.01.006)
- Fischer, R. et al. 2022. Evaluating the alginate oligosaccharide (OligoG) as a therapy for Burkholderia cepacia complex cystic fibrosis lung infection. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 21(5), pp. 821-829. (10.1016/j.jcf.2022.01.003)
2021
- Al-Amri, M. and Weiser, R. eds. 2021. Proceedings of Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair Annual Scientific Meeting (CITER ASM 2021). Proceedings of Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair Annual Scientific Meeting. Cardiff: Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair, Cardiff University.
- Kelly, S. A. et al. 2021. Antibiotic therapy and the gut microbiome: investigating the effect of delivery route on gut pathogens. ACS Infectious Diseases 7(5), pp. 1283–1296. (10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00081)
- Weiser, R., Rye, P. D. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2021. Implementation of microbiota analysis in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis lung infection: experience from the OligoG phase 2b clinical trials. Journal of Microbiological Methods 181, article number: 106133. (10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106133)
- Oakley, J. L. et al. 2021. Phenotypic and genotypic adaptations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms following long-term exposure to an alginate oligomer therapy. mSphere 6(1), pp. e01216-20. (10.1128/mSphere.01216-20)
2020
- Weiser, R., Yap, Z. L., Otter, A., Jones, B. V., Salvage, J., Parkhill, J. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2020. A novel inducible prophage from Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 is widely distributed across the species and has lytic activity against pathogenic Burkholderia. Viruses 12(6), article number: 601. (10.3390/v12060601)
2019
- Cunningham-Oakes, E., Weiser, R., Pointon, T. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2019. Understanding the challenges of non-food industrial product contamination. FEMS Microbiology Letters 366(23), article number: fnaa010. (10.1093/femsle/fnaa010)
- Weiser, R. et al. 2019. Not all Pseudomonas aeruginosa are equal: strains from industrial sources possess uniquely large multireplicon genomes. Microbial Genomics, article number: 276. (10.1099/mgen.0.000276)
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)
2017
- Song, L. et al. 2017. Discovery and biosynthesis of gladiolin: a Burkholderia gladioli antibiotic with promising activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of the American Chemical Society 139(23), pp. 7974-7981. (10.1021/jacs.7b03382)
2015
- Cullen, L. et al. 2015. Phenotypic characterization of an international Pseudomonas aeruginosa reference panel: strains of cystic fibrosis (CF) origin show less in vivo virulence than non-CF strains. Microbiology 161(10), pp. 1961-1977. (10.1099/mic.0.000155)
- Weiser, R. 2015. The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to preservatives used in industrial formulations. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2014
- Weiser, R., Donoghue, D., Weightman, A. J. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2014. Evaluation of five selective media for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a strain panel from clinical, environmental and industrial sources. Journal of Microbiological Methods 99, pp. 8-14. (10.1016/j.mimet.2014.01.010)
Articles
- Mahenthiralingam, E., Weiser, R., Floto, R. A., Davies, J. C. and Fothergill, J. L. 2022. Selection of relevant bacterial strains for novel therapeutic testing. Current Clinical Microbiology Reports 9, pp. 33-45. (10.1007/s40588-022-00182-2)
- Weiser, R. et al. 2022. The lung microbiota in children with cystic fibrosis captured by induced sputum sampling. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 21(6), pp. 1006-1012. (10.1016/j.jcf.2022.01.006)
- Fischer, R. et al. 2022. Evaluating the alginate oligosaccharide (OligoG) as a therapy for Burkholderia cepacia complex cystic fibrosis lung infection. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 21(5), pp. 821-829. (10.1016/j.jcf.2022.01.003)
