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Our people-our expertise: Dr Amy Jennison

Our people-our expertise

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Dr Amy Jennison

Qualifications | Research interests | Publications | Presentations | Grants and funding | Memberships / Affiliations

Amy Jennison completed her PhD on bacterial virulence and vaccine development at The Australian National University and has worked as a Molecular Epidemiologist in the Forensic and Scientific Services Public Health Microbiology laboratory of Queensland Health since 2006.  She leads a team in the molecular detection, characterisation and typing of microbes, particularly notifiable pathogens.

The laboratory performs a range of public health work from diagnostics and molecular epidemiological surveillance through to outbreak investigations and research projects.

Amy has special interests in characterising emerging pathogens and in harnessing molecular advances for expanding efficiencies and capabilities in Public Health Microbiology. She also lectures at two Queensland Universities and supervises research students.

Dr Jennison is proud to be affiliated with QUT as an Adjunct Associate Professor and UQ Centre for Clinical Research as an Honorary Associate Professor.

See more about Dr Jennison at:

Qualifications

  • PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Microbiology), Australian National University, Canberra. PhD Thesis: 'Proteomic, vaccine and functional studies of Shigella flexneri 2457T'
  • Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours), Australian National University, Canberra. Honours thesis: 'O-antigen modification in Shigella flexneri virulence and vaccine development against shigellosis'
  • Diploma of Management, Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Qld.

Research interests and expertise

  • Emerging bacterial pathogens
  • Molecular epidemiological typing of bacterial pathogens
  • Whole genome sequencing and its applications to Public Health Microbiology

Publications

2024

Seib KL, Donovan B, Thng C, Lewis DA, McNulty A, Fairley CK, Yeung B, Jin F, Fraser D, Bavinton BR, Law M, Chen MY, Chow EPF, Whiley DM, Mackie B, Jennings MP, Jennison AV, Lahra MM, Grulich AE. (2024). Multicentre double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of the meningococcal B vaccine, 4CMenB (Bexsero), against Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in men who have sex with men: the GoGoVax study protocol. BMJ Open, 14(4). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081675

Stewart AG, Harris PNA, Graham RMA, Jennison AV, Schlebusch S, Harris-Brown T, Paterson DL, Forde BM. (2024). Differences in antimicrobial resistance gene abundance and microbial diversity of the gut microbiome in patients on antibiotics enrolled in a clinical trial. Pathology, 56(S.1). DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.12.137

Howard-Jones AR, Mahar J, Proudmore K,, Butel-Simoes G, Eden J, Neave MJ, Mileto P, Hueston L, Freeman K,. Ellem J, Caly L, Sikazwe C, Levy A, Thomas A, Taylor C, Kurucz N, Smyth K, Jennison A, Moore P, Wright R, Mee PT, Feldman R, Dwyer D, O'Sulliuvan MV, Mahoney AA, Warner MS, Papanicolas L, Schlebusch S, Lim CK, Baird R, Speers D, Williams DT, Currie BT, Kok J. (2024). Diagnostic and phylogenetic perspectives of the 2023 Murray Valley encephalitis virus outbreak in Australia. The Lancet. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4714415

Payne M, Hu D, Wang Q, Sullivan G, Graham RM, Rathnayake IU, Jennison AV, Sintchenko V, Lan R. (2024). DODGE:Automated point source bacterial outbreak detection using cumulative long term genomic surveillance. medRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.21.24301506 

Shrestha AC, Stafford R, Bell R, Jennison AV, Graham RMA, Field E, Lambert SB. (2024). Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli Diagnoses from health practitioners, Queensland, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30(1). DOI: 10.3201/eid3001.231202

Cribb DM, Moffatt CRM, Wallace RL, McLure AT, Bulach D, Jennison AV, French N, Valcanis M, Glass K, Kirk MD. (2024). Genomic and clinical characteristics of campylobacteriosis in Australia. Microbial Genomics, 10(1). DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001174 

2023

Slinko VG, Guglielmino CJ, Uren AM, Smith JK, Neucom D, Smoll NR, Graham RM, Fang N, Smith HV, Armstrong AE, Kenny AA, Farmer JL, Quaglitto CA, Jennison AV. (2023). Several confirmed and zoonotic cases of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans, Queensland, Australia. Communicable Diseases Intelligence.  DOI: 10.33321/cdi.2023.47.53

Bhandari M, Rathnayake IU, Ariotti L, Heron B, Huygens F, Sullivan M, Jennison AV. (2023). Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae strains in South-East Queensland, Australian river waterways. Environmental Microbiology. DOI: 10.1128/aem.00472-23

Rathnayake IU, Graham RMA, Bayliss J, Staples M, Micalizzi G, Ariotti L, Cover L, Heron B, Graham T, Stafford R, Rubenach S, D'Addona A, Jennison AV. (2023). Implementation of routine genomic surveillance provided insights into a locally acquired outbreak caused by a rare clade of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in Queensland, Australia. Microbial Genomics, 9(7). DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001059

Graham RMARathnayake IU, Sandhu S, Bhandari M, Taunton C, Fisher V, Hempenstall A, Marquardt T, Jennison AV, (2023). Genomic analysis of an outbreak of toxin gene bearing Corynebacterium diptheriae in Northern Queensland, Australia reveals a high level of genetic similarity. Epidemiology & Infection, 151 (e92). DOI: 10.1017/S0950268823000699

