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Dr Brian Forde
Dr

Brian Forde

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 36245

Overview

Background

Brian Forde is a fellow in microbial bioinformatics and Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ) Centre for Clinical Research (CCR). Brian was awarded a PhD from University College Cork, Ireland, in 2013 and developed his interest in bacterial genomics as a postdoctoral fellow at the UQ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB). Currently, his work is primarily focused on clinical microbial genomics, including: the evolution of antibiotic resistance, genomic epidemiology, genomic surveillance of Infectious Diseases and translating genomic research into clinical practice. Since 2017 he has been part of a multidisciplinary team, including researchers, infectious diseases clinicians and infection control professionals, leading the introduction of WGS to investigate hospital-acquired infection in Queensland (https://www.queenslandgenomics.org). In 2020, Brian was awarded Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship to explore the application of Artificial Intelligence to genomic surveillance and transmission dynamics.

Availability

Dr Brian Forde is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University College Cork
  • Doctor of Philosophy, National University of Ireland

Research impacts

Since 2010 Brian has co-authored 52 journal articles, with 13 as first, co-first or senior author. His has been cited 1430 times, resulting in a h-index of 19 and an i10-index of 25 (Google Scholar 28/10/2020). Brians work is regularly published in leading specialist microbiology or infectious disease journals including MBio, AAC and JAC and have also featured in high impact journals such as Nat Comm, Nat Micro, PNAS, CID and CMR. Recent work include a longitudinal study describing a unique comprehensive genomic analysis of a clonal lineage within a single individual over a 5-year period (Forde et al. Nat Comm, 2019). This work provided the framework for the utilization of genomics to help manage and treat patients suffering from debilitating chronic infections.

As part of Queensland Genomics Brian has led and assisted in projects that apply genomics to characterise and resolve infectious outbreaks in clinical settings (Chapman & Forde et al. JCM, 2020; Roberts et al. Nat Comm, 2020; Roberts et al. bioRxiv, 2018). In his current role as lead Bioinformatician for the Queensland Genomics (QG) infectious diseases (ID) project, Brian has developed pipelines for surveillance of priority bacterial pathogens. These tools, which included the development of an outbreak detection and visualisation tool, CATHAI (https:cathai.beatsonlab.com), are used by infection control professional in large Brisbane metropolitan hospitals.

Works

Search Professor Brian Forde’s works on UQ eSpace

113 works between 2010 and 2024

61 - 80 of 113 works

2020

Journal Article

Repurposing a neurodegenerative disease drug to treat Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacterial sepsis

De Oliveira, David M. P., Bohlmann, Lisa, Conroy, Trent, Jen, Freda E.-C., Everest-Dass, Arun, Hansford, Karl A., Bolisetti, Raghu, El-Deeb, Ibrahim M., Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Lacey, Jake A., Tan, Aimee, Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Brouwer, Stephan, Keller, Nadia, Kidd, Timothy J., Cork, Amanda J., Bauer, Michelle J., Cook, Gregory M., Davies, Mark R., Beatson, Scott A., Paterson, David L., McEwan, Alastair G., Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Jennings, Michael P., McDevitt, Christopher A., von Itzstein, Mark and Walker, Mark J. (2020). Repurposing a neurodegenerative disease drug to treat Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacterial sepsis. Science Translational Medicine, 12 (570) abb3791, eabb3791. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abb3791

Repurposing a neurodegenerative disease drug to treat Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacterial sepsis

2020

Journal Article

Outbreak of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri in northern Australia due to an endemic regional clone acquiring an IncFII plasmid

Guglielmino, Christine J. D., Kakkanat, Asha, Forde, Brian M., Rubenach, Sally, Merone, Lea, Stafford, Russell, Graham, Rikki M. A., Beatson, Scott A. and Jennison, Amy V. (2020). Outbreak of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri in northern Australia due to an endemic regional clone acquiring an IncFII plasmid. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 40 (2), 279-286. doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-04029-w

Outbreak of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri in northern Australia due to an endemic regional clone acquiring an IncFII plasmid

