Dr Helen Brown
Lecturer - Microbiology (T&R)
- brownh19@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 4595
- W2/12, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a Lecturer in Microbiology. My research interest is in multispecies biofilm formation, opportunistic bacterial infections, interactions within bacterial communities and host-microbial interactions. My current research focuses on interactions between fibroblasts and opportunistic pathogens within chronic wound infections. Prior to starting my PhD, I worked for six years in the pharmaceutical industry, using mammalian cell-based assays to assess drug biological safety and potency.
Biography
Publications
2022
- Abbott, C., Grout, E., Morris, T. and Brown, H. L. 2022. Cutibacterium acnes biofilm forming clinical isolates modify the formation and structure of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, increasing their susceptibility to antibiotics. Anaerobe 76, article number: 102580. (10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102580)
- Knight, R. et al. 2022. Oral progenitor cell line-derived small extracellular vesicles as a treatment for preferential wound healing outcome. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 11(8), pp. 861-875. (10.1093/stcltm/szac037)
2021
- Brown, H., Clayton, A. and Stephens, P. 2021. The role of bacterial extracellular vesicles in chronic wound infections: current knowledge and future challenges. Wound Repair and Regeneration 29(6), pp. 864-880. (10.1111/wrr.12949)
2020
- Brown, H. L. et al. 2020. Antibacterial and anti-virulence activity of manuka honey against genetically diverse Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 86, article number: e01768-20. (10.1128/AEM.01768-20)
- Brown, H. L., Passey, J. L., Getino, M., Pursley, I., Basu, P., Horton, D. L. and La Ragione, R. M. 2020. The One Health European Joint Programme (OHEJP), 2018-2022: an exemplary One Health initiative. Journal of Medical Microbiology 69(8), pp. 1037-1039. (10.1099/jmm.0.001228)
2015
- Jenkins, R., Roberts, A. and Brown, H. L. 2015. On the antibacterial effects of manuka honey: mechanistic insights. Research and Reports in Biology 6, pp. 215-224. (10.2147/RRB.S75754)
- Reuter, M., Periago, P. M., Mulholland, F., Brown, H. L. and van Vliet, A. H. M. 2015. A PAS domain-containing regulator controls flagella-flagella interactions in Campylobacter jejuni. Frontiers in Microbiology 6, article number: 770. (10.3389/fmicb.2015.00770)
- Brown, H. L., Hanman, K., Reuter, M., Betts, R. P. and van Vliet, A. H. M. 2015. Campylobacter jejuni biofilms contain extracellular DNA and are sensitive to DNase I treatment. Frontiers in Microbiology 6, article number: 699. (10.3389/fmicb.2015.00699)
- Gerlach, R. G., Brown, H. L., Reuter, M., Hanman, K., Betts, R. P. and van Vliet, A. H. M. 2015. Prevention of biofilm formation and removal of existing biofilms by extracellular DNases of Campylobacter jejuni. PLoS ONE 10(3), article number: e0121680. (10.1371/journal.pone.0121680)
2014
- Brown, H. L., Reuter, M., Salt, L. J., Cross, K. L., Betts, R. P., van Vliet, A. H. M. and Griffiths, M. W. 2014. Chicken juice enhances surface attachment and biofilm formation of Campylobacter jejuni. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 80(22), pp. 7053-7060. (10.1128/AEM.02614-14)
2013
- Marlow, V. L., Stanley-Wall, N. R., MacLean, T., Brown, H. and Kiley, T. B. 2013. Blast a biofilm: a hands-on activity for school children and members of the public. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 14(2), pp. 152-254. (10.1128/jmbe.v14i2.563)
- Brown, H. L., van Vliet, A. H. M., Betts, R. P. and Reuter, M. 2013. Tetrazolium reduction allows assessment of biofilm formation byCampylobacter jejuniin a food matrix model. Journal of Applied Microbiology 115(5), pp. 1212-1221. (10.1111/jam.12316)
Teaching
I teach on the following modules:
BI1001 Skills for Science
BI1003 Organisms and the Environment
BI2332 Concepts of Disease
BI3155 Infection biology and Epidemiology
I am also available to supervise BSc, MSc and MRes students
Bacterial-host interactions:
- Interactions between fibroblasts (and their secreted components) and their influence on Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity
- Understanding how mixed species bacterial communities respond to the host secretome
Bacterial-bacterial interactions:
- Understanding how the interplay between commensals and opportunistic pathogens can drive pathogenicity and persistence
- Using the commensal microbiome community to control opportunistic pathogens
Novel therapeutic interventions for chronic wounds:
- Using microwaves to stimulate dermal wound healing and resolve chronic wound infections
- Novel antimicrobial/antibiofilm therapeutic strategies utilising the host secretome