Research interests
Dr Amy Scott-Thomas is a Research Fellow in the Breath Research Laboratory and leads the team in the development of non-invasive breath tests.
Although the group researches multiple lung pathogens, Dr Scott-Thomas have a special interest in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its growth in the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung. The focus of her research is to improve the current breath test for Ps. aeruginosa identification in the lungs of CF patients.
When Ps. aeruginosa grows it releases a “grape-like” odour called 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AA). To date the group have been able to detect an increase in the levels of this molecule (using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) in the breath of CF patients colonised with Ps. aeruginosa.
Further research is planned to improve both the sensitivity and specificity of this test.
Improving DTA and BOD MICREDOX® for commercial application – A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment for a Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University, 2008.
Does the isolated pvdZ gene contribute to pyoverdine synthesis in the Pa4 strain of P.aeruginosa – A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment for a Bachelor of Science with Honours at University of Otago, 2002.
Publications
Scott-Thomas, A., Epton, M., & Chambers, S. (2013). Validating a breath collection and analysis system for the new tuberculosis breath test. Journal of Breath Research, 7(3), 037108. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/7/3/037108
Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2013). Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test. Tuberculosis, 93(3), 312-317. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2013.01.005
Dummer, J., Storer, M., Sturney, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Swanney, M., & Epton, M. (2013). Quantification of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in breath using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry: HCN is not a biomarker of Pseudomonas in chronic suppurative lung disease. Journal of Breath Research, 7(1), 017105. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/7/1/017105
Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2012). Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Otago International Health Research Network (OIHRN) Conference. Retrieved from http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/international_hlth/conference/programme.html
Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., & Epton, M. (2012). Developments in novel breath tests for bacterial and fungal pulmonary infection. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 18(3), 228-232. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e328351f98b
Film/Video/CD Rom
Fraser, R., Chambers, S., Fellows, A., Brennan, S., Vissers, M., Fu, R., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2009). The Body, the Research, the Professor: Respiratory Research and Cystic Fibrosis [Episode 5] [Film]. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury Medical Research Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.cmrf.org.nz/Home/Videos/#vid1
Journal - Research Article
Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2013). Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test. Tuberculosis, 93(3), 312-317. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2013.01.005
Dummer, J., Storer, M., Sturney, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Swanney, M., & Epton, M. (2013). Quantification of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in breath using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry: HCN is not a biomarker of Pseudomonas in chronic suppurative lung disease. Journal of Breath Research, 7(1), 017105. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/7/1/017105
Scott-Thomas, A., Epton, M., & Chambers, S. (2013). Validating a breath collection and analysis system for the new tuberculosis breath test. Journal of Breath Research, 7(3), 037108. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/7/3/037108
Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., & Epton, M. (2012). Developments in novel breath tests for bacterial and fungal pulmonary infection. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 18(3), 228-232. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e328351f98b
Scott-Thomas, A., Pearson, J., & Chambers, S. (2011). Potential sources of 2-aminoacetophenone to confound the Pseudomonas aeruginosa breath test, including analysis of a food challenge study. Journal of Breath Research, 5(4), 046002. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/5/4/046002
Chambers, S. T., Bhandari, S., Scott-Thomas, A., & Syhre, M. (2011). Novel diagnostics: Progress toward a breath test for invasive Aspergillus fumigatus. Medical Mycology, 49(Suppl. 1), S54-S61. doi: 10.3109/13693786.2010.508187
Bhandari, S., Chambers, S., Pearson, J., Syhre, M., Epton, M., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2011). Determining the limits and confounders for the 2-pentyl furan breath test by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B, 879(26), 2815-2820. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.08.010
Dummer, J., Storer, M., Swanney, M., McEwan, M., Scott-Thomas, A., Bhandari, S., Chambers, S., … Epton, M. (2011). Analysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds in human health and disease. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 30(7), 960-967. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2011.03.011
Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A. J., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3 activation in endothelial cells. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 49(6), 1054-1063. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.06.028
Scott-Thomas, A. J., Syhre, M., Pattemore, P. K., Epton, M., Laing, R., Pearson, J., & Chambers, S. T. (2010). 2-Aminoacetophenone as a potential breath biomarker for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis lung. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 10, 56. doi: 10.1186/1471-2466-10-56
Pascoe, N. F., Gooneratne, R., Daniel, R. M., Czollner, A., & Scott, A. J. (2008). Toxicity assessment of chlorophenols using a mediated microbial toxicity assay. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 88(15), 1063-1075. doi: 10.1080/03067310802248028
Lamont, I. L., Martin, L. W., Sims, T., Scott, A., & Wallace, M. (2006). Characterization of a gene encoding an acetylase required for pyoverdine synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Bacteriology, 188(8), 3149-3152. doi: 10.1128/JB.188.8.3149-3152.2006
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2012). Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Otago International Health Research Network (OIHRN) Conference. Retrieved from http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/international_hlth/conference/programme.html
Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. (2009). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3 activation. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 47(Suppl. 1), (pp. S55). [Abstract]
Vissers, M., Suzuki, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Gunningham, S., & Dachs, G. (2008). The effect of intracellular ascorbate on HIF-1 mediated gene expression and the phenotype of tumour cells. New Zealand Medical Journal, 121(1271). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1271/2990/content.pdf
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Bhandari, S., Charles, C. J., Miller, A. P., Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2010, September). Cyclophosphamide pulmonary toxicity limiting sheep model of immunosuppression. Poster session presented at the Fourth Annual Division of Health Sciences Research Forum, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010, November-December). Hypothiocyanous acid is a selective inhibitor of caspase activation and apoptosis. Verbal presentation at the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR) Australasia 19th Annual Conference, Akaroa, New Zealand.
