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)

21 - 40 of 126 works

2023

Journal Article

Nasal microbiota profiles in shelter dogs with dermatological conditions carrying methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus species

Horsman, Sara, Meler, Erika, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Mallyon, John, Yao, Hong, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. and Gibson, Justine S. (2023). Nasal microbiota profiles in shelter dogs with dermatological conditions carrying methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus species. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 4844, 4844. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31385-2

Nasal microbiota profiles in shelter dogs with dermatological conditions carrying methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus species

2023

Journal Article

Hemicellulose-bacterial cellulose ribbon interactions affect the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of bacterial cellulose hydrogels

Chen, Si-Qian, Lopez-Sanchez, Patricia, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Martinez-Sanz, Marta, Li, Zhaofeng, Zhang, Shuyan, Gilbert, Elliot P., Li, Lin and Gidley, Michael J. (2023). Hemicellulose-bacterial cellulose ribbon interactions affect the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of bacterial cellulose hydrogels. Food Hydrocolloids, 136 108283, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.108283

Hemicellulose-bacterial cellulose ribbon interactions affect the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of bacterial cellulose hydrogels

2023

Journal Article

Lactate and buyrate proportions, methanogen growth and gas production during in vitro dietary fibre fermentation all depend on fibre concentration

Yao, Hong, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2023). Lactate and buyrate proportions, methanogen growth and gas production during in vitro dietary fibre fermentation all depend on fibre concentration. Food Hydrocolloids, 134 108061, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.108061

Lactate and buyrate proportions, methanogen growth and gas production during in vitro dietary fibre fermentation all depend on fibre concentration

2023

Conference Publication

Identification and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

Horsman, Sara, Meler, Erika, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. and Gibson, Justine S. (2023). Identification and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland. Antimicrobials 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 23-25 February 2023.

Identification and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates cultured from clinical canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

2023

Journal Article

Particle size of dietary fibre has diverse effects on in vitro gut fermentation rate and end-products depending on food source

Yao, Hong, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2023). Particle size of dietary fibre has diverse effects on in vitro gut fermentation rate and end-products depending on food source. Food Hydrocolloids, 134 108096, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.108096

Particle size of dietary fibre has diverse effects on in vitro gut fermentation rate and end-products depending on food source

2023

Journal Article

Novel constituents of Salvia hispanica L. (chia) nutlet mucilage and the improved in vitro fermentation of nutlets when ground

Ang, Main Ern, Cowley, James M., Yap, Kuok, Hahn, Michael G., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Tucker, Matthew R., Williams, Barbara A. and Burton, Rachel A. (2023). Novel constituents of Salvia hispanica L. (chia) nutlet mucilage and the improved in vitro fermentation of nutlets when ground. Food and Function, 14 (3), 1401-1414. doi: 10.1039/d2fo03002k

Novel constituents of Salvia hispanica L. (chia) nutlet mucilage and the improved in vitro fermentation of nutlets when ground

2022

Journal Article

Soluble fibre concentration effects during in vitro fermentation: Higher concentration leads to increased butyrate proportion

Yao, Hong, Williams, Barbara A., Flanagan, Bernadine M., Lisle, Allan, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2022). Soluble fibre concentration effects during in vitro fermentation: Higher concentration leads to increased butyrate proportion. Food Hydrocolloids, 130 107728, 107728. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107728

Soluble fibre concentration effects during in vitro fermentation: Higher concentration leads to increased butyrate proportion

2022

Journal Article

Developing an antiviral surface cleaner utilising unique surface adsorption properties of hydroxyproline-rich-proteins

Shewan, Heather M. , Siauw, Meiliana , Vinden, Naomi , Dong, Anran , Beheshti, Amir , Chew, Keng Yih, Stokes, Jason R. , Short, Kirsty R., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Koehler, Berthold and Reihmann, Matthias (2022). Developing an antiviral surface cleaner utilising unique surface adsorption properties of hydroxyproline-rich-proteins. Household and Personal Care Today, 17 (5), 57-61.

Developing an antiviral surface cleaner utilising unique surface adsorption properties of hydroxyproline-rich-proteins

2022

Journal Article

Near infrared spectroscopy as a traceability tool to monitor black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Hoffman, Louwrens C., Olarte Mantilla, Sandra M., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, James, Peter, Yarger, Olympia and Cozzolino, Daniel (2022). Near infrared spectroscopy as a traceability tool to monitor black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed. Applied Sciences, 12 (16) 8168, 8168. doi: 10.3390/app12168168

Near infrared spectroscopy as a traceability tool to monitor black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed

2022

Conference Publication

Uncovering the geographical associations between antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial usage in dogs treated with anti-pruritic therapies for pruritic skin and ear diseases through data linkage

Horsman, S., Croton, C., Meler, E., Mikkelsen, D., Soares Magalhães, R. and Gibson, J. (2022). Uncovering the geographical associations between antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial usage in dogs treated with anti-pruritic therapies for pruritic skin and ear diseases through data linkage. Vet Compass Australia Symposium, Online, 16 August 2022.