Gassiep I, Grey V, Thean LJ, Farquhar D, Clark JE, Ariotti L, Graham R, Jennison AV, Bergh H, Anuradha S, Dyer W, James C, Huang A, Putt E, Pakeerathan V, Griffin PM, Harris PNA, (2023).  Expanding the Geographic Boundaries of Melioidosis in Queensland, Australia. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0002

Alharbi B, Jennison AV, Hicks V, Whiley DM, Sweeney E, Trembizki E, (2023). Decreased Neisseria gonorrhoeae genotypic diversity following  COVID-19 restrictions in Queensland, Australia 2020. Epidemiology and Infection, 151 (e67), 1-3. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268823000523

McHugh L. Dyda A, Guglielmino C, Buckley C, Lau CL, Jennison AV, Regan DG, Wood J, Whiley D, Trembizki E, (2023). The changing epidemiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae genogroups and antimicrobial resistance in Queensland, Australia, 2010-15: a case series analysis of unique Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates. Sexual Heatlh. DOI: 10.1071/SH22118

Davies MR, Keller N, Brouwer S, Jespersen MG, Cork AJ, Hayes AJ, Pitt ME, De Oliveira DMP, Harbison-Price N, Bertolla OM, Mediati DG, Curren BF, Taiaroaa G, Lacey JA, Smith HV, Fang N, Coin LJM, Stevens K, Tong SYC, Sanderson-Smith M, Tree JJ, Irwin AD, Grimwood K, Howden BP, Jennison AV, Walker MJ, (2023). Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes M1UK in Australia and characterization of the mutation driving enhanced expression of superantigen SpeA. Nature Communications, 14(1). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36717-4

Zufan SE, Lau KA, Donald A, Hoang T, Foster CSP, Sikazwe C, Theis T, Rawlinson WD, Ballard SA, Stinear TP, Howden BP, Jennison AV, Seemann T, (2023). Bioinformatic investigation of discordant sequence data for SARS-CoV-2: insights for robust genomic analysis during pandemic surveillance. bioRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.01.526694

Bhandari M, Rathnayake IU, Huygens F, Jennison AV, (2023). Clinical and Environmental vibrio cholerae Non-O1, Non-O139 Strains from Australia Have Similar Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Profiles. Microbiology Spectrum. DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02631-22

2022

Bhandari M, Rathnayake IU, Huygens F, Nguyen S, Heron B, Jennison AV, (2022). Genomic and Evolutionary Insights into Australian Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 Strains. Microbiology Spectrum. DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03617-22

Sim EM, Martinez E, Blackwell G, Pham D, Millan G, Graham RMA, Dhakal R, Wang Q, Suliman B, Jennison AV, Sintchenko V, (2022). Genomes of Vibrio chlorerae O1 Serotype Ogawa Associated with Current Chloera Activity in Pakistan. Microbiology Resource Announcements. DOI:  10.1128/mra.00887-22

Luo L, Payne M, Wang Q, Kaur S, Rathnayake IU, Graham R, Gall M, Draper J, Martinez E, Octavia S, Tanaka MM, Jennison AV, Sintchenko V, Lan R, (2022). Genomic epidemiology and multilevel genome typing of Australian Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. bioRxiv. DOI:

Furuya-Kanamori L, Mills DJ, Trembizki E, Robson JM, Jennison AV, Whiley DM, Lau CL, (2022). High rate of asymptomatic colonziation with antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in Australian returned travellers. Journal of Travel Medicine, 29(1). DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taab141

Biggs SL, Jennison AV, Bergh H, Graham R, Nimmo G, Whiley D, (2022). Limited evidence of patient-to-patient transmission of Staphylococcus aureus strains between children with cystic fibrosis, Queensland, Australia. Plos One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275256

Guglielmino CJD, Sandhu S, Lau CL, Buckley C, Trembizki E, Whiley DM, Jennison AV, (2022). Molecular characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae associated with disseminated gonococcal infections in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective surveillance study. BMJ Open, 12(8). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061040

Phillips ZN, Jennison AV, Whitby PW, Stull TL, Staples M, Atack JM, (2022). Examination of phase-variable haemoglobin-haptoglobin binding proteins in non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae reveals a diverse distribution of multiple variants. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 369(1). DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnac064

Laidlow TA, Stafford R, Jennison AV, Bell R, Graham R, Graham T, Musgrave N, Myerson M, Kung N, Crook A, Wang Q, Richards A, Lambert SB, (2022). A multi-jurisdictional outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to backyard poultry - Australia, 2020. Zoonoses and Public Health. DOI: 10.1111/zph.12973

McLure A, Smith JJ, Firestone SM, Kirk MD, French N, Feamly E, Wallace R, Valcanis M, Bulach D, Moffatt C, Selvey LA, Jennison A, Glass K, (2022). Source attribution of campylobacteriosis in Australia circa 2018. Research Square [preprint]. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1743613/v1

Forde BM, Bergh H, Cuddihy T, Hajkowicz K, Hurst T, Playford GE, Henderson BC, Runnegar N, Clark J, Jennison AV, Moss S, Hume A, Leroux H, Beatson SA, Paterson DL, Harris PNA, (2022). Clinical implementation of routine whole-genome sequencing for hospital infection control of multi-drug resistant pathogens. medRxiv, DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.02.22273921

