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)

101 - 120 of 195 works

2015

Journal Article

The role of H4 flagella in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence

Kakkanat, Asha, Totsika, Makrina, Schaale, Kolja, Duell, Benjamin L., Lo, Alvin W., Phan, Minh-Duy, Moriel, Danilo G., Beatson, Scott A., Sweet, Matthew J., Ulett, Glen C. and Schembri, Mark A. (2015). The role of H4 flagella in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence. Scientific Reports, 5 (16149) 16149, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/srep16149

The role of H4 flagella in Escherichia coli ST131 virulence

2015

Journal Article

Transfer of scarlet fever-associated elements into the group A Streptococcus M1T1 clone

Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Davies, Mark R., You, Yuanhai, Chen, Jonathan H. K., Forde, Brian M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Yang, Ruifu, Cui, Yujun, Barnett, Timothy C., Venturini, Carola, Ong, Cheryl-lynn Y., Tse, Herman, Dougan, Gordon, Zhang, Jianzhong, Yuen, Kwok-Yung, Beatson, Scott A. and Walker MJ (2015). Transfer of scarlet fever-associated elements into the group A Streptococcus M1T1 clone. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 15877, 15877.1-15877.7. doi: 10.1038/srep15877

Transfer of scarlet fever-associated elements into the group A Streptococcus M1T1 clone

2015

Journal Article

Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Zowawi, Hosam M., Forde, Brian M., Alfaresi, Mubarak, Alzarouni, Abdulqadir, Farahat, Yasser, Chong, Teik-Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Li, Jian, Schembri, Mark A., Beatson, Scott A. and Paterson, David L. (2015). Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.. Scientific Reports, 5 (Art No.: 15082) 15082, 15082. doi: 10.1038/srep15082

Stepwise evolution of pandrug-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

2015

Journal Article

Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone

Schembri, Mark A., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Minh-Duy Phan, Forde, Brian M., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell and Beatson, Scott A. (2015). Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone. Pathogens, 4 (3), 422-430. doi: 10.3390/pathogens4030422

Molecular characterization of the multidrug resistant escherichia coli ST131 clone

2015

Journal Article

Molecular analysis of asymptomatic bacteriuria Escherichia coli strain VR50 reveals adaptation to the urinary tract by gene acquisition

Beatson, Scott A., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Totsika, Makrina, Forde, Brian M., Watts, Rebecca E., Mabbett, Amanda N., Szubert, Jan M., Sarkar, Sohinee, Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Petty, Nicola K., Alikhan, Nabil-Fareed, Sullivan, Mitchell J., Gawthorne, Jayde A., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Nguyen Thi Khanh Nhu, Chong, Teik Min, Yin, Wai-Fong, Chan, Kok-Gan, Hancock, Viktoria, Ussery, David W., Ulett, Glen C. and Schembri, Mark A. (2015). Molecular analysis of asymptomatic bacteriuria Escherichia coli strain VR50 reveals adaptation to the urinary tract by gene acquisition. Infection and Immunity, 83 (5), 1749-1764. doi: 10.1128/IAI.02810-14

Molecular analysis of asymptomatic bacteriuria Escherichia coli strain VR50 reveals adaptation to the urinary tract by gene acquisition

2015

Journal Article

Erratum: the host metabolite D-serine contributes to bacterial niche specificity through gene selection

Connolly, James P. R., Goldstone, Robert J., Burgess, Karl, Cogdell, Richard J., Beatson, Scott A., Vollmer, Waldemar, Smith, David G. E. and Roe, Andrew J. (2015). Erratum: the host metabolite D-serine contributes to bacterial niche specificity through gene selection. ISME Journal, 9 (4), 1052-1052. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2015.17

Erratum: the host metabolite D-serine contributes to bacterial niche specificity through gene selection

2015

Journal Article

Molecular Characterization of a Multidrug Resistance IncF Plasmid from the Globally Disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 Clone.

Phan, Minh Duy, Forde, Brian M., Peters, Kate M., Sarkar, Sohinee, Hancock, Steven, Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Zakour, Nouri L. Ben, Upton, Mathew, Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2015). Molecular Characterization of a Multidrug Resistance IncF Plasmid from the Globally Disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 Clone.. PLoS One, 10 (4) e0122369, e0122369-e0122369. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122369

Molecular Characterization of a Multidrug Resistance IncF Plasmid from the Globally Disseminated Escherichia coli ST131 Clone.

