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Institute of Medical Sciences

In Memoriam: Dr Gail Ferguson

21/08/1969 - 27/12/2011

Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology (Translational Medicine)

Dr GAIL FERGUSON

Gail spent two periods in Aberdeen (1990-1999) and (2007- ) along with spells in MIT and Edinburgh. She was an outstanding talent, one of the new generation who was providing the leadership in the physiology and molecular biology of bacterial pathogens that is required to advance the treatment of infectious diseases. Gail passed away very suddenly on 27th December, 2011. She will be greatly missed by the whole community.

Please contact Professor Maggie Smith (maggie.smith@abdn.ac.uk) to learn more about the continuation of Gail's work by others.
  • Winner of the 2009 Wain Medal from the University of Kent for Biochemical Research
  • Senior Lecturer in School of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, June 2007-Present
  • Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh Sept 2004-May 07
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Prof Graham Walker, Depart. of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Oct 1999-Sept 2004
  • Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Toxicology Fellowship, Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen Oct 1996-Sept 99
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Prof Ian Booth, Dept. of Mol & Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen Jan 1994-Oct 96
  • PhD in Microbiology, Prof Ian Booth, Dept of Mol & Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen Oct 1990-Jan 94
  • BSc Biochemistry Honours (2i), University of Stirling Sept 1986-June 90

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Research Interests

Bacterial-Host Interactions
  • Sinorhizobium meliloti-legume symbiosis
  • Brucella species-mammalian pathogenesis

High Pressure Microbiology

  • The high pressure- & cold-loving bacterium, Photobacterium profundum SS9
  • Deep-sea actinomycetes
Translational Medicine
  • Natural products & novel antibiotics
  • Improving the treatment of MRSA infections

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Current Research

Bacterial-Host Interactions

My research group focuses on understanding the mechanism by which bacterial cells persist within eukaryotic cells. To address this, we study the interaction of the beneficial plant symbiont, Sinorhizobium meliloti, with leguminous plants. S. meliloti is closely related to Brucella spp., which are chronic animal and human pathogens. Although the outcome of S. meliloti and Brucella infections are very different (i.e symbiosis vs disease), parallels exist in the mechanisms employed by these bacteria to persist within their host. Our research focusses on the role of bacterial cell envelope components, including the lipid A structure and inner membrane BacA protein, in chronic infections. We are particuarly interested in the relationship between bacterial cell envelope components and host antimicrobial peptides. Our group is also currently investigating the function of BacA homogues from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

High Pressure Microbiology

Our research interests are involved in understanding how deep-sea bacteria grow optimally under extremes of pressure and cold temperature. To investigate this, we use the high pressure- and cold-loving deep-sea bacterium, Photobacterium profundum SS9 as a model organism. We are currently investigating the importance of the initiation of DNA replication and polysaccharide structure in the optimum growth of P. profundum SS9. We also interested in antibiotic production by deep-sea actinomycetes and how this be altered by changing growth conditions.

Translational Medicine

One of the major focusses of my research group is the discovery of novel antibiotics. We are currently screening novel natural product libraries for antibacterial activity against MRSA and multi-drug resistant clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our lab also focusses on improving the treatment of persistent MRSA wound infections.


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Collaborations

Bacterial-Host Interactions
  • Prof Graham Walker, Dept of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, US
  • Prof Matteo Zanda, University of Aberdeen, UK
  • Prof Marco Scocchi, University of Trieste, Italy
  • Dr Peter Mergeart, CNRS-Gif, France

High Pressure Microbiology

  • Prof Doug Bartlett, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, USA
  • Prof Lindsay Sawyer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
  • Prof John Parnell, Dept of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, UK

Translational Medicine

  • Prof Sebastian Amyes, University of Edinburgh, UK
  • Prof Marcel Jaspars, University of Aberdeen, UK
  • Prof Tim Mitchell, University of Glasgow, UK
  • Dr Tony Ormerod, University of Aberdeen, UK
  • Prof Ruth Ross, Univeristy of Aberdeen, UK
  • Dr Iain Greig, Univerisity of Aberdeen, UK

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Research Grants

  • BBSRC CASE PhD (Oct 2011) joint with Novabiotics, Ruth Ross & Tony Ormerod "Improving the treatment of persistent skin infections"
  • Endownment Grant (March 2011) joint with Ruth Ross, Tony Ormerod & Heather Wilson "Investigating the effect of acififed nitrite on MRSA and skin cells"
  • SULSA Screening grant (Jan 2011) joint with Alan Harvey, Iain Greig "Screening a plant library against MRSA"
  • Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher Scheme (July 2010) joint with MossGrove Natural Products
  • University of Aberdeen Commercialisation Award (May 2010) joint with Iain Greig, Ruth Ross & Marcel Jaspars "Screening of a Natural Product Library for Novel Chemotherapeutic Agents"
  • Part of the University of Aberdeen Team on the Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Awarded to Prof Marcel Jaspars & Dr Kwaku Kyeremeh (University of Ghana) (May 210) "Investigation of Secondary Metabolites from Ghanaian Marine Organisms and their Bioactivity"
  • Science & Technologies Research Council Auora PhD Studentship (Oct 2010) joint with Prof John Parnell (Geosciences, University of Aberdeen) "Mars, Methane & Microbes"
  • SULSA PhD Studentship (Oct 2009) joint with Prof Sebastian Amyes (University of Edinburgh) "Screening Deep-Sea Actinomycetes for Novel Antibacterials against Clinical Infections"
  • MRC New Investigator Competition (Sept 2006) "Understanding the Molecular Basis of Chronic Bacterial Host Interactions"
  • BBSRC (Feb 2006) "Investigating Host-Induced Lipopolysaccharide Changes in the Legume Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti"
  • NERC New Investigator Competition (Jan 2006) "Investigating the Molecular Basis of Cold- and Pressure-Adapted Growth in the Marine Bacterium, Photobacterium profundum SS9"
  • Edinburgh University Development Trust (April 2005) "To Develop Aeroponic Growth Facilities for Legumes"
  • Royal Society Small Research Grant (Feb 2005) "Investigating Novel Cell Envelope Components of the Deep-Sea Bacterium, Photobacterium profundum SS9"
  • Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Toxicology Fellowship (Oct 1996) "To Investigate the Mechanism by which Cytoplasmic Acidification Protects Bacterial Cells Against Toxic Electrophiles"

