Overview
Background
Dr Lord currently leads the Lord lab within the School of the Environment at the University of Queensland. The Lord lab research focuses on developing novel and rapid next generation surveillance and diagnostic tools for detection of pathogens in humans, animals and the environment and for characterising disease carrying vectors. Their current specialisation include the development of non-invasive tools based on spectroscopy techniques. Dr Lord pioneered the application of near-infrared spectroscopy technique for non-invasive detection of several pathogens in mosquito vectors such as Wolbachia, Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya and for differentiation of morphologically identical mosquito species. Her lab recently pioneered its application for non-invasive detection of malaria through tthe skin of people in partnership with the Australian Defence Force and Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil.
In the last 5 years, the Lord team attracted multi-site, national and international research funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, NHMRC, AQIRF and Grand challenges Canada as the Chief Investigator to develop rapid tools for large scale surveillance of vector control programs
Current Research interests: Development of spectroscopy tools for ports of entry for rapid identification of exotic insect species, detection of pathogens in humans and the environment
STEM Spotlight is a STEM mentorship program directed by Dr Lord whose main aim is to provide a safe and engaging space for students from CALD communities to engage in STEM activities at UQ.The program aims to encourage Students from CALD Backgrounds to pursue STEM career options. In 2023 Dr Lord was awarded Diversity and Inclusion Champion award by the Department of Multicultural affairs for this work (Diversity and Inclusion Champion award 2023).
The next STEM Spotlight event will be held at UQ St Lucia campus on the 22nd Nov, 2024. If your school would like to participate in this event, please fill in the expression of interest form Here
Availability
- Dr Maggy Lord is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Mosquitoes of medical importance
Characterization of mosquito population to determine disease transmission capability
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Mosquito-borne disease
Development of rapid and non-invasive diagnostic tools
Research impacts
Our team develops rapid and non-invasive novel surveillance and diagnostic tools for multiple infectious diseases for humans and the environment. We collaborate with scientists from Fiocruz, CDC, USDA, JCU, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Brazil), Australian Defence Force, and Kenya Medical Research Institute. We focus on testing the applicability of next generation tools using rapid, high throughput, cost effective and user friendly light-based, spectroscopy devices. These tools are intended to inform public health personnel in a timely manner, on the effectiveness of an intervention, guide ellimination and predict potential disease hotspots to stop a possible outbreak.
Works
Search Professor Maggy Lord’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Rapid assessment of the blood-feeding histories of wild-caught malaria mosquitoes using mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning
Mwanga, Emmanuel P., Mchola, Idrisa S., Makala, Faraja E., Mshani, Issa H., Siria, Doreen J., Mwinyi, Sophia H., Abbasi, Said, Seleman, Godian, Mgaya, Jacqueline N., Jiménez, Mario González, Wynne, Klaas, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Selvaraj, Prashanth, Okumu, Fredros O., Baldini, Francesco and Babayan, Simon A. (2024). Rapid assessment of the blood-feeding histories of wild-caught malaria mosquitoes using mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning. Malaria Journal, 23 (1) 86. doi: 10.1186/s12936-024-04915-0
2024
Journal Article
Rapid and non-invasive detection of malaria parasites using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Edstein, Michael D., Goh, Brendon, Lord, Anton R., Travis, Jye A., Dowell, Floyd E., Birrell, Geoffrey W. and Chavchich, Marina (2024). Rapid and non-invasive detection of malaria parasites using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning. PLoS One, 19 (3) e0289232, 1-18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289232
2023
Journal Article
Near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms for rapid and non-invasive detection of Trichuris
Kariyawasam, Tharanga N., Ciocchetta, Silvia, Visendi, Paul, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J., Smith, Maxine E., Giacomin, Paul R. and Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. (2023). Near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms for rapid and non-invasive detection of Trichuris. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 17 (11) e0011695, e0011695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011695
2023
Journal Article
Key considerations, target product profiles, and research gaps in the application of infrared spectroscopy and artificial intelligence for malaria surveillance and diagnosis