2020

Journal Article

Comprehensive analysis of IncC plasmid conjugation identifies a crucial role for the transcriptional regulator AcaB

Hancock, Steven J., Phan, Minh-Duy, Luo, Zhenyao, Lo, Alvin W., Peters, Kate M., Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Forde, Brian M., Whitfield, Jason, Yang, Ji, Strugnell, Richard A., Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R., Kobe, Bostjan, Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2020). Comprehensive analysis of IncC plasmid conjugation identifies a crucial role for the transcriptional regulator AcaB. Nature Microbiology, 5 (11), 1340-1348. doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-0775-0

Comprehensive analysis of IncC plasmid conjugation identifies a crucial role for the transcriptional regulator AcaB

2020

Other Outputs

Genomic surveillance, characterisation and intervention of a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in critical care

Roberts, Leah W., Forde, Brian M., Hurst, Trish, Ling, Weiping, Nimmo, Graeme R., Bergh, Haakon, George, Narelle, Hajkowicz, Krispin, McNamara, John F, Lipman, Jeffrey, Permana, Budi, Schembri, Mark A., Paterson, David, Beatson, Scott A. and Harris, Patrick N. A. (2020). Genomic surveillance, characterisation and intervention of a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in critical care. doi: 10.1101/2020.08.10.20166652

Genomic surveillance, characterisation and intervention of a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in critical care

2020

Journal Article

Fatal respiratory diphtheria caused by ß-lactam–resistant corynebacterium diphtheriae

Forde, Brian M., Henderson, Andrew, Playford, Elliott G., Looke, David, Henderson, Belinda C., Watson, Catherine, Steen, Jason A., Sidjabat, Hanna E., Laurie, Gordon, Muttaiyah, Sharmini, Nimmo, Graeme R., Lampe, Guy, Smith, Helen, Jennison, Amy V., McCall, Brad, Carroll, Heidi, Cooper, Matthew A., Paterson, David L. and Beatson, Scott A. (2020). Fatal respiratory diphtheria caused by ß-lactam–resistant corynebacterium diphtheriae. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73 (11), e4531-e4538. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1147

Fatal respiratory diphtheria caused by ß-lactam–resistant corynebacterium diphtheriae

2020

Conference Publication

Involvement of a truncated MADS-box transcription factor ZmTMM1 in root nitrate foraging

Liu, Ying, Jia, Zhongtao, Li, Xuelian, Wang, Zhangkui, Chen, Fanjun, Mi, Guohua, Forde, Brian, Takahashi, Hideki and Yuan, Lixing (2020). Involvement of a truncated MADS-box transcription factor ZmTMM1 in root nitrate foraging. 4th International Symposium on the Nitrogen Nutrition of Plants, Nanjing, China, 21-25 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraa116

Involvement of a truncated MADS-box transcription factor ZmTMM1 in root nitrate foraging

2020

Journal Article

Antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPE pathogens

De Oliveira, David M. P., Forde, Brian M., Kidd, Timothy J., Harris, Patrick N. A., Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A., Paterson, David L. and Walker, Mark J. (2020). Antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPE pathogens. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 33 (3) e00181-19, e00181-19. doi: 10.1128/cmr.00181-19

Antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPE pathogens

2020

Other Outputs

Strain and lineage-level methylome heterogeneity in the multi-drug resistant pathogenic Escherichia coli ST101 clone

Ashcroft, Melinda M., Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Roberts, Leah W., Chan, Kok-Gan, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R., Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2020). Strain and lineage-level methylome heterogeneity in the multi-drug resistant pathogenic Escherichia coli ST101 clone. doi: 10.1101/2020.06.07.138552

Strain and lineage-level methylome heterogeneity in the multi-drug resistant pathogenic Escherichia coli ST101 clone

2020

Other Outputs

Genomic characterisation and context of the blaNDM-1 carbapenemase in Escherichia coli ST101

