Associate Professor Scott Beatson
Associate Professor

Scott Beatson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54863

Background

Scott Beatson is an Associate Professor and NHMRC Career Development Fellow at The University of Queensland (UQ). He specializes in bacterial pathogenomics: using whole-genome sequencing to investigate transmission, pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Recent work from his group includes genomic analyses of pandrug resistant enterobacteriaceae and the multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 pandemic clone. He was awarded a PhD from UQ for his work in bacterial pathogenesis in 2002 and developed his career in bacterial genomics in the United Kingdom with the support of fellowships from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (University of Oxford) and the UK Medical Research Council (University of Birmingham). Since returning to Australia he has held fellowships from both the NHMRC and ARC and has led a successful research group in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at UQ since 2008. He is also a member of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre and the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics. In 2016 he received the Frank Fenner Award from the Australian Society for Microbiology in recognition of his contribution to microbiology research in Australia.

Availability

Associate Professor Scott Beatson is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Bacteriology Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Epigenetics (incl. genome methylation and epigenomics) Genetics Genomics Infectious agents Medical microbiology Microbial genetics Microbiology Molecular evolution Phylogeny and comparative analysis

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Otago
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Otago
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, The University of Manchester

Research impacts

In the past five years the Beatson Lab has focussed on clinically relevant pathogens and exploiting genomic technologies in the clinical setting. His group regularly reports the genome analyses of antibiotic resistant bacteria to the major tertiary hospitals in Brisbane as part of Queensland Genomics. He is the senior author of a phylogenomic study of E. coli ST131 in PNAS (2014; 312 citations), and joint first author of a landmark publication on the E. coli O157 genome (2006; 413 citations). Genome analysis software developed in his group is widely used i.e. BRIG (2011; 1026 citations) and EasyFig (2011; 756 citations). Since 1998 he has co-authored more than 120 journal articles (9756 citations), including 61 in the past 5 years and 43 with greater than 50 citations (Google Scholar 22/08/19). He regularly publishes in high-impact, general interest or specialist medical/microbiology journals including Science, PNAS, Clin Infect Dis, Nat Commun and MBio.

Search Professor Scott Beatson’s works on UQ eSpace

195 works between 1998 and 2025
All (195) Journal Article (170) Conference Publication (12) Other Outputs (13)

61 - 80 of 195 works

2019

Journal Article

Variation in hemolysin A expression between uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates determines NLRP3-dependent vs. -independent macrophage cell death and host colonization

Murthy, Ambika M. V., Sullivan, Matthew J., Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Lo, Alvin W., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Boucher, Dave, Schroder, Kate, Beatson, Scott A., Ulett, Glen C., Schembri, Mark A. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2019). Variation in hemolysin A expression between uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates determines NLRP3-dependent vs. -independent macrophage cell death and host colonization. FASEB Journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 33 (6), fj201802100R-7450. doi: 10.1096/fj.201802100R

Variation in hemolysin A expression between uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates determines NLRP3-dependent vs. -independent macrophage cell death and host colonization

2019

Other Outputs

Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an ESBL-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. (2019). Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit. doi: 10.1101/568154

Genomic investigation reveals contaminated detergent as the source of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella michiganensis outbreak in a neonatal unit

2019

Journal Article

Detection of epidemic scarlet fever group A Streptococcus in Australia

Walker, Mark J., Brouwer, Stephan, Forde, Brian M., Worthing, Kate A., McIntyre, Liam, Sundac, Lana, Maloney, Sam, Roberts, Leah W., Barnett, Timothy C., Richter, Johanna, Cork, Amanda J., Irwin, Adam D., You, Yuanhai, Zhang, Jianzhong, Dougan, Gordon, Yuen, K. Y., Nizet, Victor, Beatson, Scott A., Grimwood, Keith and Davies, Mark R. (2019). Detection of epidemic scarlet fever group A Streptococcus in Australia. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69 (7), 1232-1234. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz099

Detection of epidemic scarlet fever group A Streptococcus in Australia

2019

Journal Article

Correction: Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis (PLoS One (2017) 12:3 (e0172179) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172179)

Sherrard, Laura J., Tai, Anna S., Wee, Bryan A., Ramsay, Kay A., Kidd, Timothy J., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Whiley, David M., Beatson, Scott A. and Bell, Scott C. (2019). Correction: Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis (PLoS One (2017) 12:3 (e0172179) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172179). PLoS ONE, 14 (1) e0210929. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210929

