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)

81 - 100 of 195 works

2017

Journal Article

Diving deep into hospital-acquired Legionella pneumophila with whole-genome sequencing

Beatson, Scott A.  and Bartley, Paul B. (2017). Diving deep into hospital-acquired Legionella pneumophila with whole-genome sequencing. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 64 (9), 1260-1262. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix156

Diving deep into hospital-acquired Legionella pneumophila with whole-genome sequencing

2017

Journal Article

Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis

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. (2017). Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis. PLoS One, 12 (3) e0172179, e0172179.1-e0172179.15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172179

Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis

2017

Journal Article

Identification of IncA/C plasmid replication and maintenance genes and development of a plasmid multi-locus sequence-typing scheme

Hancock, Steven J., Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Forde, Brian M., Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). Identification of IncA/C plasmid replication and maintenance genes and development of a plasmid multi-locus sequence-typing scheme. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 61 (2) e01740. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01740-16

Identification of IncA/C plasmid replication and maintenance genes and development of a plasmid multi-locus sequence-typing scheme

2017

Conference Publication

Clouds and Pasteurella multocida

Omaleki, L., Turni, C., Beatson, S. and Blackall, P. J. (2017). Clouds and Pasteurella multocida. Microbiology in Moreton Bay, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, Qld, Australia, 2 December 2017.

Clouds and Pasteurella multocida

2017

Conference Publication

Clouds and Pasteurella multocida – an updated forecast

Omaleki, L., Turni, C., Beatson, S. and Blackall, P. J. (2017). Clouds and Pasteurella multocida – an updated forecast. Australasian Poultry Veterinary Alliance Meeting, Geelong, Victoria, 15 -17 November 2017.

Clouds and Pasteurella multocida – an updated forecast

2016

Journal Article

A novel protective vaccine antigen from the core Escherichia coli genome

Moriel, Danilo G., Tan, Lendl, Goh, Kelvin G. K., Phan, Minh-Duy, Ipe, Deepak S., Lo, Alvin W., Peters, Kate M., Ulett, Glen C., Beatson, Scott. A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). A novel protective vaccine antigen from the core Escherichia coli genome. mSphere, 1 (6) e00326-16. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00326-16

A novel protective vaccine antigen from the core Escherichia coli genome

2016

Journal Article

Differential regulation of the surface-exposed and secreted SslE lipoprotein in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli

Tan, Lendl, Moriel, Danilo G., Totsika, Makrina, Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). Differential regulation of the surface-exposed and secreted SslE lipoprotein in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. PLoS One, 11 (9) e0162391, e0162391. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162391

Differential regulation of the surface-exposed and secreted SslE lipoprotein in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli

2016

Journal Article

Comprehensive analysis of type 1 fimbriae regulation in fimB-null strains from the multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 clone

Sarkar, Sohinee, Roberts, Leah W., Phan, Minh-Duy, Tan, Lendl, Lo, Alvin W., Peters, Kate M., Paterson, David L., Upton, Mathew, Ulett, Glen C., Beatson, Scott A., Totsika, Makrina and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). Comprehensive analysis of type 1 fimbriae regulation in fimB-null strains from the multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 clone. Molecular Microbiology, 101 (6), 1069-1087. doi: 10.1111/mmi.13442

Comprehensive analysis of type 1 fimbriae regulation in fimB-null strains from the multidrug resistant Escherichia coli ST131 clone

2016

Journal Article

Mechanisms involved in acquisition of blaNDM genes by IncA/C2 and IncFIIY plasmids

Wailan, Alexander M., Sidjabat, Hanna E., Yam, Wan Keat, Alikhan, Nabil-Fareed, Petty, Nicola K., Sartor, Anna L., Williamson, Deborah A., Forde, Brian M., Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A., Paterson, David L., Walsh, Timothy R. and Partridge, Sally R. (2016). Mechanisms involved in acquisition of blaNDM genes by IncA/C2 and IncFIIY plasmids. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 60 (7), 4082-4088. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00368-16

Mechanisms involved in acquisition of blaNDM genes by IncA/C2 and IncFIIY plasmids

2016

Journal Article

Erratum for Ben Zakour et al., Sequential Acquisition of Virulence and Fluoroquinolone Resistance Has Shaped the Evolution of Escherichia coli ST131

Ben Zakour, Nouri L, Alsheikh-Hussain, Areej S, Ashcroft, Melinda M, Khanh Nhu, Nguyen Thi, Roberts, Leah W, Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Schembri, Mark A and Beatson, Scott A (2016). Erratum for Ben Zakour et al., Sequential Acquisition of Virulence and Fluoroquinolone Resistance Has Shaped the Evolution of Escherichia coli ST131. mBio, 7 (3), 1-1. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00958-16

Erratum for Ben Zakour et al., Sequential Acquisition of Virulence and Fluoroquinolone Resistance Has Shaped the Evolution of Escherichia coli ST131

2016

Journal Article

Complete genome sequence of the haloalkaliphilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate and sulfide-oxidizing γ-proteobacterium Thioalkalimicrobium cyclicum type strain ALM 1 (DSM 14477T)

Kappler, Ulrike, Davenport, Karen, Beatson, Scott, Lapidus, Alla, Pan, Chongle, Han, Cliff, Montero-Calasanz, Maria del Carmen, Land, Miriam, Hauser, Loren, Rohde, Manfred, Goeker, Markus, Ivanova, Natalia, Woyke, Tanja, Klenk, Hans-Peter and Kyrpides, Nikos C. (2016). Complete genome sequence of the haloalkaliphilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate and sulfide-oxidizing γ-proteobacterium Thioalkalimicrobium cyclicum type strain ALM 1 (DSM 14477T). Standards in Genomic Sciences, 11 (38) 38, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s40793-016-0162-x