Phillips ZN, Garai P, Tram G, Martin G, Van Den Bergh A, Husna A, Staples M, Grimwood K, Jennison AV, Guillon P, von Itzstein M, Jennings MP, Atack JM, (2022). Characterization of the Phase-Variable Autotransporter Lav Reveals a Role in Host Cell Adherence and Biofilm Formation in Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. Infection and Immunity, 90(4). DOI: 10.1128/iai.00565-21

Dalmau M, Song SM, Young M, Lambert S, Graham R, Micalizzi G, Field E, Bell R, Jennison AV, Stafford R, (2022). Queensland typhoid cluster linked to twelve-year carriage of Salmonella Typhi. Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 46. DOI: 10.33321/cdi.2022.46.27

Bell SF, Lambert SB, Jennison AV, Guglielmino CJ, Ware RS, Whiley DM, (2022). HIV risk and gonococcal genotype: Opportunities to improve passive surveillance for prompt indetification of syndemics? Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 46. DOI: 10.33321/cdi.2022.46.22

Schlebusch S, Graham RMA, Jennison AV, Lassig-Smith MM, Harris PNA, Lipman J, Cuiv PO, Paterson DL, (2022). Standard rectal swabs as a surrogate sample for gut microbiome monitoring in intensive care. BMC Microbiology, 22. DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02487-0

Sprohnle-Barrera CH, Gibson JS, Price R, Graham RM, Jennison AV, Ricca MR, Allavena RE, (2022). Fatal non-traumatic gas gangrene caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in a Siberian Husky dog. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. DOI: 10.1177/10406387221079066

Hoang T, Goncalves da Silva A,, Jennison AV, Williamson DA, Howden BP, Seemann T, (2022). AusTrakka: Fast-tracking nationalized genomics sruveillance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Communications, 13. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28529-9

Kerr EJ, Stafford R, Rathnayake IU, Graham RMA, Fearnley E, Gregory J, Glasgow K, Wright R, Sintchenko V, Wang Q, Howard P, Leong LEX, Valcanis M, Pitchers W, Lambert SB, Jennison AV, (2022). Multistate Outbreal of Salmonella enterica Serovar Heidelberg with Unidentified Source, Australia, 2018-2019. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 28(1). DOI: 10.3201/eid2801.211462 

Ahmed W, Bivins A, Smith WFM, Metcalfe S, Stephens M, Jennison AV, Moore FAJ, Bourke J, Schlebusch S, McMahon J, Hewitson G, Nguyen S, Barcelon J, Jackson G, Mueller JF, Ehret J, Hosegood I, Tian W, Wang H, Yang L, Bertsch P, Tynan J, Thomas KV, Bibby K, Graber TE, Ziels R, Simpson SL, (2022). Detection of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 in aircraft wastewater. Science of the Total Environment, 820. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153171 

2021

Furuya-Kanamori L, Mills DJ, Trembizki E, Robson JM, Jennison AV, Whiley DM, Lau CL, (2021). High rate of asymptomatic colonisation with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in Australian returned travellers. Journal of Travel Medicine. DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taab141 

Bordin A, Pandey S, Coulter C, Syrmis M, Pardo C, Hackett H, Bell SC, Wainwright CE, Nimmo GR, Jennison AV, Clark JE, Whiley DM, (2021). Rapid macrolide and amikacin resistance testing for Mycobacterium absecssus in people with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 70. DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001349

Hiley L, Graham RMA, Jennison AV, (2021). Characterisation of IncI1 plasmids associated with change of phage type in isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. BMC Microbiology, 21. DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02151-z

Bhandari M, Jennison AV, Rathnayake IU, Huygens F, (2021). Evolution, distribution and genetics of atypical Vibrio cholerae - A review. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 8. DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104726

2020

Baines, SL, Goncalves da Silva A, Carter GP, Jennison AV, Rathnayake I, Graham RM, Sintchenko V, Wang Q, Rockett RJ, Timms VJ, Martinez E, Ballard S, Tomita T, Isles N, Horan KA, Pitchers W, Stinear TP, Williamson DA, Howden BP, Seemann T, Communicable Diseases Genomics Network, (2020). Complete microbial genomes for public health in Australia and the Southwest Pacific. Microbial Genomics. DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000471

Eustace MB, Jennison AV, McCarthy KL, (2020). Septic arthritis post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction due to Clostridioides difficile. Anaerobe, 66. DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102293

Wallace RL, Bulach D, McLure A, Varrone L, Jennison AV, Valvcanis M, Smith JJ, Polkinghorne BG, Glass K, Kirk MD, (2020). Antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. causing human infection in Australia: an international comparison. Microbial Drug Resistance. DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2020.0082 

Pintara A, Jenninson A, Rathnayake IU, Mellor G, Huygens F, (2020). Core and Accessory Genome Comparison of Australian and International Strains of O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.566415

Ramirez AL, Colmant AMG, Warrilow D, Huang B, Pyke AT, McMahon JL, Meyer DB, Graham RMA, Jennison AV, Ritchie SA, van den Hurk AF, (2020). Metagenomic Analysis of the Virome of Mosquito Excreta. mSphere. DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00587-20

Guglielmino CJD, Kakkanat A, Forde BM, Rubenach S, Merone L, Stafford R, Graham RMA, Beatson SA, Jennison AV, (2020). Outbreak of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri in northern Australia due to an endemic regional clone acquiring an IncFLL plasmid. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1007/s10096-020-04029-w

