Research Fellow
Laboratory Manager
BSc(Hons)(Otago), PhD(Lincoln)
Email amy.scott-thomas@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 0585
Research interests
Dr Amy Scott-Thomas is a Research Fellow in the Infection Group and leads the team in the development of non-invasive diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. While the Infection Group performs research into multiple lung pathogens such as Aspergillosis, Tuberculosis and Legionnaires’ disease (LD), Dr Scott-Thomas has a special interest in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its growth in the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung.
A biomedical scientist with advanced microbiology and analytical chemistry skills, her expertise includes bacterial genetics, bacterial biosensors, microbiology, tissue culture techniques, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electrochemistry.
Publications
Chambers, S. T., Withers, A., Dawson, K., Anderson, T., Williman, J., Murdoch, D., Scott-Thomas, A., & Slow, S. (2021). How safe are gloves and masks used for protection against Legionella longbeachae infection when gardening? Letters in Applied Microbiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/lam.13546
Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Anderson, T., Williman, J., Scott, P., Murdoch, D., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2021). Presence of Legionella Longbeachae in pine but not composted green waste used in manufacture of potting soils in New Zealand. Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 9(1), 1-4. doi: 10.12691/jaem-9-1-1
Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., & Murdoch, D. R. (2021). Legionellosis caused by non-Legionella pneumophila species, with a focus on Legionella longbeachae. Microorganisms, 9, 291. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020291
Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Lewis, J., Aamir, R., & Bhatia, M. (2020, December). The application of MARS spectral CT in diagnosing invasive aspergillosis. Poster session presented at the 6th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, [Online].
Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Anderson, T., Podmore, R., Williman, J., Murdoch, D., & Slow, S. (2020). Enhancement of culture of Legionella longbeachae from respiratory samples using immunomagnetic separation and antimicrobial decontamination. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 58(11), e01218-20. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01218-20
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
Film/Video/CD Rom
Chambers, S. T., Withers, A., Dawson, K., Anderson, T., Williman, J., Murdoch, D., Scott-Thomas, A., & Slow, S. (2021). How safe are gloves and masks used for protection against Legionella longbeachae infection when gardening? Letters in Applied Microbiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/lam.13546
Journal - Research Article
Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Anderson, T., Williman, J., Scott, P., Murdoch, D., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2021). Presence of Legionella Longbeachae in pine but not composted green waste used in manufacture of potting soils in New Zealand. Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 9(1), 1-4. doi: 10.12691/jaem-9-1-1
Journal - Research Article
Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Anderson, T., Podmore, R., Williman, J., Murdoch, D., & Slow, S. (2020). Enhancement of culture of Legionella longbeachae from respiratory samples using immunomagnetic separation and antimicrobial decontamination. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 58(11), e01218-20. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01218-20
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Article
Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., & Murdoch, D. R. (2021). Legionellosis caused by non-Legionella pneumophila species, with a focus on Legionella longbeachae. Microorganisms, 9, 291. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020291
Journal - Research Other
Scott-Thomas, A., & Chambers, S. T. (2017). Volatile organic compounds: Upcoming role in diagnosis of invasive mould infections. Current Fungal Infection Reports, 11(3), 117-123. doi: 10.1007/s12281-017-0284-7
Journal - Research Other
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
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
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]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: 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 - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Lewis, J., Aamir, R., & Bhatia, M. (2020, December). The application of MARS spectral CT in diagnosing invasive aspergillosis. Poster session presented at the 6th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, [Online].
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Chambers, S., Withers, A., Mohammadi, A., Chim, M., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Scott, P., … Anderson, T., & Murdoch, D. (2018, December). Legionella longbeachae in bark from living P. radiata trees around Christchurch. Poster session presented at the 4th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Scott, P., Anderson, T., & Murdoch, D. (2018, December). Enhancing the culturability and qPCR efficiency for Legionella longbeachae in sputum specimens using immunomagnetic separation. Poster session presented at the 4th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.
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 - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
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.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
