Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen
Dr

Deirdre Mikkelsen

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69642

Background

United Nations (UN) member states in 2015 agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen's postition as a Teacihng and Research Acacemic contributes towards the following UN SDGs:

GOAL 2 - ZERO HUNGER

GOAL 3 - GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

GOAL 4 - QUALITY EDUCATION

GOAL 12 - RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

GOAL 13 - CLIMATE ACTION

GOAL 15 - LIFE ON LAND

Deirdre is a Microbiologist with experience in molecular microbial ecology techniques, bioinformatics and fermentation microbiology.

Deirdre has a B.Sc with First Class Honours in Microbiology (1999) and PhD in Microbiology (2005) from The University of Queensland (UQ, Australia). She worked at the Advanced Wastewater Management Centre (UQ; 2005), until moving to the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences (CNAFS) in 2006. She worked as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and Research Fellow in CNAFS, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, UQ. Deirdre joined the School of Agriculture and Food Susstainability in 2019 as a Teaching and Research Academic, and is presently a Senior Lecturer in Food Science. She course coordinates and lectures FOOD2000 Food Science, FOOD3017 Food Safety & Quality Management and the work integrated learning course FOOD7021 Professional Experience. Deirdre's research is molecular microbial ecology and biopolymer science-based, aiming to provide a mechanistic understanding of how foods, diets and nutrients influence the host gut microbiota. Deirdre has 75 peer-review publications with an h-index of 26 and 2746 citations.

Deirdre is a Member of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) and sits on the Queensland Branch Committee. She is also a Member of the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM). Deirdre is part of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFOST) Food Safety Working Committee, in an education-focused role.

Availability

Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Food sciences Microbiology Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Microbiology, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Deirdre is a passionate microbiologist, with a strong research background in molecular microbial ecology and biopolymer science (construction and fermentation of “model” dietary fibres). Her research predominantly focuses on how food components are broken down by the host’s gut microbiota, be it in human and/or monogastric animal models, and understanding their role in promoting/maintaining host health.

Specifically, hes has worked on:

i) modelling plant cell walls of cereals and grasses;

ii) investigating the fermentability of cell wall components as potential prebiotics;

iii) developing molecular microbiology techniques to investigate gut microbe-dietary fibre interactions; and

iv) investigating how do plant cell walls/dietary fibres alter the gut microbiota in terms of diversity and relative verses absolute abundances.

Over 80% of Deirdre's publicatons are in the top 25% of journals (Q1 journals) in that subject category.To date, she has 75 peer-review publications, and an h-index of 26, with 2746 citations. Her most exciting achievement was a Nature Communications publication in 2020 with CNAFS and KTH Sweden colleagues.

Search Professor Deirdre Mikkelsen’s works on UQ eSpace

126 works between 2002 and 2025
All (126) Journal Article (85) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (37) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 126 works

2025

Journal Article

Microbial safety of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) reared on food waste streams

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Dong, Anran, Hoffman, Louwrens, Cozzolino, Daniel, Mantilla, Sandra Olarte, James, Peter, Yarger, Olympia and Mikkelsen, Deirdre (2025). Microbial safety of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) reared on food waste streams. Waste Management, 194, 221-227. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.01.019

Microbial safety of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) reared on food waste streams

2025

Journal Article

The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal

Rame Hau, Erda E. Rame, Sharma, Minu, Khanal, Bal K. Sharma, Sly, Peter D., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Clark, Nicholas and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. Soares (2025). The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal. Antibiotics, 14 (1) 98, 98. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14010098

The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal

2025

Journal Article

Molecular epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus coagulans, and coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

Horsman, Sara, Zaugg, Julian, Meler, Erika, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. and Gibson, Justine S. (2025). Molecular epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus coagulans, and coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland. Antibiotics, 14 (1) 80, 1-25. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14010080

Molecular epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus coagulans, and coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

2025

Journal Article

Factors affecting plant food particle behaviour during in vitro colonic microbial fermentation

Yao, Hong, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2025). Factors affecting plant food particle behaviour during in vitro colonic microbial fermentation. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 155 104802, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104802

Factors affecting plant food particle behaviour during in vitro colonic microbial fermentation

2025

Journal Article

Characterization and comparison of fecal microbiota in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and age-matched controls

Wang, Wenqing, Gibson, Justine, Horsman, Sara, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Bertin, François-René (2025). Characterization and comparison of fecal microbiota in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and age-matched controls. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 39 (1) e17288, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17288

Characterization and comparison of fecal microbiota in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and age-matched controls

2024

Journal Article

Design characteristics of integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance at the human, animal, and environment interfaces