- Kelly, S. A. et al. 2021. Antibiotic therapy and the gut microbiome: investigating the effect of delivery route on gut pathogens. ACS Infectious Diseases 7(5), pp. 1283–1296. (10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00081)
- Weiser, R., Rye, P. D. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2021. Implementation of microbiota analysis in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis lung infection: experience from the OligoG phase 2b clinical trials. Journal of Microbiological Methods 181, article number: 106133. (10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106133)
- Oakley, J. L. et al. 2021. Phenotypic and genotypic adaptations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms following long-term exposure to an alginate oligomer therapy. mSphere 6(1), pp. e01216-20. (10.1128/mSphere.01216-20)
- Weiser, R., Yap, Z. L., Otter, A., Jones, B. V., Salvage, J., Parkhill, J. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2020. A novel inducible prophage from Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 is widely distributed across the species and has lytic activity against pathogenic Burkholderia. Viruses 12(6), article number: 601. (10.3390/v12060601)
- Cunningham-Oakes, E., Weiser, R., Pointon, T. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2019. Understanding the challenges of non-food industrial product contamination. FEMS Microbiology Letters 366(23), article number: fnaa010. (10.1093/femsle/fnaa010)
- Weiser, R. et al. 2019. Not all Pseudomonas aeruginosa are equal: strains from industrial sources possess uniquely large multireplicon genomes. Microbial Genomics, article number: 276. (10.1099/mgen.0.000276)
- 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)
- Song, L. et al. 2017. Discovery and biosynthesis of gladiolin: a Burkholderia gladioli antibiotic with promising activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of the American Chemical Society 139(23), pp. 7974-7981. (10.1021/jacs.7b03382)
- Cullen, L. et al. 2015. Phenotypic characterization of an international Pseudomonas aeruginosa reference panel: strains of cystic fibrosis (CF) origin show less in vivo virulence than non-CF strains. Microbiology 161(10), pp. 1961-1977. (10.1099/mic.0.000155)
- Weiser, R., Donoghue, D., Weightman, A. J. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2014. Evaluation of five selective media for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a strain panel from clinical, environmental and industrial sources. Journal of Microbiological Methods 99, pp. 8-14. (10.1016/j.mimet.2014.01.010)
Books
- Al-Amri, M. and Weiser, R. eds. 2021. Proceedings of Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair Annual Scientific Meeting (CITER ASM 2021). Proceedings of Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair Annual Scientific Meeting. Cardiff: Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair, Cardiff University.
Thesis
- Weiser, R. 2015. The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to preservatives used in industrial formulations. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Ymchwil
Diddordebau ymchwil
Ynysu a nodweddu bacteriophages Burkholderia
Dechreuodd fy niddordeb mewn bacterioffages Burkholderia yn ystod fy MSc yn 2011 ac ers hynny rwyf wedi cynnal y diddordeb hwn mewn prosiectau ymchwil eraill trwy gynnal ymchwil annibynnol a goruchwylio myfyrwyr israddedig ac MSc ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Mae ymchwil gyfyngedig i facteriophages a phorthladdiadau Burkholderia, genws bacteriol sy'n cael effaith feddygol, amgylcheddol a diwydiannol. Rwyf wedi archwilio cynnwys prophage rhywogaethau Burkholderia ac ynysig a nodweddu bacteriophages Burkholderia a achosir yn ddigymell yn ddigymell (Weiser et al. 2020). Rwyf bellach yn ehangu'r ymchwil hon i ymchwilio i'r defnydd o facterioffages ar gyfer bioreoli rhywogaethau Burkholderia mewn lleoliadau amaethyddol a meddygol.
Ar hyn o bryd rwy'n gweithio ar brosiect sy'n ymchwilio i sut y gellir defnyddio bacteriophages i drin pydredd nionyn bacteriol a achosir gan rywogaethau Burkholderia a Pectobacterium . Ariennir hyn gan grant SMART Innovate UK ac fe'i harweinir gan APS Biocontrol mewn cydweithrediad â Phrifysgol Caerdydd, Allium & Brassica Agronomi a P. G. Rix (Farms) LTD.
