Overview
Background
Dr Natasha Hungerford is an organic chemist and has extensive experience in natural products chemistry. She is a Senior Research Fellow in the Natural Toxin group within the Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and is based at the Health and Food Sciences Precinct (Cooper's Plains). She joined QAAFI in 2016 and is utilising analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify, evaluate and minimise risks associated with natural toxins found in certain plants. This research focuses on minimising risks to Australian livestock production and to the consumer of certain food products.
Work on honey analysing for toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, pesticides, herbicides and PAHs, and mineral and trace elements has been conducted in collaboration with Queensland Health.Work on stingless bee (Meliponini) honey has extended to the analyses of beneficial components in this honey, including novel sugars, leading to projects funded by AgriFutures Australia and Queensland Health, as well as collaborations with Malaysian researchers.
Poisoning of cattle in pastures by Pimelea plant species is a problem in semi-arid regions of Australia and research work funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has focussed on minimising the impacts of the Pimelea toxin on Australian cattle production. MLA now fund a collaborative UQ-DAF project that applies novel technologies to progress the industry ambition of a carbon neutral beef industry by 2030.
Dr. Hungerford achieved her PhD in 1998, through the UQ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research in natural products chemistry and in synthetic organic chemistry, at the University of Oxford, Australian National University, The University of Sydney, Griffith University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Availability
- Dr Natasha Hungerford is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Natural toxins analysis
Dr Natasha Hungerford's research interests focus on the identification and analysis of natural toxins present in specific plants, with the aim of minimising risks to Australian livestock and to the consumer of certain food products. In particular, the source and identity of pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination has been assessed by the extraction and identification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from various plants. Work to mitigate the Pimelea toxin, simplexin, which causes often fatal cattle poisoning in animals grazing inland areas of Australia, is being undertaken. The level of simplexin is being analysed in in vitro rumen trials to monitor and assess the effects of various strategies to breakdown or remove the toxin in the rumen, including microbial degradation, use of adsorbents or biopolymers.
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Atypical sugars in novel foods
The presence of significant quantities of the sugar trehalulose in stingless bee honey has prompted a study, funded by Queensland Health, into the levels of atypical sugars in other novel and emerging foods. Public health implications of atypical sugars identified will be examined.
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Slowed delivery of bioactive compounds that reduce enteric methane
This project involves an interdisciplinary team of researchers from UQ and DAF with the aim of reducing methane emissions from beef cattle. The developed technology will be assessed for the controlled release of active-agents to provide a sustained reduction in enteric methane, applicable to extensive cattle grazing systems.
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Bioactives in stingless bee honey
A recent focus has been the analysis of the properties of stingless bee honey, particularly the unique sugar content of these honeys, with this work culminating in grants from AgriFutures Australia and the Malaysian Government International Collaborative Fund (led by Universiti Putra Malaysia). LCMS technologies, ion chromatography, and stable isotope MS techniques have been used in collaboration with Queensland Health with the aims of optimising stingless bee honey bioactive content. This work provided the first report of the atypical disaccharide trehalulose as a major component of the honey of stingless bees (Meliponini) from Australia (2 species), Malaysia (2 species) and Brazil (1 species). Our research has shown that the low GI sugar trehalulose, which is not found significantly in regular honey or as a major component in any other food, is produced by the bees themselves from nectar sucrose. Further studies seek to understand the mechanism of this bee catalysed isomerisation of sucrose to trehalulose.
Works
Search Professor Natasha Hungerford’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
A feeding trial to investigate strategies to mitigate the impacts of Pimelea poisoning in Australian cattle
Hungerford, Natasha L., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Gilbert, Rosalind A., Loh, Zhi Hung, Gordon, Russell J., Silva, Luis F.P. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2024). A feeding trial to investigate strategies to mitigate the impacts of Pimelea poisoning in Australian cattle. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 72 (28), 15572-15585. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02082
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Binding of the plant-derived toxin simplexin to bovine protein kinase C: insights from molecular dynamics
Zhou, Yuchen, Roseli, Ras Baizureen, Hungerford, Natasha L., Fletcher, Mary T., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Gilbert, Rosalind A. and Krenske, Elizabeth H. (2024). Binding of the plant-derived toxin simplexin to bovine protein kinase C: insights from molecular dynamics. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 22 (14), 2863-2876. doi: 10.1039/d4ob00065j
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Analysis of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Stingless Bee Honey and Identification of a Botanical Source as Ageratum conyzoides
Hungerford, Natasha L., Zawawi, Norhasnida, Zhu, Tianqi (Evonne), Carter, Steve J., Melksham, Kevin J. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2024). Analysis of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Stingless Bee Honey and Identification of a Botanical Source as Ageratum conyzoides. Toxins, 16 (1) 40, 40. doi: 10.3390/toxins16010040
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Ion chromatography and ion chromatography / mass spectrometry as a complementary analysis technique for amino acid analysis in food, a review
Yates, H. S. A., Carter, J. F., Hungerford, N. L. and Fletcher, M. T. (2023). Ion chromatography and ion chromatography / mass spectrometry as a complementary analysis technique for amino acid analysis in food, a review. Food Chemistry Advances, 3 100415, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.focha.2023.100415
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Identification of acid hydrolysis metabolites of the Pimelea toxin simplexin for targeted UPLC-MS/MS analysis
Loh, Zhi Hung, Hungerford, Natasha L., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Klieve, Athol V. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2023). Identification of acid hydrolysis metabolites of the Pimelea toxin simplexin for targeted UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Toxins, 15 (9) 551. doi: 10.3390/toxins15090551
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Organic acid profiles of Australian stingless bee honey samples determined by ion chromatography
Hungerford, Natasha L., Yates, Hans S.A., Smith, Tobias J. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2023). Organic acid profiles of Australian stingless bee honey samples determined by ion chromatography. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 122 105466, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105466