Correction: Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis (PLoS One (2017) 12:3 (e0172179) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172179)

2019

Conference Publication

SRA down under: cache and analysis platform for infectious disease

Cuddihy, Thom, Forde, Brian, Rhodes, Nicholas, Paterson, David, Gorse, Dominique, Beatson, Scott and Harris, Patrick (2019). SRA down under: cache and analysis platform for infectious disease. Australian national conference for Health Informatics (HIC 2019), Melbourne, Australia, 12-14 August 2019. Amsterdam, Netherlands: IOS Press. doi: 10.3233/SHTI190776

SRA down under: cache and analysis platform for infectious disease

2018

Journal Article

Discovery of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in a highly virulent Escherichia coli lineage

Forde, Brian M., Zowawi, Hosam M., Harris, Patrick N. A., Roberts, Leah, Ibrahim, Emad, Shaikh, Nissar, Deshmukh, Anand, Sid Ahmed, Mazen A., Al Maslamani, Muna, Cottrell, Kyra, Trembizki, Ella, Sundac, Lana, Yu, Heidi H., Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Whiley, David M., Paterson, David L. and Beatson, Scott A. (2018). Discovery of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in a highly virulent Escherichia coli lineage. mSphere, 3 (5) e00486-18. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00486-18

Discovery of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance in a highly virulent Escherichia coli lineage

2018

Journal Article

Effect of piperacillin-tazobactam vs meropenem on 30-day mortality for patients with E coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection and ceftriaxone resistance: a randomized clinical trial

Harris, Patrick N. A., Tambyah, Paul A., Lye, David C., Mo, Yin, Lee, Tau H., Yilmaz, Mesut, Alenazi, Thamer H., Arabi, Yaseen, Falcone, Marco, Bassetti, Matteo, Righi, Elda, Rogers, Benjamin A., Kanj, Souha, Bhally, Hasan, Iredell, Jon, Mendelson, Marc, Boyles, Tom H., Looke, David, Miyakis, Spiros, Walls, Genevieve, Al Khamis, Mohammed, Zikri, Ahmed, Crowe, Amy, Ingram, Paul, Daneman, Nick, Griffin, Paul, Athan, Eugene, Lorenc, Penelope, Baker, Peter ... MERINO Trial Investigators and the Australasian Society for Infectious Disease Clinical Research Network (ASID-CRN) (2018). Effect of piperacillin-tazobactam vs meropenem on 30-day mortality for patients with E coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection and ceftriaxone resistance: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 320 (10), 984-994. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.12163

Effect of piperacillin-tazobactam vs meropenem on 30-day mortality for patients with E coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection and ceftriaxone resistance: a randomized clinical trial

2018

Journal Article

Whole genome sequencing reveals the emergence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa shared strain sub-lineage among patients treated within a single cystic fibrosis centre

Wee, Bryan A., Tai, Anna S., Sherrard, Laura J., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Hanks, Kirt R., Kidd, Timothy J., Ramsay, Kay A., Lamont, Iain, Whiley, David M., Bell, Scott C. and Beatson, Scott A. (2018). Whole genome sequencing reveals the emergence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa shared strain sub-lineage among patients treated within a single cystic fibrosis centre. BMC Genomics, 19 (1) 644, 644. doi: 10.1186/s12864-018-5018-x

Whole genome sequencing reveals the emergence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa shared strain sub-lineage among patients treated within a single cystic fibrosis centre

2018

Journal Article

Discovery of new genes involved in curli production by a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain from the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 lineage

Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Lo, Alvin W., Forde, Brian M., Min Chong, Teik, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Chromek, Milan, Brauner, Annelie, Chapman, Matthew R., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2018). Discovery of new genes involved in curli production by a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain from the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 lineage. mBio, 9 (4) e01462-18. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01462-18

Discovery of new genes involved in curli production by a uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain from the highly virulent O45:K1:H7 lineage

2018

Journal Article

Microevolution of aquatic Streptococcus agalactiae ST-261 from Australia indicates dissemination via imported tilapia and ongoing adaptation to marine hosts or environment