Forde BM, Henderson A, Playford EG, Looke D, Henderson BC, Watso C, Steen JA, Sidjabat HE, Laurie G, Muttaoyah S, Nimmo GR, Lampe G, Smith H, Jennison AV, McCall B, Carroll H, Cooper MA, Paterson DL, Beatson SAD, (2020). Fatal respiratory diphtheria caused by ß-lactam-resistant Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Clinical Infectious Disease. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1147

Wallace RL, Bulach DM, Jennison AV, Valcanis M, McLure A, Smith JJ, Graham T, Saputra T, Firestone S, Symes S, Waters N, Stylianopoulos A, Kirk MD, Glass K, Wallace RL, (2020) Molecular characterization of Campylobacter spp. recovered from beef, chicken, lamb and pork products at retail in Australia. PLoS One, 15(7) e0236889. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236889.

Aye AMM, Bai X, Borrow R, Bory S, Carlos J, Caugant DA, Chiou CS, Dai VTT, Dinleyici EC, Ghimire P, Handryastuti S, Heo Y, Jennison A, Kamiya H, Tonnii Sia Loong L, Lucidarme J, Marshall H, Putri ND, Saha S, Shao Z, Sim JHC, Smith V, Taha MK, Van Thanh P, Thisyakorn U, Tshering K, Vazquez J, Veeraraghavan B, Yezli S, Zhu BJ, (2020) Meningococcal disease surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region (2020): the Global Meningococcal Initiative. Journal of Infection. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.07.025

Grigg S, Hogan D, Hosein FS, Johns D, Jennison AV, Subedi S, (2020) A case of toxigenic, pharyngeal diphtheria in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia. DOI:10.5694/mja2.50566

Hume A, Nimmo G, Jennison AV, Graham RMA (2020) Characterisation of Staphylococcus capitis bloodstream isolates from south-east Queensland neonatal units. Pathology, 52 (Supplement 1). S58 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2020.01.188

Chapman P, Forde B, Roberts LW, Bergh H, Vesey D, Jennison AV, Moss S, Paterson DL, Beatson SA, Harris PNA, (2020) Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit. Journal of Clinical Microbiology . ISSN 0095-1137

Alcorn K, Gerrard J, Cochrane T, Graham RMA, Jennison AV, Irwin PJ, Barbosa AD, (2020) First report of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis infection in Australia causing persistent fever in an animal carer. Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaa089. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa089

2019

Roberts LW, Catchpoole E, Jennison AV, Bergh H,Hume A, Heney C, George N, Paterson DL, Schembri M, Beatson SA, Harris PNA, (2019) Genomic analysis of carbapenemase- producing Enterobacteriaceae in Queensland reveals widespread transmission of blaIMP-4 on an IncHI2 plasmid. Microbial Genomics (mgen000321). DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000321

Baines SL, Gonçalves da Silva A, Carter GP, Jennison AV, Rathnayake IU, Graham RMA, Sintchenko V, Wang Q, Rockett R, Timms V, Martinez E, Ballard S, Tomito T, Isles N, Horan KA, Pitchers W, Stinear T, Williamson D, Howden B, Seemann T (2019) Complete microbial genomes for public health in Australia 1 and Southwest Pacific. bioRxiv. DOI:

Guglielmino CJ, Appleton S, Vohra R, Jennison AV, (2019) Identification of an unusual 16S rRNA mutation in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Journal of Clinical Microbiology  DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01337-19

Bialasiewicz S, Duarte TPS, Nguyen SH, Sukumaran V, Stewart A, Appleton S, Pitt ME, Bainomugisa A, Jennison AV, Graham RMA, Coin LJM, Hajkowicz K, (2019) Rapid diagnosis of Capnocytophaga canimorsus septic shock in an immunocompetent individual using real-time Nanopore sequencing: a case report. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19 (660). DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4173-2

Chapman P, Forde B, Roberts L, Bergh H, Vesey D, Jennison AV, Moss S, Paterson DL, Beatson S, Harris P (2019) Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit. bioRxi DOI:

Harch SAJ, Jennison AV, Bastian I (2019) Yersinia pseudotuberculosis bacteraemia: a diagnostic dilemma in the era of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. [Correspondence]. Pathology, 51(4):434-436. DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2019.01.006

Hiley LA, Graham RMA, Jennison AV (2019) Genetic characterisation of variants of the virulence plasmid, pSLT, in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium provides evidence of a variety of evolutionary directions consistent with vertical rather than horizontal transmission. PLoS One , DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215207

Huang B, Jennison AV, Whiley DM, McMahon J, Hewitson GR, Graham RMA, De Jong AJ, Warrilow D. (2019) Illumina sequencing of clinical samples for virus detection in a public health laboratory. Scientific Reports, 9 (5409). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41830-w

Ingle DJ, Goncalves da Silva A, Valcanis M, Ballard SA, Seemann T, Jennison AV, Bastian I, Wise R, Kirk M, Howden BP, Williamson DA (2019) Emergence and divergence of major lineages of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Australia. Microbial Genomics. 5(5). DOI:10.1099/mgen.0.000268

Jennison AV, Whiley DM, Lahra MM, Graham RMA, Cole MJ, Hughes G, Fifer H, Andersson M, Edwards A, Eyre D. (2019) Genetic relatedness of ceftriaxone-resistant and high-level azithromycin resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae cases, United Kingdom and Australia, February to April 2018. Eurosurveillance, 24 (8). DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1900118