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Feeding sugars to stingless bees: identifying the origin of trehalulose-rich honey composition
Hungerford, Natasha L., Zhang, Jiali, Smith, Tobias J., Yates, Hans S. A., Chowdhury, Sadia A., Carter, James F., Carpinelli de Jesus, Matheus and Fletcher, Mary T. (2021). Feeding sugars to stingless bees: identifying the origin of trehalulose-rich honey composition. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69 (35) acs.jafc.1c02859, 10292-10300. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c02859
2024
Conference Publication
Sugar identification in different bee honeys by ICMS
Yates, H.S.A., Carter, J.F., Hungerford, N.L., Santiago, V. and Fletcher, M.T. (2024). Sugar identification in different bee honeys by ICMS. 17th Asian Apiculture Association Conference, Freemantle, WA Australia, 12-14 June 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Differences in Trehalulose Levels in Stingless Bee Honeys from Various Countries
Zhang, Jiali, Hungerford, Natasha L., Yates, Hans S.A. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2024). Differences in Trehalulose Levels in Stingless Bee Honeys from Various Countries. 17th Asian Apiculture Association Conference, Freemantle, WA Australia, 12-14 June 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Exploring the chemistry and nutritional properties of native Australian citrus
Johnson, Joel B., Hungerford, Natasha L., Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael E. (2024). Exploring the chemistry and nutritional properties of native Australian citrus. Australian Citrus Congress, Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia, 6-7 March 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Stingless bee honey features the beneficial disaccharide trehalulose
Hungerford, Natasha L. (2024). Stingless bee honey features the beneficial disaccharide trehalulose. 2024 JMF Camargo International Symposium on Stingless Bees, Merida, Venezuela, 26-29 June 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Aliphatic organic acid profiles of Australian stingless bee honey
Hungerford, Natasha L., Yates, Hans S.A., Smith, Tobias and Fletcher, Mary T. (2024). Aliphatic organic acid profiles of Australian stingless bee honey. 2024 JMF Camargo International Symposium on Stingless Bees, Merida, Venezuela, 26-29 June 2024.
2023
Conference Publication
Nutritional value and chemical composition of Citrus garrawayi from different geographic locations
Johnson, Joel, Hungerford, Natasha, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael (2023). Nutritional value and chemical composition of Citrus garrawayi from different geographic locations. Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium (QACS), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 24 November 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Exploring the chemistry and nutritional properties of native Australian Citrus
Johnson, Joel B., Hungerford, Natasha L., Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael E. (2023). Exploring the chemistry and nutritional properties of native Australian Citrus. NextGen Ag Symposium, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia, 29 September 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
A rare health sugar, trehalulose, discovered in stingless bee honey
Zhang, Jiali, Hungerford, Natasha L., Smith, Tobias J., Yates, Hans S. A. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2023). A rare health sugar, trehalulose, discovered in stingless bee honey. 48th International Apiculture Congress, Santiago, Chile, 4-8th September 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Native Australian citrus: its current status and potential
Johnson, Joel, Hungerford, Natasha, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael (2023). Native Australian citrus: its current status and potential. FSS Science Week, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia, 15-17 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Macerating bees to create honey
Zhang, Jiali, Hungerford, Natasha L., Yates, Hans S.A., Smith, Tobias J. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2023). Macerating bees to create honey. Forensic and Scientific Services – Science Week 2023, Lightning talks, Coopers Plains, QLD Australia, 15-17 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
IC/PAD methods for amino acid analysis of fast-food meals
Yates, H. S. A., Carter, J. F., Joseph, A., Hungerford, N. L. and Fletcher, M. T. (2023). IC/PAD methods for amino acid analysis of fast-food meals. RACI R&D Topics, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 3-6 December 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Customised IC/PAD for amino acid analysis
Yates, H.S.A., Carter, J.F., Joseph, A., Hungerford, N.L. and Fletcher, M.T. (2023). Customised IC/PAD for amino acid analysis. Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24 November 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
HPLC quantitation of the methane-reducing bioactive 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) in biological matrices
Santiago, Viviene S., Fletcher, Mary T. and Hungerford, Natasha L. (2023). HPLC quantitation of the methane-reducing bioactive 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) in biological matrices. Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24 November 2023.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Natasha Hungerford is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Slow-release rumen inserts to deliver bioactive compounds that reduce enteric methane
Methane emissions could be substantially cut through a $7.5-million project to develop slow-release rumen insert technology for cattle containing a gas-reducing bioactive.
The University of Queensland and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) collaboration is being funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the MLA Donor Company Limited, to help producers meet the CN30 target to make the meat industry carbon neutral by 2030. The ability to ensure each animal receives a sustained dose of a methane-reducing active agent over an extended timeframe would be a fantastic win for the beef cattle industry, helping it achieve its goal to reduce methane emissions – particularly in cattle grazing extensive pastures.
This is a large multdisciplinary project and there is opportunity for PhD candidates with either an animal science or analytical chemistry background to be part of this biotechnology project.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Stingless bee enzymes for biotransformation of cane sugar to a low GI sugar
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James De Voss, Professor Mary Fletcher, Dr Loan Nguyen
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Doctor Philosophy
Atypical saccharides in emerging and novel foods
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mary Fletcher
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the nutritional and bioactive properties of native Australian Citrus species
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Dr Michael Netzel
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Mitigation of Pimelea poisoning of livestock using adsorbents
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bronwyn Laycock, Professor Mary Fletcher
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Mitigating the effects of the toxin simplexin in Pimelea poisoning of cattle by development of a microbial probiotic
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mary Fletcher
Media
Enquiries
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