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Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen
Dr

Deirdre Mikkelsen

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69642

Overview

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

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.

Works

Search Professor Deirdre Mikkelsen’s works on UQ eSpace

126 works between 2002 and 2025

81 - 100 of 126 works

2014

Conference Publication

Bacterial Cellulose as a Model System to Study In Vitro Fermentability of Black Carrot Phytonutrients

Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Netzel, Gabriele, Chan, Chui Ying, Gidley, Michael and Williams, Barbara (2014). Bacterial Cellulose as a Model System to Study In Vitro Fermentability of Black Carrot Phytonutrients. Rowett-INRA 2014 Gut Microbiology: from sequence to function, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 16-19 June 2014.

Bacterial Cellulose as a Model System to Study In Vitro Fermentability of Black Carrot Phytonutrients

2014

Conference Publication

Effects of arabinoxylan dietary fibre fine structure on gut microbiota dynamics

Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Williams, Barbara A., Godwin, Scott, Gulino, Lisa-Maree, Ouwerkerk, Diane, Ismail, Munirah, Klieve, Athol and Gidley, Michael (2014). Effects of arabinoxylan dietary fibre fine structure on gut microbiota dynamics. ASM Meeting 2014: Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2014, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 6-9 July, 2014. Fitzroy, VIC, Australia: Australian Society for Microbiology.

Effects of arabinoxylan dietary fibre fine structure on gut microbiota dynamics

2014

Conference Publication

The Effect of Dietary Pectin on Microbial Community Profiles of the Porcine Large Intestine

Grant, Lucas, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Gulino, Lisa-Maree, Godwin, Scott, Ouwerkerk, Diane, Klieve, Athol, Gidley, Michael and Williams, Barbara (2014). The Effect of Dietary Pectin on Microbial Community Profiles of the Porcine Large Intestine. Rowett-INRA 2014 Gut Microbiology: from sequence to function, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 16-19 June 2014.

The Effect of Dietary Pectin on Microbial Community Profiles of the Porcine Large Intestine

2014

Conference Publication

Modulation of in vitro fermentation by polyphenol-rich black carrot fractions

Netzel, G., Mikkelsen, D., Flanagan, B., Netzel, M., Gidley, M. J. and Williams, B. (2014). Modulation of in vitro fermentation by polyphenol-rich black carrot fractions. 29th International Horticultural Congress, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17-22 September 2014.

Modulation of in vitro fermentation by polyphenol-rich black carrot fractions

2014

Conference Publication

Fermentability of Arabinose Depleted Arabinoxylan

Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Williams, Barbara, Ismail, Munirah, Godwin, Scott, Gulino, Lisa-Maree, Ouwerkerk, Diane, Klieve, Athol and Gidley, Michael (2014). Fermentability of Arabinose Depleted Arabinoxylan. Rowett-INRA 2014 Gut Microbiology: from sequence to function, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 16-19 June 2014.

Fermentability of Arabinose Depleted Arabinoxylan

2014

Conference Publication

The effect of dietary fibre on the microbial community profile of the porcine gastrointestinal tract

Grant, Lucas, Gulino, Lisa-Maree, Godwin, Scott, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Gidley, Michael J. and Williams, Barbara A. (2014). The effect of dietary fibre on the microbial community profile of the porcine gastrointestinal tract. ASM Meeting 2014: Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2014, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 6-9 July, 2014. Fitzroy, VIC, Australia: Australian Society for Microbiology.

The effect of dietary fibre on the microbial community profile of the porcine gastrointestinal tract

2014

Conference Publication

Microbial Population Shifts in Response to Dietary Arabinoxylan and Protein Changes

Gorham, John, Williams, Barbara, Gidley, Michael and Mikkelsen, Deirdre (2014). Microbial Population Shifts in Response to Dietary Arabinoxylan and Protein Changes. Rowett-INRA 2014 Gut Microbiology: from sequence to function, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 16-19 June 2014.

Microbial Population Shifts in Response to Dietary Arabinoxylan and Protein Changes

2014

Conference Publication

Development of enzymatic and histological methods complementing fluorescence in situ hybridisation to visualise and localise porcine gastrointestinal microbiota-dietary substrate associations

Gorham, John, Gidley, Michael, Williams, Barbara and Mikkelsen, Deirdre (2014). Development of enzymatic and histological methods complementing fluorescence in situ hybridisation to visualise and localise porcine gastrointestinal microbiota-dietary substrate associations. 9th Joint Rowett-INRA Symposium. Gut Microbiology: from Sequence to Function, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 16-19 June, 2014.

Development of enzymatic and histological methods complementing fluorescence in situ hybridisation to visualise and localise porcine gastrointestinal microbiota-dietary substrate associations

2014

Conference Publication

The Effect of Fruit Phytonutrients on Microbial Community Profiles of the Porcine Large Intestine

Grant, Lucas, Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Godwin, Scott, Gulino, Lisa-Maree, Ouwerkerk, Diane, Klieve, Athol, Gidley, Michael and Williams, Barbara (2014). The Effect of Fruit Phytonutrients on Microbial Community Profiles of the Porcine Large Intestine. Rowett-INRA 2014 Gut Microbiology: from sequence to function, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, 16-19 June 2014.