Phillips ZN, Brizuela C, Jennison AV, Staples M, Grimwood K, Seib KL, Jennings MP, Atack JM (2019) Analysis of invasive non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae isolates reveals a selection for the expression state of particular phase-variable lipooligosaccharide biosynthetic genes. Infection and immunity, 87: e00093-19. DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00093-19

Thangarajah D, Guglielmino CJD, Lambert SB, Khandaker G, Vasant BR, Malo JA, Smith HV, Jennison AV (2019) Genomic characterization of recent and historic meningococcal serogroup E invasive disease in Australia: a case series. Clinical Infectious Diseases, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz767

Vasant BR, Jarvinen K, Fang N-X, Smith HV, Jennison AV (2019) Mass prophylaxis in an outbreak of invasive group A streptococcal disease in a residential aged care facility. Communicable Diseases Intelligence, 43. DOI: 10.33321/cdi.2019.43.18

2018

Graham RMA, Hiley Lester A, Rathnayake IU, Jennison AV (2018) Comparative genomics identifies distinct lineages of S. Enteritidis from Queensland, Australia. PLoS One, 13(1):e0191042. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191042

Lahra MM, Martin I, Demczuk W, Jennison AV, Lee K-I, Nakayama S-I, Lefebvre B, Longtin J, Ward A, Mulvey MR, Wi T,Ohnishi M, Whiley DM. (2018) Cooperative recognition of internationally disseminated ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24 (4). DOI: 10.3201/eid2404.171873.

Malau E, Ford R, Valcanis M, Jennison AV, Mosse J, Bean D, Yoannes M, Pomat W, Horwood PF (2018) Antimicrobial sensitivity trends and virulence genes in Shigella spp. from the Oceania region. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 64:52-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.06.015

McCarthy KL, Wailan, AM, Jennison AV, Kidd T, Paterson DL. (2018) P. aeruginosa blood stream infection isolates: A “full house” of virulence genes in isolates associated with rapid patient death and patient survival. Microbial Pathogenesis, 119:81-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.03.062

Pintara AP, Guglielmino CJ, Rathnayake IU, Huygens F, Jennison AV (2018) Molecular prediction of the O157:H- phenotype prevalent in Australian STEC cases improves the concordance of in silico serotyping with phenotypic motility. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 56(4):e01906-17. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01906-17

Whiley DM, Jennison AV, Pearson J, Lahra MM (2018) Genetic characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to both ceftriaxone and azithromycin. The Lancet. Infectious diseases, 18 (7). pp. 717-718. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30340-2

Whiley DM, Kundu R, Jennison AV, Buckley C, Limnios A, Hogan T, Enriquez R, El Nasser J, George CR, Lahra MM (2018) Azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae spreading amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals in New South Wales, Australia, 2017. The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 73(5):1242-1246. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dky017

Whiley DM, Mhango LP, Jennison AV, Nimmo G, Lahra MM. (2018) Direct detection of penA gene associated with ceftriaone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428 strain by using PCR. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24 (8):1573-1575. DOI: 10.3201/eid2408.180295

2017

Jennison AV (2017) Impact of whole genome sequencing in Public Health reference laboratories. Microbiology Australia. 38(4): 168-171. DOI: 10.1071/MA17060

Smith HV, Jennison AV (2017) Changing epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in Australia 1994–2016. Microbiology Australia, 38(4): 184-186. DOI: 10.1071/MA17064

Graham RMA, Donohue S, McMahon J, Jennison AV (2017) Detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia DNA by deep sequencing. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(11): 1911-1913. DOI: 10.3201/eid2311.170474

Vasant BR, Stafford RJ, Jennison AV, Bennett SM, Bell RJ, Doyle CJ, Young JR, Vlack SA, Titmus P, El Saadi D, Jarvinen KAJ, Coward P, Barrett J, Staples M, Graham RMA, Smith Helen V, Lambert SB (2017) Mild illness during outbreak of Shiga toxin−producing Escherichia coli O157 infections associated with agricultural show, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(10): 1686-1689. DOI: 10.3201/eid2310.161836

Allcock RJN, Jennison AV, Warrilow D (2017) Towards a universal molecular microbiological test. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 55(11):3175-3182. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01155-17

McCarthy KL, Jennison AV, Wailan AM, Paterson DL (2017) Draft genome sequences of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection isolates associated with rapid patient death. Genome Announc. 5 (33): e00597-17. DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00597-17

Shaban RZ, Maloney S, Gerrard J, Collignon P, Macbeth D, Cruickshank M, Hume A, Jennison AV, Graham RMA, Bergh H, Wilson H, Derrington P (2017) Outbreak of health care-associated Burkholderia cenocepacia bacteremia and infection attributed to contaminated sterile gel used for central line insertion under ultrasound guidance and other procedures. American Journal of Infection Control, 45(9):954-958. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.06.025

Gallo GG, Woods M, Graham RMA, Jennison AV (2017) A severe transmissible Majocchi's granuloma in an immunocompetent returned traveler. Medical Mycology Case Reports, 18: 5-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2017.07.003

Staples M, Graham RMA, Jennison AV (2017) Characterisation of invasive clinical Haemophilus influenzae isolates in Queensland, Australia using whole-genome sequencing. Epidemiology & Infection, 145 (8): 1727-1736. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268817000450