Ashcroft, Melinda M., Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Henderson, Andrew, Hancock, Steven J., Roberts, Leah W., White, Rhys T., Chan, Kok-Gan, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R., Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2020). Genomic characterisation and context of the blaNDM-1 carbapenemase in Escherichia coli ST101. doi: 10.1101/860726

Genomic characterisation and context of the blaNDM-1 carbapenemase in Escherichia coli ST101

2020

Journal Article

Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit

Chapman, Paul, Forde, Brian M., Roberts, Leah W., Bergh, Haakon, Vesey, Debra, Jennison, Amy V., Moss, Susan, Paterson, David L., Beatson, Scott A. and Harris, Patrick N. A. (2020). Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 58 (5) e01980. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01980-19

Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit

2020

Journal Article

Phase variation in latB associated with a fatal Pasteurella multocida outbreak in captive squirrel gliders

Omaleki, Lida, Beatson, Scott A., Thomrongsuwannakij, Thotsapol, Blackall, Patrick J., Buller, Nicky B., Hair, Sam D., Vitali, Simone D., Wallace, Alisa M., Turni, Conny and Forde, Brian M. (2020). Phase variation in latB associated with a fatal Pasteurella multocida outbreak in captive squirrel gliders. Veterinary Microbiology, 243 108612, 108612. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108612

Phase variation in latB associated with a fatal Pasteurella multocida outbreak in captive squirrel gliders

2020

Conference Publication

Predicting nitroimidazole antibiotic resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with protein engineering

Lee, Brendon, Almeida, Deepak, Afriat-Jurnou, Livnat, Aung, Htin, Forde, Brian, Harold, Liam, Hards, Kiel, Pidot, Sacha, Ahmed, Hafna, Mohamed, Elaaf, Taylor, Mathew, West, Nicholas, Stinear, Timothy, Greening, Chris, Beatson, Scott, Cook, Gregory, Nuermberger, Eric and Jackson, Colin (2020). Predicting nitroimidazole antibiotic resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with protein engineering. Annual Meeting on Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA, United States, 4-7 April 2020. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.04923

Predicting nitroimidazole antibiotic resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with protein engineering

2020

Journal Article

Using genomics to understand inter- and intra- outbreak diversity of Pasteurella multocida isolates associated with fowl cholera in meat chickens

Omaleki, Lida, Blackall, Patrick J., Cuddihy, Thom, Beatson, Scott A., Forde, Brian M. and Turni, Conny (2020). Using genomics to understand inter- and intra- outbreak diversity of Pasteurella multocida isolates associated with fowl cholera in meat chickens. Microbial Genomics, 6 (3) 000346, 1-8. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000346

Using genomics to understand inter- and intra- outbreak diversity of Pasteurella multocida isolates associated with fowl cholera in meat chickens

2020

Journal Article

Predicting nitroimidazole antibiotic resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with protein engineering

Lee, Brendon M., Harold, Liam K., Almeida, Deepak V., Afriat-Jurnou, Livnat, Aung, Htin Lin, Forde, Brian M., Hards, Kiel, Pidot, Sacha J., Ahmed, F. Hafna, Mohamed, A. Elaaf, Taylor, Matthew C., West, Nicholas P., Stinear, Timothy P., Greening, Chris, Beatson, Scott A., Nuermberger, Eric L., Cook, Gregory M. and Jackson, Colin J. (2020). Predicting nitroimidazole antibiotic resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with protein engineering. PLoS Pathogens, 16 (2) e1008287, e1008287. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008287

Predicting nitroimidazole antibiotic resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with protein engineering

2020

Journal Article

Integrating multiple genomic technologies to investigate an outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter hormaechei

Roberts, Leah W., Harris, Patrick N. A., Forde, Brian M., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Catchpoole, Elizabeth, Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Phan, Minh-Duy, Sidjabat, Hanna E., Bergh, Haakon, Heney, Claire, Gawthorne, Jayde A., Lipman, Jeffrey, Allworth, Anthony, Chan, Kok-Gan, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Schembri, Mark A., Paterson, David L. and Beatson, Scott A. (2020). Integrating multiple genomic technologies to investigate an outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter hormaechei. Nature Communications, 11 (1) 466, 466. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-14139-5