Mshani, Issa H., Siria, Doreen J., Mwanga, Emmanuel P., Sow, Bazoumana Bd., Sanou, Roger, Opiyo, Mercy, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Ferguson, Heather M., Diabate, Abdoulaye, Wynne, Klaas, González-Jiménez, Mario, Baldini, Francesco, Babayan, Simon A. and Okumu, Fredros (2023). Key considerations, target product profiles, and research gaps in the application of infrared spectroscopy and artificial intelligence for malaria surveillance and diagnosis. Malaria Journal, 22 (1) 346. doi: 10.1186/s12936-023-04780-3
2023
Other Outputs
Machine learning and detection of Trichuris muris in mice
Kariyawasam, Tharanga, Lord, Maggy and Ciocchetta, Silvia (2023). Machine learning and detection of Trichuris muris in mice. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/7f11f9f
2023
Journal Article
Rapid and non-invasive detection of Aedes aegypti co-infected with Zika and dengue viruses using near infrared spectroscopy
Garcia, Gabriela A., Lord, Anton R., Santos, Lilha M. B., Kariyawasam, Tharanga N., David, Mariana R., Couto-Lima, Dinair, Tátila-Ferreira, Aline, Pavan, Márcio G., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael (2023). Rapid and non-invasive detection of Aedes aegypti co-infected with Zika and dengue viruses using near infrared spectroscopy. Viruses, 15 (1) 11, 11. doi: 10.3390/v15010011
2023
Journal Article
State of the art and the future of fecal analysis using infrared spectroscopy
Kho, Elise A., Fernandes, Jill N., Tilbrook, Alan J., Fox, Glen P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Kotze, Andrew C., Beasley, Anne M., James, Peter J., Tolleson, Douglas R. and Cozzolino, Daniel (2023). State of the art and the future of fecal analysis using infrared spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 58 (10), 755-785. doi: 10.1080/05704928.2022.2143795
2023
Other Outputs
Spectral Data for Plasmodium
Lord, Maggy (2023). Spectral Data for Plasmodium. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/5ecd1e8
2022
Other Outputs
Infrared signtures collected non-invasively from malaria positive and negative indviduals in Brazil
Kariyawasam Haputhanthri Kankanamge, Tharanga and Lord, Maggy (2022). Infrared signtures collected non-invasively from malaria positive and negative indviduals in Brazil. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/e19e6fc
2022
Conference Publication
Novel diagnostic tools for soil transmitted helminths with non-invasive capability. The nearinfrared spectroscopy and artificial intelligence
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Kariyawasam, Tharanga, Ciocchetta, Silvia, Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo J. and Giacomin, Paul (2022). Novel diagnostic tools for soil transmitted helminths with non-invasive capability. The nearinfrared spectroscopy and artificial intelligence. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2022 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States, October 30 - November 3, 2022. Arlington, VA United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2022
Conference Publication
In vitro detection of dengue 1 virus in human whole blood, plasma, and serum with nearinfrared spectroscopy
Goh, Brendon, Visendi, Paul, Ciocchetta, Silvia, Soares, Ricardo, Liu, Wenjun and Lord, Maggy (2022). In vitro detection of dengue 1 virus in human whole blood, plasma, and serum with nearinfrared spectroscopy. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2022 Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, United States, October 30 - November 3, 2022. Arlington, VA United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
2022
Journal Article
Malaria absorption peaks acquired through the skin of patients with infrared light can detect patients with varying parasitemia
Garcia, Gabriela A., Kariyawasam, Tharanga N., Lord, Anton R., da Costa, Cristiano Fernandes, Chaves, Lana Bitencourt, Lima-Junior, Josué da Costa, Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael and Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. (2022). Malaria absorption peaks acquired through the skin of patients with infrared light can detect patients with varying parasitemia. PNAS Nexus, 1 (5) pgac272, pgac272. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac272
2022
Journal Article
First report of the detection of DENV1 in human blood plasma with near-infrared spectroscopy
Goh, Brendon, Visendi, Paul, Lord, Anton R., Ciocchetta, Silvia, Liu, Wenjun and Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. (2022). First report of the detection of DENV1 in human blood plasma with near-infrared spectroscopy. Viruses, 14 (10) 2248, 2248. doi: 10.3390/v14102248
2022
Journal Article
Near-infrared spectroscopy as a feasible method for the differentiation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Neisseria commensals and antimicrobial resistant from susceptible gonococcal strains
Alharbi, Bushra, Cozzolino, Daniel, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Whiley, David and Trembizki, Ella (2022). Near-infrared spectroscopy as a feasible method for the differentiation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Neisseria commensals and antimicrobial resistant from susceptible gonococcal strains. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 201 106576, 106576. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2022.106576
2022
Book Chapter
Application of infrared techniques for characterisation of vector-borne disease vectors
