Qualifications | Research interests | Publications | Presentations | Awards | Grants and funding
Dr Ning-Xia Fang is senior scientist of the Molecular Epidemiology team in Public Health Microbiology. She specialises in molecular typing and subtyping of enteric bacteria pathogens and is interested in the implementation of new technologies that seek to improve the service quality of Public Health Microbiology. Currently she is involved in the Whole Genomic Sequencing implementation projects for bacterial typing and outbreak investigation where she has been involved in the development of the geno-typing of Listeria monocytogenes and Streptococcus pyogenes by WGS and robotic DNA extraction. Now the team has successfully used WGS for genotyping of L. monocytogenes, S. pyogenes, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria meningitidis and Shiga toxin E coli (STEC), and for identification of other bacteria.
While at Forensic and Scientific Services, Dr Fang has run and completed several Cabinet Grants. She has developed and validated a mPCR based method for simultaneous detection of waterborne pathogens; developed and optimised a binary typing scheme to improve the typing capability for Campylobacter jejuni; developed a multiplex DNA suspension array for genotyping and serotyping L. monocytogenes; and developed a molecular subtyping scheme for S. typhimurium outbreak studies.
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, Tairaoa G, Lacey JA, Smith HV, Fang NX, 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
Slinko VG, Guglielmino CJ, Uren AM, Smith JK, Neucom D, Smoll NR, Graham RM, Fang NX, 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
Vasant BR, Jarvinen KAJ, Fang NX, 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
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, Fang NX, 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. Diagostic Microbiology & Infectious Disease, 87(2): 95-99. DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2016.03.011
Doyle CJ, Mazins A, Graham RMA, Fang NX, Smith HV, Jennison AV (2017) Sequence analysis of toxin gene-bearing Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains, Australia. Emergerging Infectious Diseases, 23(1):105-107. DOI: 10.3201/eid2301.160584
Hiley LA, Fang NX, Micalizzi GR, Bates JR (2014) Distribution of Gifsy-3 and of variants of ST64B and Gifsy-1 prophages amongst Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates: evidence that combinations of prophages promote clonality. PLoS One, 24;9(1):e86203. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086203
Huang B, Fang NX, Hall A, Blair B, Eglezos S, Bates J (2013) An optimised binary typing panel improves the typing capability for Campylobacter jejuni. Diagnostic Microbiology & Infectious Disease, 77(4):312-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.09.005
Fang NX, Huang B, Hiley H, Bates J, Savill J (2012) A rapid multiplex DNA suspension array method for Salmonella Typhimurium subtyping using phage-related markers. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 88(1):19-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2011.10.002
Huang B, Fang N, Dimovski K, Wang X, Hogg G, Bates J. (2011) Observation of a new pattern in serogroup-related PCR typing in Listeria monocytogenes 4b isolates. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 49(1): 426-9. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01207-10
Nov 2018: Surveillance of Group A streptococcus using Whole Genome Sequencing. In: Public Health Physician Face to Face Meeting, RBWH, Qld
Nov 2017: Genotyping of group A Streptococcus by whole genome sequencing. In: Communicable Disease Branch of Qld health, RBWH, Qld
Sep 2017: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides genomic insight into diphtheria in Queensland [poster], with Rathnayake IU, Doyle CJ, Graham RMA, Smith HV, Jennison AV. In: 26th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Herston, Qld.
Mar 2016: Genotyping of Group A Streptococcus by whole genome sequencing [poster]. In: 5th Annual Molecular Microbiology Meeting, Sydney, NSW.
Aug 2014: Is there any public health risk of Francisella tularensis in Queensland? (with Jennison A, Chaplin K, Moss S). In: National Science Week Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Qld.
Aug 2012: Development of PCR based method for simultaneous detection of six waterborne pathogens with AusDiagnostics Outbreak Response Kit. In: National Science Week, Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Qld.
Jul 2012: Evaluation of an outbreak response kit for the detection of waterborne bacteria in the Public Health Microbiology laboratory. In: Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition of the ASM, Brisbane, Qld.
Jul 2011: Application of prophage-related markers for Salmonella typhimurium subtyping using multiplex DNA suspension array. In: Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition of the ASM, Hobart, Tas.
Nov 2010: One multiplex assay for molecular serotyping and genotyping of Listeria monocytogenes by Luminex technology. In: Entox seminar, Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Qld.
Oct 2010: The application of DNA suspension array technology in subtyping of enteric baterial pathogen - Listeria monocytogenes. In: Shandon-Australia Science communication forum.
Jul 2009: Development of a fluorescent multiplexed DNA suspension array for subtyping of Listeria monocytogenes. In: Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition of the ASM, Perth, Western Australia.
Jul 2009: Genotypic characterisation of antibiotic resistance in Queensland human Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Virchow isolates. In: Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition of the ASM, Perth, Western Australia.
Aug 2008: A rapid multiplex DNA suspension array method for Salmonella typhimurium subtyping. In: National Science Week, 19 August,
Jul 2008: A rapid multiplex molecular array method for Salmonella typhimurium typing with potentials to replace traditional phage typing. In: Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition of the ASM, Melbourne, Vic.
Jul 2007: Development of a flurorescent microsphere based suspension multiplexed array for rapid, high-throughput binary genotyping of Salmonella typhimurium phage types. In: Annual Scientific Meeting & Exhibition of the ASM, Adelaide, South Australia.
2010: Public Health Microbiology team - Australia Day Awards
2010: QHFSS Cabinet Grant RSS10-004: Development of a multiplex DNA suspension array scheme for the rapid subtyping of large numbers of Listeria monocytogenes isolates.
2007: QHFSS Cabinet Grant RSS07-005: An investigation of outbreaks associated with Salmonella enterica serotypes in Queensland by binary gene subtyping using a Megaplex© Bead Plate platform.
Dr Ning-Xia Fang
Senior Scientist, Molecular Epidemiology
Public and Environmental Health
email: ning-xia.fang@health.qld.gov.au