Integrating multiple genomic technologies to investigate an outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter hormaechei

2019

Other Outputs

A high quality reference genome for the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae

Alsheikh-Hussain, Areej S., Zakour, Nouri L. Ben, Forde, Brian M., Silayeva, Oleksandra, Barnes, Andrew C. and Beatson, Scott A. (2019). A high quality reference genome for the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae. doi: 10.1101/2019.12.17.880476

A high quality reference genome for the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae

2019

Journal Article

Complex multilevel control of hemolysin production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Phan, Minh-Duy, Forde, Brian M., Murthy, Ambika M. V., Peters, Kate M., Day, Christopher J., Poole, Jessica, Kidd, Timothy J., Welch, Rodney A., Jennings, Michael P., Ulett, Glen C., Sweet, Matthew J., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2019). Complex multilevel control of hemolysin production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli. mBio, 10 (5) e02248-19. doi: 10.1128/mbio.02248-19

Complex multilevel control of hemolysin production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2019

Journal Article

Whole-genome sequencing as an improved means of investigating Neisseria gonorrhoeae treatment failures

Buckley, Cameron, Beatson, Scott A., Limnios, Athena, Lahra, Monica M., Whiley, David M. and Forde, Brian M. (2019). Whole-genome sequencing as an improved means of investigating Neisseria gonorrhoeae treatment failures. Sexual Health, 16 (5), 500-507. doi: 10.1071/SH19012

Whole-genome sequencing as an improved means of investigating Neisseria gonorrhoeae treatment failures

2019

Journal Article

Population dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection

Forde, Brian M., Roberts, Leah W., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Fleming, Brittany A., Russell, Colin W., Lenherr, Sara M., Myers, Jeremy B., Barker, Adam P., Fisher, Mark A., Chong, Teik-Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Schembri, Mark A., Mulvey, Matthew A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2019). Population dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 3643, 3643. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11571-5

Population dynamics of an Escherichia coli ST131 lineage during recurrent urinary tract infection

2019

Journal Article

SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- STEC isolates from a hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

Forde, Brian M., McAllister, Lauren J., Paton, James C., Paton, Adrienne W. and Beatson, Scott A. (2019). SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- STEC isolates from a hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 9436, 9436. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45760-5

SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- STEC isolates from a hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2029
    ROAD RCT: Resistance Optimised Antibiotic Dosing in critically ill patients - a Randomised Controlled Trial
    NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2029
    ROAD RCT: Resistance Optimised Antibiotic Dosing in critically ill patients - a Randomised Controlled Trial
    NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Unlocking the gut microbiome to track the spread of AMR genes and pathogens
    MRFF - Global Health Initiative
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    A Rapid, Routine Genomics Service for Clinical Haematology (QLD Health Targeted CRF led by RBWH Metro North Health)
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Accelerating pathogen detection and antibiotic resistance prediction in children with suspected sepsis
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    A Faster Cure for Tuberculosis: Revealing Adjunctive Antimicrobial Solutions
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Development of Wastewater-based epidemiology as a complementary approach for antimicrobial resistance surveillance
    Heidi-CSIRO IDR and AMR Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    The 3,000 Genomes project: using machine learning and artificial intelligence for robust culture-independent susceptibility testing
    Heidi-CSIRO IDR and AMR Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Automating Infectious Disease Surveillance with Artificial Intelligence
    Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Brian Forde is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic approaches to the surveillance and control of multidrug resistant Enterobacterales.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Patrick Harris

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genomic and molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistance mechanisms

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Schembri

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Malaria and Infections Diseases in military personnel in the Asia Pacific Region

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Treatment Strategies for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC-producing Enterobacterales

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Patrick Harris, Mr Mark Chatfield

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identifying Novel Vaccine and Drug Targets of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nick West

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Randomised controlled trial of ceftolozane-tazobactam vs meropenem for bloodstream infections

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Patrick Harris, Mr Mark Chatfield

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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