Complete genome sequence of the haloalkaliphilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate and sulfide-oxidizing γ-proteobacterium Thioalkalimicrobium cyclicum type strain ALM 1 (DSM 14477T)

2016

Journal Article

Molecular characterisation of the Vacuolating Autotransporter Toxin in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Nichols, Katie B., Totsika, Makrina, Moriel, Danilo G., Lo, Alvin W., Yang, Ji, Wurpel, Daniel J., Rossiter, Amanda E., Strugnell, Richard A., Henderson, Ian R., Ulett, Glen C., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). Molecular characterisation of the Vacuolating Autotransporter Toxin in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Journal of Bacteriology, 198 (10), 1487-1498. doi: 10.1128/JB.00791-15

Molecular characterisation of the Vacuolating Autotransporter Toxin in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2016

Journal Article

Sequential acquisition of virulence and fluoroquinolone resistance has shaped the evolution of Escherichia coli ST131

Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Alsheikh-Hussain, Areej S., Ashcroft, Melinda M., Nhu, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Roberts, Leah W., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2016). Sequential acquisition of virulence and fluoroquinolone resistance has shaped the evolution of Escherichia coli ST131. MBio, 7 (2) e00347-16, e00347-16.1-e00347-16.11. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00347-16

Sequential acquisition of virulence and fluoroquinolone resistance has shaped the evolution of Escherichia coli ST131

2016

Journal Article

Molecular and structural characterization of a novel Escherichia coli interleukin receptor mimic protein

Moriel, Danilo G., Heras, Begona, Paxman, Jason J., Lo, Alvin W., Tan, Lendl, Sullivan, Matthew J., Dando, Samantha J., Beatson, Scott A., Ulett, Glen C. and Schembri, Mark A. (2016). Molecular and structural characterization of a novel Escherichia coli interleukin receptor mimic protein. mBio, 7 (2) e02046-15, 1-11. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02046-15

Molecular and structural characterization of a novel Escherichia coli interleukin receptor mimic protein

2016

Journal Article

Stability of active prophages in industrial Lactococcus lactis strains in the presence of heat, acid, osmotic, oxidative and antibiotic stressors

Ho, Chun-Hoong, Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Beatson, Scott A., Bansal, Nidhi and Turner, Mark S. (2016). Stability of active prophages in industrial Lactococcus lactis strains in the presence of heat, acid, osmotic, oxidative and antibiotic stressors. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 220, 26-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2015.12.012

Stability of active prophages in industrial Lactococcus lactis strains in the presence of heat, acid, osmotic, oxidative and antibiotic stressors

2016

Journal Article

Genomic comparison of two O111:H- Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli isolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

McAllister, Lauren J., Bent, Stephen J., Petty, Nicola K., Skippington, Elizabeth, Beatson, Scott A., Paton, Jmaes C. and Paton, Adrienne W. (2016). Genomic comparison of two O111:H- Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli isolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia. Infection and Immunity, 84 (3), 775-781. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01229-15

Genomic comparison of two O111:H- Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli isolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia

2016

Conference Publication

Multi-hospital spread of a pan-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clone with an ISEcp1-directed blaOXA-181 insertion into the mgrB gene in the AE

Pal, Tibor , Sonnevend, Agnes Maria , Ghazawi, Akela , Haidermota, Aliashgher , Girgis, Safinaz , Alfaresi, Mubarak , Omar, Mohammed , Paterson, David L. , Beatson, Scott , Forde, Brian and Zowawi, Hosam M. (2016). Multi-hospital spread of a pan-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clone with an ISEcp1-directed blaOXA-181 insertion into the mgrB gene in the AE. The 26th European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9-12 April 2016.

Multi-hospital spread of a pan-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clone with an ISEcp1-directed blaOXA-181 insertion into the mgrB gene in the AE

2016

Journal Article

Discovery and Characterization of Human Urine Utilization by Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Streptococcus agalactiae

Ipe, Deepak S., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Sullivan, Matthew J., Beatson, Scott A., Ulett, Kimberly B., Benjamin, William H., Davies, Mark R., Dando, Samantha J., King, Nathan P., Cripps, Allan W., Schembri, Mark A., Dougan, Gordon and Ulett, Glen C. (2016). Discovery and Characterization of Human Urine Utilization by Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Streptococcus agalactiae. Infection and Immunity, 84 (1), 307-319. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00938-15

Discovery and Characterization of Human Urine Utilization by Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Streptococcus agalactiae

2016

Conference Publication

Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis

Sherrard, L., Tai, A., Wee, B., Ramsay, K., Kidd, T., Ben Zakour, N., Whiley, D., Beatson, S. and Bell, S. C. (2016). Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis. Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Orlando, FL, United States, 27-29 October 2016. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons.

Within-host whole genome analysis of an antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain sub-type in cystic fibrosis

2015

Journal Article

Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone

Forde, Brian M., Phan, Minh-Duy, Gawthorne, Jayde A., Ashcroft, Melinda M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Sarkar, Sohinee, Peters, Kate M., Chan, Kok-Gan, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Upton, Mathew, Schembri, Mark A. and Beatson, Scott A. (2015). Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone. MBio, 6 (6) e01602-15, e01602-15. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01602-15

Lineage-specific methyltransferases define the methylome of the globally disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 clone

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

    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

    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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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