Abady NR, Guglielmino CJ, Graham RMA, Adelskov J, Smith HV, Patel BKC, Jennison AV (2017) Genetic characterization of a Neisseria meningitidis cluster in Queensland, Australia. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 63(7): 644-647. DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2017-0017

Jennison AV, Masson JJ, Fang NX, Graham RMA, Bradbury MI, Fegan N, Gobius KS, Graham TM, Guglielmino CJ, Brown JL, Fox EM (2017) Analysis of the Listeria monocytogenes population structure among isolates from 1931 to 2015 in Australia. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8: 603. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00603

Staples M, Graham RMA, Hicks V, Strachan J, Gonçalves da Silva A, Peverall J, Wicks V, Jennison AV (2017) Discovery of Streptococcus pneumoniae serogroup 35 variants in Australian patients. Clin Microbiol Infect. pii: S1198-743X(16)30662-0. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.029

McCarthy KL, Jennison AV, Wailan AM, Paterson DL (2017) Draft genome sequence of an IMP-7-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection isolate from Australia. Genome Announcements, 5 (27): e00596-17. DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00596-17

Staples M, Fang N-X, Graham RMA., Smith HV, Jennison AV (2017) Evaluation of the SHIGA TOXIN QUIK CHEK and ImmunoCard STAT! EHEC as screening tools for the detection of Shiga toxin in faecal specimens. Diagnostic Microbiology & Infectious Disease, 87(2): 95-99. DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2016.03.011

Graham RMA, Doyle CJ, Jennison AV (2017) Epidemiological typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and detection of markers associated with antimicrobial resistance directly from urine samples using next generation sequencing. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 93(1):65-67. DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052422

Doyle CJ, Mazins A, Graham RMA, Fang N-X, Smith HV, Jennison AV (2017) Sequence analysis of toxin gene-bearing Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains, Australia. Emerging infectious Diseases, 23(1):105-107. DOI: 10.3201/eid2301.160584

2015

Trembizki E, Doyle C, Buckley C, Jennison AV, Smith H, Bates J, Sloots T, Nissen M, Lahra MM, Whiley D (2015) Estimating the prevalence of mixed-type gonococcal infections in Queensland, Australia. Sex Health. 12(5):439-44. DOI: 10.1071/SH15009

Lajhar SA, Jennison AV, Patel B, Duffy LL (2015) Comparison of epidemiologically linked Campylobacter jejuni isolated from human and poultry sources. Epidemiol Infect. 143(16): 3498-509. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268815000886

Mellor GE, Fegan N, Gobius, KS, Smith HV, Jennison AV, D'Astek BA, Rivas M, Shringi S, Baker KN, Besser TE (2015) Geographically distinct Escherichia coli O157 isolates differ by lineage, Shiga toxin genotype, and total shiga toxin production. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 53(2):579-86. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01532-14

Staples M, Graham, RM, Jennison AV, Ariotti L, Cook H, Krause V, Giele C, Smith HV (2015) Molecular characterization of an Australian serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae outbreak. Epidemiology & Infection, 143(2): 325-333. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268814000648

Trembizki E, Doyle C, Jennison A, Smith H, Bates J, Lahra M, Whiley D, GRAND study investigators. (2014) A Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain with a meningococcal mtrR sequence. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 63(Pt 8): 1113-5. DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.074286-0

Graham RM, Doyle CJ, Jennison AV (2014) Real-time investigation of Legionella pneumophila outbreak using whole genome sequencing. Epidemiology & Infection, 142(11): 2347-51. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268814000375

Mellor G, Fegan N, Gobius K, Smith H, Jennison AV, D'Astek B, Rivas M, Shringi S, Baker K, Besser T (2014) Geographically distinct Escherichia coli O157 differ by lineage, Shiga toxin genotype and total Shiga toxin production. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 53(2):579-86. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01532-14

Trembizki E, Doyle C, Jennison A, Smith H, Bates J, Lahra M, Whiley D (2014) A Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate with a meningococcal mtrR sequence. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 63(Pt 8):1113-5. DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.074286-0

Staples M, Jennison AV, Ariotti L, Hicks V, Graham RM, Smith HV (2014) Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6C in Queensland, Australia. Diagnostic Microbiology & Infectious Disease, 78(3):307-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.11.017

More publications at Amy's Google Scholar page

Presentations

Feb 2023: Invited speaker, COVID-19 and genomics – how genomic surveillance has informed national and international approaches. Australian Society of Antimicrobials annual meeting, Brisbane. 

Feb 2023: Invited speaker, Metagenomic approaches for clinical diagnosis and public health investigations. International Medlab Middle East 2023 – Future of Lab Conference, Online. 

Nov 2022: Invited speaker, Genomics for Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak response in QLD Australia. ESR Genomics Weeks, New Zealand.

Oct 2022: Invited speaker, Microbial Genomics for outbreak detection in the Queensland Public Health Microbiology laboratory. WesFarmers Infectious Diseases Research Online Seminar.

Sept2022: Invited speaker, Foodborne Disease post COVID. One Health Downunder Symposium. 

Aug 2022: Invited speaker, WGS for public health response to STI pathogens. Joint Australasian HIV&AIDS + Sexual Health Conferences.