2015

Journal Article

Draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas fluorescens SRM1, an isolate from spoiled raw milk

Lo, Raquel, Stanton-Cook, Mitchell J., Beatson, Scott A., Turner, Mark S. and Bansal, Nidhi (2015). Draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas fluorescens SRM1, an isolate from spoiled raw milk. Genome Announcements, 3 (2) e00138-15, 1-2. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00138-15

Draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas fluorescens SRM1, an isolate from spoiled raw milk

2015

Journal Article

Deep sequence characterisation of a divergent HPIV-4a from an adult with prolonged influenza-like illness

Arden, Katherine E., Beatson, Scott A., Lambert, Stephen B., Wang, Claire W. T., McVernon, Jodie, Nissen, Michael D., Nolan, Terry, Sloots, Theo P. and Mackay, Ian M. (2015). Deep sequence characterisation of a divergent HPIV-4a from an adult with prolonged influenza-like illness. Virology Reports, 5, 19-28. doi: 10.1016/j.virep.2015.02.001

Deep sequence characterisation of a divergent HPIV-4a from an adult with prolonged influenza-like illness

2015

Journal Article

Third-generation cephalosporin resistance conferred by a chromosomally encoded blaCMY-23 gene in the Escherichia coli ST131 reference strain EC958

Phan, Minh-Duy, Peters, Kate M., Sarkar, Sohinee, Forde, Brian M., Lo, Alvin W., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Roberts, Leah W., Upton, Mathew, Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2015). Third-generation cephalosporin resistance conferred by a chromosomally encoded blaCMY-23 gene in the Escherichia coli ST131 reference strain EC958. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 70 (7) dkv066, 1969-1972. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkv066

Third-generation cephalosporin resistance conferred by a chromosomally encoded blaCMY-23 gene in the Escherichia coli ST131 reference strain EC958

2015

Other Outputs

Microbial Genomics Raw Sequence and Analysis Data

Beatson, Scott A. and Stanton-Cook, Mitchell (2015). Microbial Genomics Raw Sequence and Analysis Data. The University of Queensland. (Collection) doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.106

Microbial Genomics Raw Sequence and Analysis Data

2015

Journal Article

The co-transcriptome of uropathogenic Escherichia coli-infected mouse macrophages reveals new insights into host–pathogen interactions

Mavromatis, Charalampos (Harris), Bokil, Nilesh J., Totsika, Makrina, Kakkanat, Asha, Schaale, Kolja, Cannistraci, Carlo V., Ryu, Taewoo, Beatson, Scott A., Ulett, Glen C., Schembri, Mark A., Sweet, Matthew J. and Ravasi, Timothy (2015). The co-transcriptome of uropathogenic Escherichia coli-infected mouse macrophages reveals new insights into host–pathogen interactions. Cellular Microbiology, 17 (5), 730-746. doi: 10.1111/cmi.12397

The co-transcriptome of uropathogenic Escherichia coli-infected mouse macrophages reveals new insights into host–pathogen interactions

2014

Journal Article

The host metabolite D-serine contributes to bacterial niche specificity through gene selection.

Connolly, James P., Goldstone, Robert J., Burgess, Karl, Cogdell, Richard J., Beatson, Scott A., Vollmer, Waldemar, Smith, David G. E. and Roe, Andrew J. (2014). The host metabolite D-serine contributes to bacterial niche specificity through gene selection.. The ISME Journal, 9 (4), 1039-1051. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2014.242

The host metabolite D-serine contributes to bacterial niche specificity through gene selection.

