Dr Amy Scott-Thomas

Senior Research Fellow
Laboratory Manager

BSc(Hons)(Otago), PhD(Lincoln)

Research interests

Dr Amy Scott-Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Infection Group at the University of Otago, Christchurch, where she leads a multidisciplinary translational research programme focused on developing innovative diagnostic technologies that improve patient outcomes.

Her research combines molecular microbiology, immunology, and clinical research to develop rapid, non-invasive diagnostic tests for infectious diseases using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and CRISPR-based diagnostics. By developing assays that use readily accessible sample, such as blood and urine, her research aims to enable earlier diagnosis, targeted antimicrobial therapy, and improve antimicrobial stewardship.

Dr Scott-Thomas has been involved with numerous clinical studies investigating pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and sepsis, working in partnership with local clinicians and diagnostic laboratories. Her research spans a broad range of bacterial and fungal pathogens, including Legionella, Kingella kingae and Aspergillus species, alongside other important causes of respiratory and invasive infection. She also leads work on the characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against Aspergillus for their use as diagnostic markers and potential use in vaccine development. Her team also produces EUCAST-compliant antimicrobial susceptibility data to support clinical research and antimicrobial stewardship.

The overarching goal of her research is to transform the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases by delivering rapid, accurate, and clinically applicable diagnostic technologies that enable earlier intervention, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the burden of infectious diseases in New Zealand and internationally.

Affiliations

Publications

Shahid, A., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Miller, A., & Bhatia, M. (2026). Prophylactic ALA administration attenuates liver and lung injury in CLP-induced sepsis in mice through CSE/H₂S dependent pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27, 9341. doi: 10.3390/ijms27209341 Journal - Research Article

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2026). In vitro anti-Aspergillus activity and antifungal interactions of monoclonal antibodies 1D2 and 4E4. Journal of Fungi, 12(7), 523. doi: 10.3390/jof12070523 Journal - Research Article

Jun, H., Alizadeh, H., Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Hampton, J., Murdoch, D., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2026). Effect of copper spiked potting mix on the emergence and growth of viola and cabbages. HortScience, 61(2), 452-456. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI19074-25 Journal - Research Article

Shahid, A., Chambers, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Zawari, M., & Bhatia, M. (2026). Anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid modulate cystathionine-γ-lyase expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(2), 949. doi: 10.3390/ijms27020949 Journal - Research Article

Scott-Thomas, A., Zawari, M., Anderson, T., Chernysheva, E., Chambers, S. T., Maze, M., & Storer, M. (2025). Development of a urine-based bacterial cell-free DNA test for Legionnaires' disease. Proceedings of the Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness Summit. (pp. 61-62). Retrieved from https://www.teniwha.com Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2026

Journal - Research Article

2025

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Scott-Thomas, A., Chernysheva, E., Zawari, M., Miller, A., Chambers, S., Maze, M., Storer, M., & Kennedy, M. (2025). Detection of Legionella cell-free DNA in blood for the non-invasive diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease. Proceedings of the Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness Summit. (pp. 62). Retrieved from https://www.teniwha.com

Scott-Thomas, A., Chernysheva, E., Campbell, P., Miller, A., Chambers, S., Anderson, T., Douglas, N., & Kennedy, M. (2025). CRISPR-Cas12a detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in human samples for the diagnosis of leprosy. Proceedings of the Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness Summit. (pp. 61). Retrieved from https://www.teniwha.com

Scott-Thomas, A., Zawari, M., Chernysheva, E., Wolf, K., Anderson, T., Miller, A., Maze, M., Storer, M., Kennedy, M., Douglas, N., Faatoese, A., & Chambers, S. (2025). Microbial cell-free DNA: A non-invasive approach to diagnosing infectious diseases. Proceedings of the Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness Summit. (pp. 49). Retrieved from https://www.teniwha.com

2024

Journal - Research Article

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2024). Novel monoclonal antibodies 1D2 and 4E4 against aspergillus glycoprotein antigens detect early invasive aspergillosis in mice. Journal of Fungi, 10(12), 832. doi: 10.3390/jof10120832

Jun, H., Chambers, S. T., Williman, J., Slow, S., Murdoch, D. R., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2024). The inhibitory effect of copper, zinc, and manganese on Legionella longbeachae in potting mix leachate. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 77, ovae081. doi: 10.1093/lambio/ovae081

Journal - Research Other

Shahid, A., Chambers, S., Scott-Thomas, A. J., & Bhatia, M. (2024). Gut microbiota and liver dysfunction in sepsis: The role of inflammatory mediators and therapeutic approaches. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(24), 13415. doi: 10.3390/ijms252413415

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Scott-Thomas, A., Zawari, M., Henry-Albert, S., Wolfe, K., Chernysheva, E., & Chambers, S. T. (2024, September). Developing a non-invasive diagnostic test for Legionnaires’ disease using cell-free DNA in urine. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Research Week (QRW) Pathogen Genomics Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Scott-Thomas, A. (2024, November). Development of non-invasive tests for infectious disease using bacterial cell-free DNA. Verbal presentation at the Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness Summit, Wellington, New Zealand.

2023

Journal - Research Article

Carr, A. C., Vlasiuk, E., Zawari, M., Scott-Thomas, A., Storer, M., Maze, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2023). Low vitamin C concentrations in patients with community-acquired pneumonia resolved with pragmatic administration of intravenous and oral vitamin C. Antioxidants, 12, 1610. doi: 10.3390/antiox12081610

Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., Storer, M., Slow, S., Williman, J., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., Metcalf, S., Carr, A., Isenman, H., & Maze, M. (2023). Adjunctive intravenous then oral vitamin C for moderate and severe community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized adults: Feasibility of randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 13, 11879. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37934-z

Jun, H., Scott-Thomas, A., Slow, S., Williman, J., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2023). The inhibitory effect of copper, zinc, and manganese on Legionella longbeachae and other Legionella spp. in vitro. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 76, 1-9. doi: 10.1093/lambio/ovad074

2022

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

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., 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 Other

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

2021

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

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 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

2020

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

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

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].

2018

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.

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.

2017

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

2013

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

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. (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

2012

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

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

2011

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

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

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

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

2010

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

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

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.

2009

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]

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

2008

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

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

2006

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

Research interests

Affiliations

Publications

2026

Journal - Research Article

2025

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2023

Journal - Research Article

2022

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2021

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2020

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

2018

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

2017

Journal - Research Other

2013

Journal - Research Article

2012

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2011

Journal - Research Article

2010

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2009

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Film/Video/CD Rom

2008

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2006

Journal - Research Article

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