Hau, Erda Eni Rame, Sly, Peter D., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Taneja, Neelam, Penjor, Kinley, Ryu, Sukhyun, Donner, Erica, Mollinger, Joanne, Ferreira, Jorge Pinto, Schipp, Mark and Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo J. (2024). Design characteristics of integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance at the human, animal, and environment interfaces. CABI Reviews, 19 (1). doi: 10.1079/cabireviews.2024.0047

Design characteristics of integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance at the human, animal, and environment interfaces

2024

Journal Article

Impact of pectin and alginate gel particle size and concentration on in vitro gut fermentation

Li, Anqi, Shewan, Heather M., Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2024). Impact of pectin and alginate gel particle size and concentration on in vitro gut fermentation. Food Hydrocolloids, 160 110808, 110808. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110808

Impact of pectin and alginate gel particle size and concentration on in vitro gut fermentation

2024

Conference Publication

Geographical variation and co-distribution of antimicrobial resistance and usage for canine skin and ear infections in Queensland: the need for continued integrated surveillance

Horsman, Sara, Gibson, Justine, Meler, Erika, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo (2024). Geographical variation and co-distribution of antimicrobial resistance and usage for canine skin and ear infections in Queensland: the need for continued integrated surveillance. SAAFE CRC 2024 AMR Solutions Summit From AMR Sources to Solutions, Adelaide, SA Australia, 17-18 September 2024.

Geographical variation and co-distribution of antimicrobial resistance and usage for canine skin and ear infections in Queensland: the need for continued integrated surveillance

2024

Journal Article

Effect of larval instar and post‐harvest treatments on heavy metals in <scp>BSFL</scp> and frass reared on commercial food waste streams

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Mallard, Sam, Cozzolino, Daniel, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, James, Peter, Mantilla, Sandra Olarte, Yarger, Olympia and Hoffman, Louwrens (2024). Effect of larval instar and post‐harvest treatments on heavy metals in BSFL and frass reared on commercial food waste streams. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 59 (11), 8214-8223. doi: 10.1111/ijfs.17511

Effect of larval instar and post‐harvest treatments on heavy metals in <scp>BSFL</scp> and frass reared on commercial food waste streams

2024

Journal Article

Differential effects of pectin-based dietary fibre type and gut microbiota composition on in vitro fermentation outcomes

Yao, Hong, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Wu, Xiyang, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2024). Differential effects of pectin-based dietary fibre type and gut microbiota composition on in vitro fermentation outcomes. Carbohydrate Polymers, 339 122284, 122284. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122284

Differential effects of pectin-based dietary fibre type and gut microbiota composition on in vitro fermentation outcomes

2024

Journal Article

Faecal bacterial communities differ amongst discrete foraging populations of dugongs along the east Australian coast

Mikkelsen, Deirdre, McGowan, Alexandra M, Gibson, Justine S, Lanyon, Janet M, Horsman, Sara and Seddon, Jennifer M (2024). Faecal bacterial communities differ amongst discrete foraging populations of dugongs along the east Australian coast. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 100 (6) fiae051. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiae051

Faecal bacterial communities differ amongst discrete foraging populations of dugongs along the east Australian coast

2024

Journal Article

Monitoring compositional changes in black soldier fly larvae after processing (drying and blanching) using near infrared spectroscopy

Cozzolino, D., Alagappan, S., Ochoa, M., Zhang, S., Yarger, O., Hoffman, L.C. and Mikkelsen, D. (2024). Monitoring compositional changes in black soldier fly larvae after processing (drying and blanching) using near infrared spectroscopy. Infrared Physics & Technology, 138 105212, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.infrared.2024.105212

Monitoring compositional changes in black soldier fly larvae after processing (drying and blanching) using near infrared spectroscopy

2024

Journal Article

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring the nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and frass

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Hoffman, Louwrens, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Olarte Mantilla, Sandra, James, Peter, Yarger, Olympia and Cozzolino, Daniel (2024). Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring the nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and frass. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 104 (3), 1487-1496. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13044

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring the nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and frass

2024

Journal Article

Biomass attachment and microbiota shifts during porcine faecal in vitro fermentation of almond and macadamia nuts differing in particle sizes

Bermudez, Cindy, Yao, Hong, Widaningrum, Williams, Barbara A., Flanagan, Bernadine M., Gidley, Michael J. and Mikkelsen, Deirdre (2024). Biomass attachment and microbiota shifts during porcine faecal in vitro fermentation of almond and macadamia nuts differing in particle sizes. Food and Function, 15 (5), 2406-2421. doi: 10.1039/d3fo03612j

