Email cynthia.winkworth@otago.ac.nz
Phone 64-3-479-5096
Research Interests
- Environmental microbiology/ microbial ecology
- Land-use impacts on stream ecosystems and public health
- Waterborne transmission of zoonotic diseases
- Sustainable natural resource management
- Antibiotic resistance in the environment
Current Projects
Microorganisms play a key role in stream ecosystem functioning, particularly the flux of energy and nutrients, but little is known about their diversity and almost nothing about their resilience or susceptibility to chemical by-products of agricultural land use. Antibiotics used in the agricultural sector and detected in waterways traversing agricultural land are a particular concern given that antibiotics are designed to cause biological effects. Despite recent and significant agricultural land-use change in New Zealand and the sector's high antibiotic use, the effects of antibiotic by-products on microbial ecology and antibiotic resistance in the environment have yet to be characterised. My research employs a combination of experimental and survey approaches to investigate land-use impacts on stream ecosystems resulting from antibiotic use. (FRST funded Postdoctoral Fellowship with Prof. Colin Townsend)
Publications
Winkworth-Lawrence, C., & Lange, K. (2016). Antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater biofilms may reflect influences from high-intensity agriculture. Microbial Ecology, 72(4), 763-772. doi: 10.1007/s00248-016-0740-x
Winkworth, C. L., Salis, R. K., & Matthaei, C. D. (2015). Interactive multiple-stressor effects of the antibiotic monensin, cattle effluent and light on stream periphyton. Freshwater Biology, 60(11), 2410-2423. doi: 10.1111/fwb.12666
Winkworth, C. L., & Lear, G. (2014). Antimicrobial potential of the ionophore monensin on freshwater biofilm bacteria. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 21(17), 10139-10150. doi: 10.1007/s11356-014-2911-y
Winkworth, C. L. (2013). Antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater biofilms along a whole river. Journal of Water & Health, 11(2), 186-198. doi: 10.2166/wh.2013.223
Winkworth, C. L. (2010). Land-use change and emerging public health risks in New Zealand: Assessing Giardia risks. New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1322). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1322/4341/content.pdf
Journal - Research Article
Winkworth-Lawrence, C., & Lange, K. (2016). Antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater biofilms may reflect influences from high-intensity agriculture. Microbial Ecology, 72(4), 763-772. doi: 10.1007/s00248-016-0740-x
Winkworth, C. L., Salis, R. K., & Matthaei, C. D. (2015). Interactive multiple-stressor effects of the antibiotic monensin, cattle effluent and light on stream periphyton. Freshwater Biology, 60(11), 2410-2423. doi: 10.1111/fwb.12666
Winkworth, C. L., & Lear, G. (2014). Antimicrobial potential of the ionophore monensin on freshwater biofilm bacteria. Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 21(17), 10139-10150. doi: 10.1007/s11356-014-2911-y
Winkworth, C. L. (2013). Antibiotic resistance genes in freshwater biofilms along a whole river. Journal of Water & Health, 11(2), 186-198. doi: 10.2166/wh.2013.223
Winkworth, C. L. (2010). Land-use change and emerging public health risks in New Zealand: Assessing Giardia risks. New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1322). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1322/4341/content.pdf
Crozat, E., Winkworth, C., Gaffé, J., Hallin, P. F., Riley, M. A., Lenski, R. E., & Schneider, D. (2010). Parallel genetic and phenotypic evolution of DNA superhelicity in experimental populations of Escherichia coli. Molecular Biology & Evolution, 27(9), 2113-2128. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msq099
Winkworth, C. L., Matthaei, C. D., & Townsend, C. R. (2010). Using native riparian barriers to reduce Giardia in agricultural runoff to freshwater ecosystems. Journal of Water & Health, 8(4), 631-645. doi: 10.2166/wh.2010.105
Winkworth, C. L., Learmonth, J. J., Matthaei, C. D., & Townsend, C. R. (2008). Molecular characterization of Giardia isolates from calves and humans in a region in which dairy farming has recently intensified. Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 74(16), 5100-5105. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00232-08
Winkworth, C. L., Matthaei, C. D., & Townsend, C. R. (2008). Recently planted vegetation strips reduce Giardia runoff reaching waterways. Journal of Environmental Quality, 37(6), 2256-2263. doi: 10.2134/jeq2008.0045
Winkworth, C. L., Matthaei, C. D., & Townsend, C. R. (2008). Prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp in calves from a region in New Zealand experiencing intensification of dairying. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 56(1), 15-20. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2008.36799
Woods, R., Schneider, D., Winkworth, C. L., Riley, M. A., & Lenski, R. E. (2006). Tests of parallel molecular evolution in a long-term experiment with Escherichia coli. PNAS, 103(24), 9107-9112. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0602917103
