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Amy Scott-Thomas

Senior 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 Senior 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.

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Publications

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). A novel monoclonal antibody 1D2 that broadly inhibits clinically important Aspergillus species. Journal of Fungi, 8, 960. doi: 10.3390/jof8090960

Manandhar, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Harrington, M., Sinha, P., Pilbrow, A., Richards, A. M., Cameron, V., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Hydrogen sulfide and substance P levels in patients with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 8639. doi: 10.3390/ijms23158639

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., MacPherson, S. A., Zeng, Y., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Monoclonal antibodies and invasive aspergillosis: Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 5563. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105563

Lian, X., Chambers, S., Lewis, J. G., Scott-Thomas, A., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Two monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize aspergillus cell wall antigens and can detect circulating antigens in infected mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 252. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010252

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, 73, 616-622. doi: 10.1111/lam.13546

Lian, X., Chambers, S., Lewis, J. G., Scott-Thomas, A., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Two monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize aspergillus cell wall antigens and can detect circulating antigens in infected mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 252. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010252

Journal - Research Article

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). A novel monoclonal antibody 1D2 that broadly inhibits clinically important Aspergillus species. Journal of Fungi, 8, 960. doi: 10.3390/jof8090960

Journal - Research Article

Manandhar, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Harrington, M., Sinha, P., Pilbrow, A., Richards, A. M., Cameron, V., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Hydrogen sulfide and substance P levels in patients with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 8639. doi: 10.3390/ijms23158639

Journal - Research Article

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, 73, 616-622. 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

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., MacPherson, S. A., Zeng, Y., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Monoclonal antibodies and invasive aspergillosis: Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 5563. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105563

Journal - Research Other

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

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

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