Kawasaki, Minami, Delamare-Deboutteville, Jerome, Bowater, Rachel O, Walker, Mark J., Beatson, Scott, Ben Zakour, Nouri L. and Barnes, Andrew C. (2018). Microevolution of aquatic Streptococcus agalactiae ST-261 from Australia indicates dissemination via imported tilapia and ongoing adaptation to marine hosts or environment. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 84 (16) e00859-18, AEM.00859-18. doi: 10.1128/aem.00859-18

Microevolution of aquatic Streptococcus agalactiae ST-261 from Australia indicates dissemination via imported tilapia and ongoing adaptation to marine hosts or environment

2018

Other Outputs

Whole genome sequencing reveals the emergence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa shared strain sub-lineage among patients treated within a single cystic fibrosis centre

Wee, Bryan A., Tai, Anna S., Sherrard, Laura J., Zakour, Nouri L. Ben, Hanks, Kirt R., Kidd, Timothy J., Ramsay, Kay A., Lamont, Iain, Whiley, David M., Bell, Scott C. and Beatson, Scott A. (2018). Whole genome sequencing reveals the emergence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa shared strain sub-lineage among patients treated within a single cystic fibrosis centre. doi: 10.1101/261586

Whole genome sequencing reveals the emergence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa shared strain sub-lineage among patients treated within a single cystic fibrosis centre

2018

Journal Article

Use of whole genome sequencing to investigate an increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women in urban areas of Australia

Buckley, Cameron, Forde, Brian M., Trembizki, Ella, Lahra, Monica M., Beatson, Scott A. and Whiley, David M. (2018). Use of whole genome sequencing to investigate an increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women in urban areas of Australia. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 1503, 1-7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20015-x

Use of whole genome sequencing to investigate an increase in Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women in urban areas of Australia

2018

Journal Article

Genetic variation in IRF4 expression modulates growth characteristics, tyrosinase expression and interferon-gamma response in melanocytic cells

Chhabra, Yash, Yong, Hilary X. L., Fane, Mitchell E., Soogrim, Arish, Lim, Wen, Mahiuddin, Dayana Nur, Kim, Reuben S. Q., Ashcroft, Melinda, Beatson, Scott A., Ainger, Stephen A., Smit, Darren J., Jagirdar, Kasturee, Walker, Graeme J., Sturm, Richard A. and Smith, Aaron G. (2018). Genetic variation in IRF4 expression modulates growth characteristics, tyrosinase expression and interferon-gamma response in melanocytic cells. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 31 (1), 51-63. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12620

Genetic variation in IRF4 expression modulates growth characteristics, tyrosinase expression and interferon-gamma response in melanocytic cells

2017

Journal Article

Whole genome analysis of cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli from bloodstream infections in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: high prevalence of CMY-2 producers and ST131 carrying blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-27

Harris, Patrick N. A., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Roberts, Leah W., Wailan, Alexander M., Zowawi, Hosam M., Tambyah, Paul A., Lye, David C., Jureen, Roland, Lee, Tau H., Yin, Mo, Izharuddin, Ezlyn, Looke, David, Runnegar, Naomi, Rogers, Benjamin, Bhally, Hasan, Crowe, Amy, Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A. and Paterson, David L. (2017). Whole genome analysis of cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli from bloodstream infections in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: high prevalence of CMY-2 producers and ST131 carrying blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-27. The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 73 (3), 634-642. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkx466

Whole genome analysis of cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli from bloodstream infections in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: high prevalence of CMY-2 producers and ST131 carrying blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-27

2017

Journal Article

Genome-wide discovery of genes required for capsule production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Goh, Kelvin G. K., Phan, Minh-Duy, Forde, Brian M., Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Ulett, Glen C., Sweet, Matthew J., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Genome-wide discovery of genes required for capsule production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli. MBio, 8 (5) e01558-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01558-17

Genome-wide discovery of genes required for capsule production by uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2017

Journal Article

Complete Genome Sequence of Serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae Sequence Type 17 Strain 874391

Sullivan, Matthew J, Forde, Brian M, Prince, Darren W, Ipe, Deepak S, Ben Zakour, Nouri L, Davies, Mark R, Dougan, Gordon, Beatson, Scott A and Ulett, Glen C (2017). Complete Genome Sequence of Serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae Sequence Type 17 Strain 874391. Genome Announcements, 5 (42) e01107-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01107-17