Ffibrosis systig (CF) Haint yr ysgyfaint a thechnegau diwylliant-annibynnol i ymchwilio i'r microbiota
Mae technegau diwylliant-annibynnol wedi datgelu bod yr amrywiaeth ficrobaidd mewn heintiau ysgyfaint CF yn llawer mwy cymhleth nag a ddangoswyd yn flaenorol gan ddulliau sy'n seiliedig ar ddiwylliant. Mae technegau diwylliant-annibynnol a dadansoddi microbiota yn cael eu defnyddio'n gynyddol mewn astudiaethau trosiadol a threialon clinigol i gysylltu cyfansoddiad microbiota â chanlyniadau clinigol. Rwyf wedi gweithio gydag AlgiPharma AS i archwilio newidiadau yn microbiota ysgyfaint CF yn ystod treialon clinigol o'u OligoG therapiwtig gwrth-heintus newydd (Weiser et al. 2021; Fisher et al. 2022). Rwyf hefyd wedi gweithio gyda'r Treial Sefydlu CF-Sputum (CF-SpIT) (dan arweiniad Dr Julian Forton yn Ysbyty Plant Cymru, Caerdydd, y DU) ar brosiect a ariennir gan Sefydliad Ffibrosis Systig yr Unol Daleithiau i ymchwilio i ficrobiota yr ysgyfaint mewn plant â CF. Ymchwiliodd y prosiect hwn i'r amrywiaeth ficrobaidd a gipiwyd gan wahanol dechnegau samplu anadlol a sut mae'r microbiota yn esblygu gydag oedran (Weiser et al. 2022).
Pseudomonas aeruginosa fel pathogen manteisistaidd a halogydd o gynhyrchion a phrosesau diwydiannol
Mae P. aeruginosa yn bathogen pwysig mewn heintiau ysgyfaint CF sy'n gwrthsefyll aml-gyffur ac yn anodd iawn ei drin. Felly, mae archwilio sut y gallai P. aeruginosa ddatblygu ymwrthedd gan ddefnyddio modelau perthnasol yn bwysig. Rwyf wedi cydweithio â'r Grŵp Therapïau Advanaced yn Ysgol Deintyddiaeth Caerdydd ac AlgiPharma AS i archwilio sut mae P. aeruginosa yn addasu i'r nofel OligoG therapiwtig CF wrth dyfu mewn bioffilmiau (Oakley et al. 2021). Roeddwn hefyd yn cymryd rhan mewn astudiaeth ryngwladol gydweithredol i nodweddu panel o straeniau P. aeruginosa fel adnodd i ymchwilwyr P. aeruginosa (Cullen et al. 2015).
Mae P. aeruginosa hefyd yn aml i'w gael fel halogydd cynhyrchion diwydiannol fel cynhyrchion cartref a gofal personol. Fel pathogen manteisg a all beri risg i ddefnyddwyr bregus, fe'i hystyrir yn 'organeb annymunol'. Yn ystod fy PhD (gweler Thesis) gweithiais gydag Unilever Research and Development Port Sunlight i ymchwilio i ddulliau canfod ar gyfer P. aeruginosa (Weiser et al. 2014) a nodweddu straen diwydiannol P. aeruginosa (Weiser and Green et al. 2019). Yn ogystal, archwiliais hefyd adrodd am ddigwyddiadau halogi microbaidd cynnyrch di-haint yr UE, a gyflawnir i raddau helaeth gan ddefnyddio dulliau seiliedig ar ddiwylliant ac mewn bron i 50% o achosion nid ydynt yn nodi'r organeb achosol (Cunningham-Oakes and Weiser et al. 2019).
Prosiectau cydweithredol
Rwy'n awyddus i gydweithio ag ymchwilwyr eraill a chymhwyso fy arbenigedd i wahanol brosiectau ymchwil. Yn ddiweddar, bûm yn cydweithio ag ymchwilwyr ym Mhrifysgol Queen's Belfast a Phrifysgol Caerfaddon i ymchwilio i effaith llwybr cyflawni gwrthfiotigau ar ficrobiota perfedd (Kelly et al. 2021). Ar hyn o bryd rydw i hefyd yn rhan o brosiect Cronfa Hadau Crucible GW4 i ymchwilio i weithgaredd gwrthficrobaidd secretiadau cynrhon meddyginiaethol ar gyfer pathogenau CF.