The Effect of Fruit Phytonutrients on Microbial Community Profiles of the Porcine Large Intestine

2013

Journal Article

Lack of release of bound anthocyanins and phenolic acids from carrot plant cell walls and model composites during simulated gastric and small intestinal digestion

Padayachee, Anneline, Netzel, Gabriele, Netzel, Michael, Day, Li, Mikkelsen, Deirdre and Gidley, Michael J. (2013). Lack of release of bound anthocyanins and phenolic acids from carrot plant cell walls and model composites during simulated gastric and small intestinal digestion. Food and Function, 4 (6), 906-916. doi: 10.1039/c3fo60091b

Lack of release of bound anthocyanins and phenolic acids from carrot plant cell walls and model composites during simulated gastric and small intestinal digestion

2013

Conference Publication

Black carrot polyphenols and their effect on plant cell wall fermentability

Netzel, G., Mikkelsen, D., Flanagan, B., Netzel, M., Gidley, M. J. and Williams, B. A. (2013). Black carrot polyphenols and their effect on plant cell wall fermentability. NSA NSNZ 2013 Joint Annual Scientific Meeting: 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia in conjunction with the Nutrition Society of New Zealand, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 4-6 December, 2013. Perth, WA, Australia: Australasian Medical Journa.

Black carrot polyphenols and their effect on plant cell wall fermentability

2013

Conference Publication

Fibre interactions with polyphenols and implications for gut release

Padayachee, A., Netzel, G., Netzel, M., Day, L., Mikkelsen, D. and Gidley, M. J. (2013). Fibre interactions with polyphenols and implications for gut release. NSA NSNZ 2013 Joint Annual Scientific Meeting: 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia in conjunction with the Nutrition Society of New Zealand, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 4-6 December, 2013. Perth, WA, Australia: Australasian Medical Journal.

Fibre interactions with polyphenols and implications for gut release

2013

Conference Publication

Plant fibre structural inferences on polyphenol release

Padayachee, Anneline, Netzel, G., Netzel, M., Mikkelsen, D. and Gidley, M. (2013). Plant fibre structural inferences on polyphenol release. Food Structure, Digestion and Health: 2nd International Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 21-24 October, 2013.

Plant fibre structural inferences on polyphenol release

2012

Journal Article

Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - part 2: phenolic acids

Padayachee, A., Netzel, G., Netzel, M., Day, L., Zabaras, D., Mikkelsen, D. and Gidley, M. J. (2012). Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - part 2: phenolic acids. Food Chemistry, 135 (4), 2287-2292. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.07.004

Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - part 2: phenolic acids

2012

Journal Article

Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - part 1: Anthocyanins

Padayachee, A., Netzel, G., Netzel, M., Day, L., Zabaras, D., Mikkelsen, D. and Gidley, M. (2012). Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - part 1: Anthocyanins. Food Chemistry, 134 (1), 155-161. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.02.082

Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - part 1: Anthocyanins

2012

Journal Article

Purified 1 ' acetoxychavicol acetate (1 ' ACA) from galangal spice affects membrane fatty acid composition and triggers a cell envelope stress response in Staphylococcus aureus

Weerakkody, Nimsha S., Smith, William M., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Waanders, Jennifer, Kerven, Graham, Caffin, Nola, Dykes, Gary A. and Turner, Mark S. (2012). Purified 1 ' acetoxychavicol acetate (1 ' ACA) from galangal spice affects membrane fatty acid composition and triggers a cell envelope stress response in Staphylococcus aureus. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 39 (3), 269-271. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2011.11.010

Purified 1 ' acetoxychavicol acetate (1 ' ACA) from galangal spice affects membrane fatty acid composition and triggers a cell envelope stress response in Staphylococcus aureus

2012

Journal Article

Preparation and in vitro release of zein microparticles loaded with prednisolone for oral delivery

Lau, Esther T. L., Johnson, Stuart K., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Halley, Peter J. and Steadman, Kathryn J. (2012). Preparation and in vitro release of zein microparticles loaded with prednisolone for oral delivery. Journal of Microencapsulation, 29 (7), 706-712. doi: 10.3109/02652048.2012.686527

Preparation and in vitro release of zein microparticles loaded with prednisolone for oral delivery

2012

Conference Publication

In vitro fermentability of purple carrot phytonutrients and effects on large intestinal microflora

Mikkelsen, D., Netzel, G. A., Williams, B. A. and Gidley, M. J. (2012). In vitro fermentability of purple carrot phytonutrients and effects on large intestinal microflora. 8th INRA-Rowett Symposium on Gut Microbiology, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 17 - 22 June 2012.

In vitro fermentability of purple carrot phytonutrients and effects on large intestinal microflora

2012

Conference Publication

Investigating the relationship between grain fibre fraction molecular structures and in vitro fermentability

Williams, B. A., Walsh, C., Liao, M. L., Pettolino, F., Mikkelsen, D., Gidley, M. J. and Bacic, A. (2012). Investigating the relationship between grain fibre fraction molecular structures and in vitro fermentability. 8th INRA-Rowett Symposium on Gut Microbiology, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 17-20 June 2012.

Investigating the relationship between grain fibre fraction molecular structures and in vitro fermentability

2012

Conference Publication

Bacterial cellulose (BC): a model system to study in vitro fermentability of plant cell wall analogues

Mikkelsen, D., Netzel, G. A., Williams, B. A. and Gidley, M. J. (2012). Bacterial cellulose (BC): a model system to study in vitro fermentability of plant cell wall analogues. 8th INRA-Rowett Symposium on Gut Microbiology, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 17 - 20 June 2012.

Bacterial cellulose (BC): a model system to study in vitro fermentability of plant cell wall analogues

Funding

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

Supervision

Availability

Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au