Aug 2022: Invited speaker, Foodborne pathogens and AusPathoGen. AIFST 2022 Convention.

Jul 2022: Invited speaker, Emerging role for rapid and long read sequencing approaches for responding to concerning public health pathogen threats. Microbiology Nanopore Day, University of Queensland.

Jul 2022: Invited keynote speaker, WGS for Foodborne Disease Surveillance. Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference 2022.

Jun 2022: Invited speaker, Exploring public health applications for next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics. APHL/PulseNet Asia Pacific/Illumina Office Hours, Singapore.

Jun 2022: Invited speaker, Microbial genomics at Public Health Microbiology, FSS. Herston Infectious Diseases Institute Genomics Symposium.

Mar 2022: Invited speaker, Public Health beyond COVID-19. RPCA Pathology Update 2022.

Oct 2021: Invited symposium speaker, Use of WGS for Listeria outbreak epidemiology.  Zoonoses Conference.

Aug 2021: Invited keynote speaker, Putting new skills under the microscope: Transitioning from a technical specialist to a generalist leader. Public Sector Women in Science, Engineering 7 Technology Leadership Summit 2021.

Aug 2021: Invited speaker, The next generation of molecular diagnostics: whole genome sequencing, amplicon panels and metagenomics. Advanced Diagnostics and Physiological Monitoring in Critical Care Symposium.

May 2021: Invited speaker, Data sharing for Foodborne Pathogen Outbreaks. CDC PulseNet Asia Pacific Summit, Enabling Intefrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Food Safety and Public Health through Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Apr 2021: Invited symposium speaker, Chairperson and Panel Invigilator, 2nd Food Safety, TRaceability & Compliance Forum 2021, online.

Nov 2019: Invited clinical meeting speaker, Queensland gonorrhoea genomics and epidemiology in 2020. Sexual Health Society of Queensland Annual Clinical Meeting, Brisbane.

Nov 2019: Invited conference speaker, WGS and metagenomics - where are we heading?. Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, online.

Feb 2019: Invited speaker, Genomics surveillance of N. meningitidis in Australia. Global Meningococcal Initiative, Bangkok, Thailand.

Nov 2019: Invited workshop speaker,  Foodborne Investigation and Genomics. Communicable Diseases Conference, Canberra.

Nov 2019: Invited symposium speaker, Culture Independent Diagnostic Testing. National AMR Forum, Brisbane.

Oct 2019: Invited symposium speaker, Transitioning from conventional molecular testing to whole genome sequencing in a public health microbiology laboratory: lessons on embracing a disruptive technology. Whole Genome Sequencing in Public Health and Food Safety Practice conference, Wellington, NZ.

Aug 2019: Invited speaker, Ask a Microbiologist: Microbiology careers. National Science Week Event, JAMS, Brisbane.

Aug 2019: Invited speaker, Implementation of whole genome sequencing to a Public Health Microbiology laboratory. Biology Special Advisory Group, NZ and Australia, Brisbane.

May 2019: Invited symposium speaker, Deep sequencing. CDGN: View to the future for public health and personalised infectious disease care forum, Melbourne.

Apr 2019: Invited speaker, Implementation of whole genome sequencing to a Public Health Microbiology laboratory. In: ESR Strategic Planning Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.

Apr 2019: Invited speaker for 2 sessions, Title 1. Whole Genome Sequencing in Public Health Microbiology: method overview and update. Title 2. Diagnostic Microbiology and WGS: Current and future state. In: RCPA Microbiology Molecular workshop, Sydney.

Feb 2019: Invited panellist and workshop convenor, National Biosecurity Committee Innovation Workshop, Brisbane.

Jan 2019: Invited symposium speaker, Pathogen Detection Based on Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Improved Scalability and Accessibility of Food Safety" In: Innovations in Food Safety, Traceability and Processing Technology Forum, Melbourne.

June 2018: Invited speaker, Whole genome sequencing for disease tracking. In: Hort Connections, Brisbane, Qld.

Mar 2018: Invited speaker, Applications - deep sequencing for detection of pathogens in culture/PCR negative infections. In: RCPA Pathology Update, Sydney, NSW.

Feb 2018: Invited speaker, Metagenomics in the clinical microbiology laboratory. In: Australian Society of Antimicrobials Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, Qld.

Nov 2017: Invited speaker, Whole genome sequencing in Queensland. In: NSW Health Communicable Diseases Workshop, Sydney, NSW.

Nov 2017: Invited speaker, Whole genome sequencing of bacteria: how it is routinely used in Public Health/hospital settings, and applications in the study of Gonorrhoea and associated antimicrobial resistance. In: Australasian Sexual Health Conference, Canberra, ACT.

Nov 2017: Genomics in Public Health Microbiology. In: Practical Microbial Genomics Workshop, Herston, Qld.

Oct 2017: Invited speaker, Genomics guided pathogen detection and surveillance. In: Microbial Genomics for Public Health and Clinical Microbiology Symposium, Sydney, NSW.

Sep 2017: Invited speaker, Whole genome sequencing for solving microbial outbreaks and disease surveillance. In: Illumina Ignite Event, Toowoomba, Qld.

Sep 2017: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides genomic insight into diphtheria in Queensland [poster], with Rathnayake IU, Doyle CJ, Graham RMA, Fang NX, Smith HV. In: 26th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Herston, Qld.