Prosiectau ymchwil
- Mehefin 2008 - Awst 2008: Myfyriwr ysgoloriaeth ymchwil Haf Ymddiriedolaeth Wellcome yn gweithio ar y prosiect 'Gwreiddiau planhigion sgrinio a chasgliad o rywogaethau Burkholderia a gedwir ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI) ar gyfer gweithgarwch gwrthficrobaidd'
- Medi 2008 - Chwefror 2009: Prosiect ymchwil blwyddyn olaf BSc ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI), 'Y sail enetig ar gyfer cynhyrchu gwrthficrobaidd yn Burkholderia gladioli'
- Mehefin 2011 - Medi 2011: MSc yn Ysgol Hylendid a Meddygaeth Drofannol Llundain gyda phrosiect ymarferol ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI), o'r enw 'Isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages active against Burkholderia'
- Hydref 2011 - Ebrill 2015: Myfyriwr PhD BBSRC-CASE ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI), gydag Unilever yn bartner diwydiannol, yn ymchwilio i 'Ymwrthedd Pseudomonas aeruginosa i gadwolion a ddefnyddir mewn fformwleiddiadau diwydiannol'
- Ebrill 2015 - Mawrth 2017: Uwch dechnegydd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI) sy'n gweithio gydag AlgiPharma AS. Roedd y prosiect hwn yn cynnwys dadansoddiad diwylliant-annibynnol o amrywiaeth ficrobaidd mewn samplau sputum ffibrosis systig yn ystod treialon clinigol OligoG
- Chwefror 2018 - Gorffennaf 2019: Cydymaith ymchwil ôl-ddoethurol ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI), gan weithio gyda threial clinigol CF-SpIT ar brosiect a ariennir gan Wellcome Trust ISSF 'Cyfieithu diagnosteg ymchwil newydd a diagnosteg ymchwil moleciwlaidd-microbiota i ymarfer clinigol ar gyfer haint ffibrosis yr ysgyfaint systig'
- Gorffennaf 2019 - Tachwedd 2019: Cydymaith ymchwil ôl-ddoethurol ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (PHRMY) ar brosiect Cyfrif Cyflymu Effaith EPSRC sy'n gweithio gyda GAMA Healthcare i ymgymryd â gwaith trosiadol ar dechnoleg dadheintio newydd a ddatblygwyd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd
- Rhagfyr 2019 - Mehefin 2022: Cydymaith ymchwil ôl-ddoethurol ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI) ar ddyfarniad Sefydliad Ffibrosis Systig yr Unol Daleithiau sy'n ymchwilio i 'Diagnosteg Sputum a ysgogwyd gan y genhedlaeth nesaf i atal haint mewn ffibrosis systig'
- Gorffennaf 2022 - Rhagfyr 2023: Cydymaith ymchwil ôl-ddoethurol ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd (BIOSI) ar Grant SMART Innovate UK 'SMART Bacteriophage Mixes: Biocontrol Cynaliadwy ar gyfer Onion Soft Rot'
Grantiau
- Ymchwilydd Co-I, Wellcome Trust ISSF Translational Kickstart Award (2017): 'Cyfieithu samplu newydd a diagnosteg ymchwil moleciwlaidd-microbiota i ymarfer clinigol ar gyfer ffibrosis cystig haint ysgyfaint'
- Ymchwilydd Co-I, Gwobr Sefydliad Ffibrosis Systig yr Unol Daleithiau (2019): 'Diagnosteg sputum a ysgogwyd gan y genhedlaeth nesaf i atal haint mewn ffibrosis systig'
- Ymchwilydd Co-I, Prosiect Cyfrif Cyflymu Effaith EPSRC (2019)
- PI, Cyllid Seedcorn BIOSI Prifysgol Caerdydd (2020): 'Dadansoddiad genomig o facteriosoffages sy'n heintio bacteria Burkholderia '
- PI, Cymdeithas Microbioleg Harry Smith Efrydiaeth Gwyliau (2020): 'Bacteriophages fel asiantau bioreoli ar gyfer clefydau planhigion Burkholderia '
- Co-I, Cyllid Hadau Crucible GW4 (2020): ' Therapi maggot manwl yn erbyn pathogenau ffibrosis systig allweddol'
