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
2020
Conference Publication
A new method for the authentication of Australian honey
Chowdhury, Sadia A., Anuj, Shalona R., Carter, James F., Hungerford, Natasha L., Webber, Dennis, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Fletcher, Mary T. (2020). A new method for the authentication of Australian honey. Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI . doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036112
2019
Journal Article
Analysis of Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Queensland honey: Using low temperature chromatography to resolve stereoisomers and identify botanical sources by UHPLC-MS/MS
Hungerford, Natasha L., Carter, Steve J., Anuj, Shalona R., Tan, Benjamin L. L., Hnatko, Darina, Martin, Christopher L., Sharma, Elipsha, Yin, Mukan, Nguyen, Thao T. P., Melksham, Kevin J. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2019). Analysis of Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Queensland honey: Using low temperature chromatography to resolve stereoisomers and identify botanical sources by UHPLC-MS/MS. Toxins, 11 (12) 726, 726. doi: 10.3390/toxins11120726
2019
Journal Article
A sesquiterpene isonitrile with a new tricyclic skeleton from the Indo-Pacific nudibranch Phyllidiella pustulosa: Spectroscopic and computational studies
Sim, Desmond C.-M., Hungerford, Natasha L., Krenske, Elizabeth H., Pierens, Gregory K., Andrews, Katherine T., Skinner-Adams, Tina S. and Garson, Mary J. (2019). A sesquiterpene isonitrile with a new tricyclic skeleton from the Indo-Pacific nudibranch Phyllidiella pustulosa: Spectroscopic and computational studies. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 73 (3), 129-136. doi: 10.1071/CH19227
2019
Journal Article
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) and their presence in Australian honey
Carpinelli de Jesus, Matheus, Hungerford, Natasha L., Carter, Steve J., Anuj, Shalona R., Blanchfield, Joanne T., De Voss, James Joseph and Fletcher, Mary T. (2019). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) and their presence in Australian honey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67 (28) acs.jafc.9b02136, 7995-8006. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b02136
2019
Conference Publication
Modelling the controlled release of toxins in a rumen environment
Yuan, Yue, Gauthier, Emilie, Hungerford, Natasha L., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Fletcher, Mary T. and Laycock, Bronwyn (2019). Modelling the controlled release of toxins in a rumen environment. 4th Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium QACS 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Adsorbents for the sequestration of the Pimelea toxin, simplexin
Gordon, Russell J., Hungerford, Natasha L., Laycock, Bronwyn, Ouwerkerk, Diane and Fletcher, Mary T. (2019). Adsorbents for the sequestration of the Pimelea toxin, simplexin. Northern Beef Research Update Conference (NBRUC) 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 19 - 22 August 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Mitigating the effects of the toxin simplexin in pimelea poisoning of cattle by development of a microbial probiotic
Loh, Zhi Hung, Hungerford, Natasha L., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Gilbert, Rosalind A., Gravel, Jennifer, Minchin, Catherine M., Maguire, Anita J., Yong, Ken, Klieve, Athol and Fletcher, Mary (2019). Mitigating the effects of the toxin simplexin in pimelea poisoning of cattle by development of a microbial probiotic. TropAg2019, International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11 - 13 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Are toxic Pimelea secondary compounds absorbed via the intestinal lymph?