2014

Journal Article

Mutual exclusivity of hyaluronan and hyaluronidase in invasive group a Streptococcus

Henningham, Anna, Yamaguchi, Masaya, Aziz, Ramy K., Kuipers, Kirsten, Buffalo,Cosmo Z., Dahesh, Samira, Choudhury, Biswa, Van Vleet, Jeremy, Yamaguchi, Yuka, Seymour, Lisa M., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., He, Lingjun, Smith, Helen V., Grimwood, Keith, Beatson, Scott A., Ghosh, Partho, Walker, Mark J., Nizet, Victor and Cole, Jason N. (2014). Mutual exclusivity of hyaluronan and hyaluronidase in invasive group a Streptococcus. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289 (46), 32303-32315. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.602847

Mutual exclusivity of hyaluronan and hyaluronidase in invasive group a Streptococcus

2014

Journal Article

Corrigendum to "Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems"

Franz, Eelco, Delaquis, Pascal, Morabito, Stefano, Beutin, Lothar, Gobius, Kari, Rasko, David A., Jim, Bono, Nigel, French, Osek, Jacek, Lindstedt, Bjørn-Arne, Muniesa, Maite, Manning, Shannon, LeJeune, Jeff, Callaway, Todd, Beatson, Scott, Eppinger, Mark, Dallman, Tim, Forbes, Ken J., Aarts, Henk, Pearl, David L., Gannon, Victor P.J., Laing, Chad R. and Strachan, Norval J.C. (2014). Corrigendum to "Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems". International Journal of Food Microbiology, 193, 159-159. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.09.026

Corrigendum to "Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems"

2014

Journal Article

Tracking antibiotic resistance

Beatson, Scott A. and Walker, Mark J. (2014). Tracking antibiotic resistance. Science, 345 (6203), 1454-1455. doi: 10.1126/science.1260471

Tracking antibiotic resistance

2014

Journal Article

The intimin-like protein FdeC is regulated by H-NS and temperature in Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Easton, Donna M., Allsopp, Luke P., Phan, Minh-Duy, Gomes Moriel, Danilo, Goh, Guan Kai, Beatson, Scott A., Mahony, Timothy J., Cobbold, Rowland N. and Schembri, Mark A. (2014). The intimin-like protein FdeC is regulated by H-NS and temperature in Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80 (23), 7337-7347. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02114-14

The intimin-like protein FdeC is regulated by H-NS and temperature in Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli

2014

Journal Article

Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems

Franz, Eelco, Delaquis, Pascal, Morabito, Stefano, Beutin, Lothar, Gobius, Kari, Rasko, David A., Bono, Jim, French, Nigel, Osek, Jacek, Lindstedt, Bjørn-Arne, Muniesa, Maite, Manning, Shannon, LeJeune, Jeff, Callaway, Todd, Beatson, Scott, Eppinger, Mark, Dallman, Tim, Forbes, Ken J., Aarts, Henk, Pearl, David L., Gannon, Victor P. J., Laing, Chad R. and Strachan, Norval J. C. (2014). Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 187, 57-72. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.07.002

Exploiting the explosion of information associated with whole genome sequencing to tackle Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in global food production systems

2014

Journal Article

The complete genome sequence of Escherichia coli EC958: a high quality reference sequence for the globally disseminated multidrug resistant E. coli O25b:H4-ST131 clone

Forde, Brian M., Ben Zakour, Nouri L., Stanton-Cook, Mitchell, Phan, Minh-Duy, Totsika, Makrina, Peters, Kate M., Chan, Kok Gan, Schembri, Mark A., Upton, Mathew and Beatson, Scott A. (2014). The complete genome sequence of Escherichia coli EC958: a high quality reference sequence for the globally disseminated multidrug resistant E. coli O25b:H4-ST131 clone. PLoS One, 9 (8) e104400, e104400.1-e104400.13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104400

The complete genome sequence of Escherichia coli EC958: a high quality reference sequence for the globally disseminated multidrug resistant E. coli O25b:H4-ST131 clone

2014

Journal Article

Galleria mellonella Infection Model Demonstrates High Lethality of ST69 and ST127 Uropathogenic E. coli.

Alghoribi, Majed F., Gibreel, Tarek M., Dodgson, Andrew R., Beatson, Scott A. and Upton, Mathew (2014). Galleria mellonella Infection Model Demonstrates High Lethality of ST69 and ST127 Uropathogenic E. coli.. PLoS One, 9 (7) e101547, e101547.1-e101547.10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101547

Galleria mellonella Infection Model Demonstrates High Lethality of ST69 and ST127 Uropathogenic E. coli.

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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