- PI®, Cyllid Arloesi ar gyfer Ymgysylltu â'r Cyhoedd Llywodraeth Cymru (2021): 'Ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd gydag ymwrthedd gwrthficrobaidd gan ddefnyddio digwyddiadau celfyddydau a gwyddoniaeth cyfunol'
- Ymchwilydd Co-I, Innovate UK SMART Grant (2022): 'SMART Bacteriophage Mixes: Biocontrol Cynaliadwy ar gyfer Onion Soft Rot'
- PI®, Gwobr Partneriaeth Drosiadol Sefydliadol a ariennir gan Ymddiriedolaeth Wellcome Prifysgol Caerdydd - Cyfnewid a Hyfforddiant Gwybodaeth Drosiadol (ITPA TKET) (2022): 'Ynysu a nodweddu bacteriophages ar gyfer bioreoli'r rhywogaethau bacteriol Burkholderia gladioli'
- PI (gyda'r Cyd-Aelod Richard Ludlow), Cyllid Seedcorn BIOSI Prifysgol Caerdydd (2022): 'Datblygu systemau marcio moleciwlaidd arloesol (yn seiliedig ar gyfansoddion organig anweddol) ar gyfer canfod pydredd nionyn bacteriol'
- PI, Cymdeithas Microbioleg Harry Smith Efrydiaeth Gwyliau (2023): 'Ymchwilio i rôl Burkholderia a gludir gan hadau mewn clefyd pydredd nionyn bacteriol'
- DP Ysgoloriaeth Lleoli Myfyrwyr Haf Rhyngwladol Microbioleg Gymhwysol (2023): 'Modelu pydredd nionyn bacteriol gan ddefnyddio bacteria Burkholderia wedi'i dagio fflwroleuol '
Bywgraffiad
Education and qualifications
- 2006-2009: B.Sc. (hons) Microbiology (Cardiff University)
- 2009-2010: Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Swansea Metropolitan University, now University of Wales Trinity Saint David)
- 2010-2011: MSc in Medical Microbiology (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
- 2011-2015: PhD in Microbiology (Cardiff University)
- 2018: Research Team Leadership AdvanceHE Endorsed Certificate (Cardiff University)
Career
- April 2015-March 2017: Senior Technician (Cardiff University, BIOSI)
- April 2017-January 2018: Genetic Technologist (Institute of Medical Genetics for Wales)
- February 2018-July 2019: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Cardiff University, BIOSI)
- July 2019-November 2019: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Cardiff University, PHRMY)
- December 2019-June 2022: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Cardiff University, BIOSI)
- July 2022 - present: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Cardiff University, BIOSI)
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
- Member of the Microbiology Society (and the Early Career Microbiologists Forum)
- Member of the Society for Applied Microbiology
- Member of the British Society for Plant Pathology
- Member of the Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER)
Pwyllgorau ac adolygu
Cardiff University committees/networks
- School of Biosciences Diversity, Culture and Belonging Committee member (Community sub-group) (January 2022 - present)
- School of Biosciences Research Staff Group/Early Career Researcher Network member (December 2020 - present)
- Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER), Research Committee member (December 2019 - February 2022)
External committees/networks
- Microbiology Society, Microbial Genomics ECM Board of Reviewers (November 2020 - present)
- Microbiology Society, Building Communities Committee member (January 2021 - September 2022)
- GW4 Building Communities Committee member (January 2021 - September 2022): Reviewed two rounds of GW4 Generator Fund applications (2021 and 2022)
- GW4 AMR Alliance ECR-PGR Network committee member (November 2021 - February 2023) and Committee Chair September 2022 - February 2023