Complete Genome Sequence of Serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae Sequence Type 17 Strain 874391

2017

Journal Article

Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Phan, Minh-Duy, Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Achard, Maud E. S., Forde, Brian M., Hong, Kar Wai, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, West, Nicholas P., Walker, Mark J., Paterson, David L., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 72 (10), 2729-2736. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkx204

Modifications in the pmrB gene are the primary mechanism for the development of chromosomally encoded resistance to polymyxins in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2017

Other Outputs

SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

Forde, Brian M., McAllister, Lauren J., Paton, James C., Paton, Adrienne W. and Beatson, Scott A. (2017). SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia. doi: 10.1101/173336

SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

2017

Journal Article

'Omic' approaches to study Uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence

Lo, Alvin W., Moriel, Danilo G., Phan, Minh-Duy, Schulz, Benjamin L., Kidd, Timothy J., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). 'Omic' approaches to study Uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence. Trends in Microbiology, 25 (9), 729-740. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.04.006

'Omic' approaches to study Uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence

2017

Journal Article

Novel genes associated with enhanced motility of Escherichia coli ST131

Kakkanat, Asha, Minh-Duy Phan, Lo, Alvin W., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Novel genes associated with enhanced motility of Escherichia coli ST131. PLoS One, 12 (5) e0176290, e0176290.1-e0176290.22. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176290

Novel genes associated with enhanced motility of Escherichia coli ST131

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Australian Pathogen Genomics (AusPathoGen) Program (MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Flagships administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Rapid detection of resistance genes from Gram-negative bacteria isolated from blood in ICU-admitted patients
    Pathology Queensland - Study, Education & Research Trust Fund
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Virulence and detection of Escherichia coli that cause neonatal meningitis
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Cluster randomised trial of a multimodal intervention to reduce antimicrobial use in residential aged care facilities
    NHMRC MRFF - Antimicrobial Resistance Targeted Call for Research
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Integrated bacterial genomics and virulence analysis of uropathogenic Streptococcus agalactiae (NHMRC Project Grant led by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Epigenetic regulation in bacteria
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Instrumentation for the analysis of cellular and metabolic phenotypes
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Bacterial Pathogenomics: whole-genome sequencing to investigate infection transmission, pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance
    NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Superbugs and veterinary drugs: Are multidrug-resistant zoonotic pathogens residing in Australian animals? (ARC Linkage Project administered by University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    A pan-genome reverse vaccinology approach to disease prevention in farmed fish
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Functional and genomic analysis of the globally disseminated multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 clone
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Smarter fermentations through starter culture genomics
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Evolution and pathogenicity of NDM-1 positive Escherichia coli
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    ResTeach Funding 2012 0.2 FTE School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Cell culture facilities for studying host-pathogen interactions and immune function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Escherichia coli ST131: an emerging pathogen
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Adhesins of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Genomics as a tool to study P aeruginosa lung disease in cystic fibrosis
    Australian Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Evolution and function of a novel lateral flagellar locus, Flag-2, in pathogenic Escherichia coli (NHMRC Project grant administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Infrastructure for biochemistry and infectious disease resarch in molecualr biosciences
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Molecular basis of asymptomatic colonization of the human urinary tract
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    ResTeach 2009 0.2 FTE School of Chemical and Molecular Biosciences
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    The evolution of bacterial pathogenesis: a genomic approach
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Understanding staphylococcal urinary tract infections: a comparative genomics approach
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    The complete genome sequence of asymptomatic bacteriuria 'Escherichia coli' strain VR50
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    NHMRC Howard Florey Fellowship: Bacterial Pathogenesis: A Genomic Approach
    NHMRC Career Development Award
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Scott Beatson is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Using low-cost state of the art technology and big data to help smallholder fish farmers to diagnose and control disease

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Oleksandra Rudenko, Professor Andrew Barnes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Preliminary study to develop workflows for use of low-cost state of the art technology and big data to diagnose bacterial fish diseases in resource limited settings using Streptococcosis as a model

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Oleksandra Rudenko, Professor Andrew Barnes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Preliminary study to develop workflows for use of low-cost state of the art technology and big data to diagnose bacterial fish diseases in resource limited settings using Streptococcosis as a model

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Oleksandra Rudenko, Professor Andrew Barnes

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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