Jun 2017: Practical applications of whole genome sequencing in a Public Health Laboratory. In: CREID Workshop, Communicable Diseases Conference, Melbourne, Vic.

Jun 2017: Invited speaker, Deep sequencing of clinical extracts for pathogen discovery and molecular epidemiological surveillance. In: Communicable Diseases Control Conference 2017: infectious diseases: a global challenge, Melbourne, Vic.

May 2017: Deep sequencing of clinical extracts for pathogen discovery and molecular epidemiological surveillance [poster], with Graham RMA. In: 6th Applied Bioinformatics and Public Health Microbiology conference, Cambridge, UK.

Nov 2016: Jumping in the deep end: direct deep sequencing of clinical samples in the Public Health Microbiology laboratory. In: Microbiology on the Mountain, ASM Qld Branch, Mount Tamborine, Qld.

Nov 2016: The detection of N. gonorrhoeae directly from urine samples using NGS. In: Advances in Microbial Genomics for Public Health and Clinical Microbiology Symposium, Melbourne, Vic.

Sep 2016: Use of the meningococcal antigen typing system to assess the Australian meningococcal strain coverage with a multicomponent serogroup B vaccine, with Tozer SJ, Whiley DM, Smith HV, Rockett R, Doyle CJ, Graham RMA, Gilchrist S, Orlandi L, Frosi G, Boccadifuoco G, Medini D, Serruto D, Borrow R, Findlow J, Pizza M, Nissen MD, Sloots TP. In: 20th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference, Manchester, UK.

Mar 2016: Whole genome sequencing in clinical and public health microbiology. In: MEDLAB Asia Pacific Molecular Diagnostics Conference, Singapore.

Mar 2016: Genotyping of Group A Streptococcus by whole genome sequencing [Poster]. In: 5th Annual Molecular Microbiology Meeting, Sydney, NSW.

Jan 2016: Harnessing the power: outbreak investigations and surveillance of bacterial disease in the genomics era.  In: Princess Alexandra Hospital continuing education session, Woolloongabba, Qld.

Oct 2015: Harnessing the power: outbreak investigations and surveillance of bacterial disease in the genomics era. In: Pathology Queensland Grand Rounds, Brisbane, Qld.

Jul 2015: Invited speaker, Embracing the genomic revolution - applied genomics in public health microbiology. Symposium, Doherty Centre for Applied Microbial Genomics, Melbourne, Vic.

Jul 2015: Challenges and opportunities: whole genome sequencing in public health microbiology. In: Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra, ACT.

Mar 2015: Ensuring capabilities for bioterrorism testing, concerning pathogens and G20: the Queensland perspective. In: Microbial Forensics: Needs and Opportunities workshop, Melbourne, Vic.

Oct 2014: Keynote speaker, Adding value of genome sequencing in diagnostic and public health microbiology.  In: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Public Health Symposium, Sydney, NSW.

Jul 2014: Invited speaker, The largest E. coli O157 outbreak in Australia. In: Zoonoses 2014, Brisbane, Qld.

May 2014: Invited speaker, Using whole genome sequencing in a public health microbiology laboratory: outbreaks, routine surveillance and just about everything in between. In: Genetics Solutions World Tour, Australia Life Technologies, Thermo Fischer, Brisbane, Qld.

Jun 2013: Invited speaker, Shigatoxigenic E. coli in Queensland. In: Capricornia Medical Science Conference, Yeppoon, Qld.

Grants and funding

  • Chief Investigator, Queensland Health Cabinet Research Fund Grant, 2017-2019, $102,000, Use of molecular typing and genomics to enhance surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and associated antimicrobial resistance in Queensland.
  • Chief Investigator, Demonstration Project Grant, Round 1, Queensland Genomics Health Alliance, 2017-2019, $600,000, Whole genome sequencing to track, treat and prevent nosocomial infections.
  • Associate Investigator, NHMRC Partnership Project, 2016-2019, $546,720, Understanding the sources of Campylobacter in Australia.
  • Chief Investigator, Queensland Health Cabinet Research Fund Grant, $130,000, 2015-2016, Improving Public Health Microbiology outbreak investigations and ensuring molecular epidemiological typing capabilities in the era of culture independent testing.
  • Chief Investigator, Queensland Health Cabinet Research Fund Grant, $129,649, 2014-2015, Future proofing Public Health Microbiology: developing a Next Generation Sequencing workflow for the rapid and efficient epidemiological typing of microorganisms of public health significance.
  • Chief Investigator, QHFSS R&D Fund Grant, $27,000, 2012-2013, Epidemiological investigation of a Legionella pneumophilia outbreak in an Australian hospital.
  • Research Supervisor, QHFSS R&D Fund Grant, $3,500, 2012-2013 Development of a molecular serotyping method for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Collaborative project with Mater Hospital Microbiology Department.
  • Chief Investigator, QHFSS R&D Fund Grant, $11,000, 2012-2013, F. tularensis in Queensland possum populations: a public health risk? Collaborative project with University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science.
  • Chief Investigator, QHFSS R&D Fund Grant, $6,000 grant, 2011-2013, Molecular epidemiological study of Queensland V. cholerae. isolates.

Memberships / Affiliations

Amy Jennison

Dr Amy V. Jennison
Supervising Scientist, Molecular Epidemiology
Public and Environmental Health
email: amy.jennison@health.qld.gov.au

phone: +61 7 3096 2826