Biomass attachment and microbiota shifts during porcine faecal in vitro fermentation of almond and macadamia nuts differing in particle sizes

2024

Journal Article

In vitro fermentation characteristics of fruit and vegetable juicing wastes using human fecal inoculum are determined by cell wall architecture

Widaningrum, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Sonni, Francesca, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2024). In vitro fermentation characteristics of fruit and vegetable juicing wastes using human fecal inoculum are determined by cell wall architecture. Food Hydrocolloids, 146 (Part A) 109205, 109205. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.109205

In vitro fermentation characteristics of fruit and vegetable juicing wastes using human fecal inoculum are determined by cell wall architecture

2024

Conference Publication

Molecular epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus species cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

Horsman, Sara, Zaugg, Julian, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo J., Meler, Erika and Gibson, Justine S. (2024). Molecular epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus species cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland. Antimicrobials 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, NSW Australia, 15-17 February 2024.

Molecular epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus species cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

2023

Journal Article

Enzymatic arabinose depletion of wheat arabinoxylan regulates in vitro fermentation profiles and potential microbial degraders

Yao, Hong, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Ismail, Munirah, Ersya, Astrada Dyna, Gidley, Michael J. and Mikkelsen, Deirdre (2023). Enzymatic arabinose depletion of wheat arabinoxylan regulates in vitro fermentation profiles and potential microbial degraders. Food Hydrocolloids, 142 108743, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108743

Enzymatic arabinose depletion of wheat arabinoxylan regulates in vitro fermentation profiles and potential microbial degraders

2023

Journal Article

Near infrared spectroscopy for prediction of yeast and mould counts in black soldier fly larvae, feed and frass: a proof of concept

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Dong, Anran, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Hoffman, Louwrens C., Mantilla, Sandra Milena Olarte, James, Peter, Yarger, Olympia and Cozzolino, Daniel (2023). Near infrared spectroscopy for prediction of yeast and mould counts in black soldier fly larvae, feed and frass: a proof of concept. Sensors, 23 (15) 6946, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/s23156946

Near infrared spectroscopy for prediction of yeast and mould counts in black soldier fly larvae, feed and frass: a proof of concept

2023

Journal Article

Composition and functional profiles of human faecal microbiota fermenting plant-based food particles are related to water-holding capacity more than particle size

Yao, Hong, Williams, Barbara A., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Flanagan, Bernadine M. and Gidley, Michael J. (2023). Composition and functional profiles of human faecal microbiota fermenting plant-based food particles are related to water-holding capacity more than particle size. Food Hydrocolloids, 141 108714, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108714

Composition and functional profiles of human faecal microbiota fermenting plant-based food particles are related to water-holding capacity more than particle size

2023

Journal Article

Bacterial physiology highlighted by the δ13C fractionation of bacteriohopanetetrol isomers

Schwartz-Narbonne, Rachel, Schaeffer, Philippe, Lengger, Sabine K., Blewett, Jerome, Martin Jones, D., Motsch, Estelle, Crombie, Andrew, Jetten, Mike S.-M., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Normand, Philippe, Nuijten, Guylaine H.L., Pancost, Richard D. and Rush, Darci (2023). Bacterial physiology highlighted by the δ13C fractionation of bacteriohopanetetrol isomers. Organic Geochemistry, 181 104617, 104617. doi: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2023.104617

Bacterial physiology highlighted by the δ13C fractionation of bacteriohopanetetrol isomers

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Comprehensive use of whole body computed tomography, microbiome and metabolomics analysis to measure the effects of dietary and exercise interventions on body fat content in dogs
    Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Evaluation of bioprotective bacteria to reduce Campylobacter on raw chicken meat at the end of primary processing (Agrifutures funded project led by QLD DAF)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Sustainable Precision Feeding in Broiler Chickens in Australia
    AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program Nutrition, Gut Health and Environment Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Point-of-care microbiome therapy in koalas during antimicrobial treatment for Chlamydia
    Morris Animal Foundation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Optimising and industrialising black soldier fly (BSF) production: redirecting food waste to livestock feed production using insects
    Fight Food Waste CRC
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Dopamine as a new diagnostic tool for horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and its effect on the equine intestinal microbiota
    Australian Companion Animal Health Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Nasal microbiota in shelter dogs and carriage of Staphylococcus spp.
    Canine Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Automated in vitro fermentation gas measurement
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Use of plant derived compounds to condition piglet intake at weaning and reduce post-weaning use of therapeutics
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    ResTeach 2010 0.2 FTE School of Land,Crop and Food Sciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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