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy and Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael (2022). Application of infrared techniques for characterisation of vector-borne disease vectors. Infrared Spectroscopy - Perspectives and Applications [Working Title]. (pp. 1-19) edited by Marwa El-Azazy, Khalid Al-Saad and Ahmed S. El-Shafie. London, United Kingdom: IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.106941
2021
Journal Article
Near infrared spectroscopy accurately detects Trypanosoma cruzi non-destructively in midguts, rectum and excreta samples of Triatoma infestans
Tátila-Ferreira, Aline, Garcia, Gabriela A., dos Santos, Lilha M. B., Pavan, Márcio G., de C. Moreira, Carlos José, Victoriano, Juliana C., da Silva-Junior, Renato, dos Santos-Mallet, Jacenir R., Verly, Thaiane, Britto, Constança, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. and Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael (2021). Near infrared spectroscopy accurately detects Trypanosoma cruzi non-destructively in midguts, rectum and excreta samples of Triatoma infestans. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 23884, 23884. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03465-8
2021
Conference Publication
The near-infrared spectroscopy technique can non-invasively detect malaria parasites through the skin of mice
Sikulu-Lord, Maggy, Lord, Anton Richard, Goh, Brendon, Travis, Jye, Birrell, Geoffrey W., Chavchich, Marina, Harris, Ivor E., Mcleod-Robertson, Stephen, Kent, Anthony, Vanbreda, Karin and Edstein, Michael D. (2021). The near-infrared spectroscopy technique can non-invasively detect malaria parasites through the skin of mice. ASTMH Annual Meeting, Virtual, 17-21 November 2021. Deerfield, IL, United States: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.abstract2021
2021
Journal Article
The application of spectroscopy techniques for diagnosis of malaria parasites and arboviruses and surveillance of mosquito vectors: A systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence
Goh, Brendon, Ching, Koek, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J., Ciocchetta, Silvia, Edstein, Michael D., Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael and Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T. (2021). The application of spectroscopy techniques for diagnosis of malaria parasites and arboviruses and surveillance of mosquito vectors: A systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15 (4) e0009218, 1-24. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009218
2021
Journal Article
High throughput estimates of Wolbachia, Zika and chikungunya infection in Aedes aegypti by near-infrared spectroscopy to improve arbovirus surveillance
Santos, Lilha M. B., Mutsaers, Mathijs, Garcia, Gabriela A., David, Mariana R., Pavan, Marcio G., Petersen, Martha T., Correa-Antonio, Jessica, Couto-Lima, Dinair, Maes, Louis, Dowell, Floyd, Lord, Anton, Sikulu-Lord, Maggy and Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael (2021). High throughput estimates of Wolbachia, Zika and chikungunya infection in Aedes aegypti by near-infrared spectroscopy to improve arbovirus surveillance. Communications Biology, 4 (1) 67, 67. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01601-0
2020
Journal Article
Influence of environmental factors on the detection of blood in sheep faeces using visible-near-infrared spectroscopy as a measure of Haemonchus contortus infection
Kho, Elise A., Fernandes, Jill N., Kotze, Andrew C., Fox, Glen P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Beasley, Anne M., Moore, Stephen S. and James, Peter J. (2020). Influence of environmental factors on the detection of blood in sheep faeces using visible-near-infrared spectroscopy as a measure of Haemonchus contortus infection. Parasites and Vectors, 13 (1) 591, 591. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04468-6
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Maggy Lord is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Mosquito microbiome and pathogen interaction
This PhD project aims to assess the role of probiotics as a potential transmission blocking tool for arboviruses and parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. Interested students will analyse the interaction of the mosquito microbiome and various pathogens
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Detection of malaria and arboviruses with spectroscopy and machine learning techniques
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes, Dr Silvia Ciocchetta
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring diagnostic approaches and quality assurance data for improved management of gonorrhoea antimicrobial resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor David Whiley, Dr Emma Sweeney, Dr Ella Trembizki
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Detecting Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep using infrared spectroscopy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Andrew Kotze, Dr Anne Beasley
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Maggy Lord directly for media enquiries about:
- infrared spectroscopy
- malaria
- Mosquitoes
- non-invasive diagnostic tools
- surveillance
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