Gordon, Russell J., Hungerford, Natasha L., Laycock, Bronwyn and Fletcher, Mary T. (2019). Are toxic Pimelea secondary compounds absorbed via the intestinal lymph?. 4th Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium QACS 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Mitigating the effects of the toxin simplexin in pimelea poisoning of cattle by development of a microbial probiotic
Loh, Z. H., Hungerford, N. L., Ouwerkerk, D., Klieve, A. V. and Fletcher, M. T. (2019). Mitigating the effects of the toxin simplexin in pimelea poisoning of cattle by development of a microbial probiotic. 4th Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium QACS 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
2018
Conference Publication
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) in Australia
Carpinelli de Jesus, M., Hungerford, N. L., Carter, S. J., Anuj, S. R., De Voss, J. J., Blanchfield, J. T. and Fletcher, M. T. (2018). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) in Australia. 10th International Symposium of Poisonous Plants (ISOPP10), St George, Utah, United States, 16-20 September 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Elemental analysis of honey products sold in Queensland markets and assessment of nutritional significance
Tinggi, U., Hungerford, N.L., Fletcher, M.T., Farrell, M., Tan, B., Were, S.T. and Webber, D.C. (2018). Elemental analysis of honey products sold in Queensland markets and assessment of nutritional significance. ICFA 2018, 2nd International Conference on Food Analysis, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 19-22 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Identifying the pyrrolizidine alkaloid LC-MS/MS profile of Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule)
Matheus Carpinelli de Jesus, Natasha Hungerford, Steve Carter, Shalona Anuj, Joanne Blanchfield, James De Voss and Mary Fletcher (2018). Identifying the pyrrolizidine alkaloid LC-MS/MS profile of Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule). QMSS 2018 – 3rd Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, QUT, Brisbane, 6-7 December 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids – natural toxins risk in Queensland honey
Hungerford, N. L., Martin, C. L., Fletcher, M. T., Carter, S. J., Anuj, S. R., Sharma, E., Yin, M., Nguyen, T. T. P., Melksham, K. J. and Were, S. T. (2018). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids – natural toxins risk in Queensland honey. 10th International Symposium of Poisonous Plants (ISOPP10), St George, Utah, United States, 16-20 September, 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Authentication of Australian honey (don’t believe the headlines)
Chowdhury, Sadia A., Anuj, Shalona R., Carter, James F., Hungerford, Natasha L. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2018). Authentication of Australian honey (don’t believe the headlines). QACS 2018 - Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 23 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey
Melksham, K.M., Hungerford, N.L., Martin, C.L., Fletcher, M.T., Carter, S.J., Anuj, S.R., Tianqi, Z., Zawawi, N., Sharma, E., Yin, M., Nguyen, T.T.P., Were, S.T. and Tan, B. (2018). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in honey. ICFA 2018, 2nd International Conference on Food Analysis, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 19-22 November 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Authentication of Australian honey (don’t believe the headlines)
Chowdhury, Sadia A., Anuj, Shalona R., Carter, James F., Hungerford, Natasha L. and Fletcher, M. T. (2018). Authentication of Australian honey (don’t believe the headlines). QMSS 2018 - 3rd Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, QUT, Brisbane, 6-7 December 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Improving beef production through management of plant toxins – strategies for the Pimelea problem
Ouwerkerk, D., Fletcher, M., Laycock, B., Gilbert, R., Hungerford, N., Gauthier, E., Dixon, R., Silva, L. and Klieve, A. (2018). Improving beef production through management of plant toxins – strategies for the Pimelea problem. Beef Australia 2018, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 7-10 May 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Towards a Microbial Probiotic: LC-MS/MS Analysis of Simulated Rumen Degradation of the Pimelea Toxin Simplexin
Loh, Zhi Hung, Hungerford, Natasha L., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Gilbert, Rosalind A., Klieve, Athol V. and Fletcher, Mary T. (2018). Towards a Microbial Probiotic: LC-MS/MS Analysis of Simulated Rumen Degradation of the Pimelea Toxin Simplexin. QMSS 2018 – 3rd Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, QUT, Brisbane, Australia, 6-7 December 2018.
2017
Journal Article
(4+3) Cycloaddition reactions of N-alkyl oxidopyridinium ions
Fu, Chencheng, Lora, Nestor, Kirchhoefer, Patrick L., Lee, Dong Reyoul, Altenhofer, Erich, Barnes, Charles L., Hungerford, Natasha L., Krenske, Elizabeth H. and Harmata, Michael (2017). (4+3) Cycloaddition reactions of N-alkyl oxidopyridinium ions. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 56 (46), 14682-14687. doi: 10.1002/anie.201708320
2017
Conference Publication
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids – The Risk of Natural Toxins in Queensland Honey
Hungerford, N. L., Martin, C. L., Fletcher, M. T., Carter, S. J., Anuj, S. R., Sharma, E., Yin, M., Melksham, K. J. and Were, S. (2017). Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids – The Risk of Natural Toxins in Queensland Honey. TropAg2017, International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane / Brisbane Convention Centre, 20-22 November 2017.
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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