Uncovering the geographical associations between antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial usage in dogs treated with anti-pruritic therapies for pruritic skin and ear diseases through data linkage

2022

Conference Publication

Geographical variation in antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

Horsman, Sara, Meler, Erika, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Gibson, Justine and Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo (2022). Geographical variation in antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from canine skin and ear samples in Queensland. Australian Society for Microbiology, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 11-14 July 2022.

Geographical variation in antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacteria isolated from canine skin and ear samples in Queensland

2022

Journal Article

Absolute abundance values reveal microbial shifts and co-occurrence patterns during gut microbiota fermentation of dietary fibres in vitro

Yao, Hong, Lu, Shiyi, Williams, Barbara A., Flanagan, Bernadine M., Gidley, Michael J. and Mikkelsen, Deirdre (2022). Absolute abundance values reveal microbial shifts and co-occurrence patterns during gut microbiota fermentation of dietary fibres in vitro. Food Hydrocolloids, 127 107422, 107422. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.107422

Absolute abundance values reveal microbial shifts and co-occurrence patterns during gut microbiota fermentation of dietary fibres in vitro

2022

Journal Article

In vitro fermentation profiles of undigested fractions from legume and nut particles are affected by particle cohesion and entrapped macronutrients

Widaningrum, , Flanagan, Bernadine M., Williams, Barbara A., Sonni, Francesca, Chen, Pengfei, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2022). In vitro fermentation profiles of undigested fractions from legume and nut particles are affected by particle cohesion and entrapped macronutrients. Food and Function, 13 (9), 5075-5088. doi: 10.1039/d2fo00250g

In vitro fermentation profiles of undigested fractions from legume and nut particles are affected by particle cohesion and entrapped macronutrients

2022

Journal Article

In vitro fermentation of onion cell walls and model polysaccharides using human faecal inoculum: effects of molecular interactions and cell wall architecture

Lu, Shiyi, Flanagan, Bernadine M., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Williams, Barbara A. and Gidley, Michael J. (2022). In vitro fermentation of onion cell walls and model polysaccharides using human faecal inoculum: effects of molecular interactions and cell wall architecture. Food Hydrocolloids, 124 107257, 107257. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.107257

In vitro fermentation of onion cell walls and model polysaccharides using human faecal inoculum: effects of molecular interactions and cell wall architecture

2022

Journal Article

Organic side streams (bioproducts) as substrate for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed: chemical safety issues

Alagappan, Shanmugam, Rowland, Duncan, Barwell, Rob, Cozzolino, Daniel, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Olarte Mantilla, Sandra M., James, Peter, Yarger, Olympia and Hoffman, Louwrens (2022). Organic side streams (bioproducts) as substrate for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed: chemical safety issues. Animal Production Science, 62 (17), 1639-1651. doi: 10.1071/an22155

Organic side streams (bioproducts) as substrate for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) intended as animal feed: chemical safety issues

2022

Conference Publication

Is the equine gut colonised in utero?

Mols, Kirsty, Boe-Hansen, Gry B., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Bryden, Wayne L. and Cawdell-Smith, Judy (2022). Is the equine gut colonised in utero?. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition, Australia, June 2021. Clayton, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.

Is the equine gut colonised in utero?

2021

Journal Article

Fermentation outcomes of wheat cell wall related polysaccharides are driven by substrate effects as well as initial faecal inoculum

Lu, Shiyi, Williams, Barbara A., Flanagan, Bernadine M., Yao, Hong, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2021). Fermentation outcomes of wheat cell wall related polysaccharides are driven by substrate effects as well as initial faecal inoculum. Food Hydrocolloids, 120 106978, 106978. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106978

Fermentation outcomes of wheat cell wall related polysaccharides are driven by substrate effects as well as initial faecal inoculum

2021

Journal Article

Legislative landscape of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as feed

Alagappan, S., Rowland, D., Barwell, R., Mantilla, S. M. O., Mikkelsen, D., James, P., Yarger, O. and Hoffman, L.C. (2021). Legislative landscape of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as feed. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 8 (4), 343-355. doi: 10.3920/jiff2021.0111

Legislative landscape of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as feed

2021

Conference Publication

Nasal microbiota diversity and abundance in shelter dogs carrying methicillin-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus species

Horsman, S., Mikkelsen, D., Mallyon, J., Soares Magalhães, R.J. , Meler, E. and Gibson, J.S. (2021). Nasal microbiota diversity and abundance in shelter dogs carrying methicillin-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus species. Australian Society for Microbiology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 31 May-3 June 2021.

Nasal microbiota diversity and abundance in shelter dogs carrying methicillin-resistant and -sensitive Staphylococcus species

2021

Conference Publication

Is the equine gut colonised in utero by amniotic bacteria?

Mols, K.L., Boe-Hansen, G.B., Mikkelsen, D., Bryden, W.L. and Cawdell-Smith, A.J. (2021). Is the equine gut colonised in utero by amniotic bacteria?. Virtual Equine Science Symposium, Online, 1 – 4 June 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103572

Is the equine gut colonised in utero by amniotic bacteria?

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
  • 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

  • 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
  • 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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