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Teaching Responsibilities

Second Year Microbiology

  • Biology of bacteria & microbial diversity lectures
  • Bacterial identification & growth practical
Third Year Microbiology
  • Chronic bacterial-host interactions & growth under extreme conditions lectures

Honours Core Course

  • Control of bacterial gene expression lectures
  • Microbiology research tutorials
Msc Medical Microbiology
  • Chronic bacterial-host interaction lectures

Current Techniques in Microbiology

  • Research/lab techniques seminar & lab tour

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External Responsibilities

Steering Committee Scottish Infection Research Network 2009-Present

University of Aberdeen Ambassador for the "Society of Microbiology"


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Admin Responsibilities

  • College council
  • Kosterlitz management group

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Publications

Contributions to Journals

Articles

  • Haag, AF., Wehmeier, S., Muszynski, A., Kerscher, B., Fletcher, V., Berry, SH., Hold, GL., Carlson, RW. & Ferguson, GP. (2011). 'Biochemical characterization of Sinorhizobium meliloti mutants reveals gene products involved in the biosynthesis of the unusual lipid A very-long-chain fatty acid'. Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 286, pp. 17455-17466.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.236356
  • Rateb, ME., Houssen, WE., Arnold, M., Abdelrahman, MH., Deng, H., Harrison, WTA., Okoro, CK., Asenjo, JA., Andrews, BA., Ferguson, G., Bull, AT., Goodfellow, M., Ebel, R. & Jaspars, M. (2011). 'Chaxamycins A-D, Bioactive Ansamycins from a Hyper-arid Desert Streptomyces sp'. Journal of Natural Products, vol 74, no. 6, pp. 1491-1499.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1021/np200320u
  • Karunakaran, R., Haag, A., East, AK., Ramachandran, VK., Prell, J., James, EK., Scocchi, M., Ferguson, GP. & Poole, PS. (2010). 'BacA is essential for bacteroid development in nodules of galegoid, but not phaseoloid, legumes'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 192, no. 11, pp. 2920-2928.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1128/JB.00020-10
  • El-Hajj, ZW., Allcock, D., Tryfona, T., Lauro, FM., Sawyer, L., Bartlett, DH. & Ferguson, GP. (2010). 'Insights into piezophily from genetic studies on the deep-sea bacterium, Photobacterium profundum SS9'. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol 1189, no. 1, pp. 143-148.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05178.x
  • Wehmeier, S., Arnold, MFF., Marlow, VL., Aouida, M., Myka, K., Fletcher, V., Benincasa, M., Scocchi, M., Ramatar, D. & Ferguson, GP. (2010). 'Internalisation of a thiazole-modified peptide in Sinorhizobium meliloti occurs by BacA-dependent and -independent mechanisms'. Microbiology.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.039909-0
  • Haag, AF., Myka, KK., Arnold, MFF., Caro-Hernández, P. & Ferguson, GP. (2010). 'Importance of Lipopolysaccharide and Cyclic ß-1,2-Glucans in Brucella-Mammalian Infections'. International Journal of Microbiology, vol 2010, pp. 124509.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1155/2010/124509
  • El-Hajj, ZW., Tryfona, T., Allcock, DJ., Hasan, F., Lauro, FM., Sawyer, L., Bartlett, DH. & Ferguson, GP. (2009). 'Importance of proteins controlling initiation of DNA replication in the growth of the high-pressure-loving bacterium Photobacterium profundum SS9'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 191, no. 20, pp. 6383-6393.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1128/JB.00576-09
  • Haag, A., Wehmeier, S., Beck, S., Marlow, VL., Fletcher, V., James, EK. & Ferguson, GP. (2009). 'The Sinorhizobium meliloti LpxXL and AcpXL proteins play important roles in bacteroid development within alfalfa'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 191, no. 14, pp. 4681-4686.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1128/JB.00318-09
  • Marlow, VL., Haag, A., Kobayashi, H., Fletcher, V., Scocchi, M., Walker, G. & Ferguson, GP. (2009). 'Essential role for the BacA protein in the uptake of a truncated eukaryotic peptide in Sinorhizobium meliloti'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 191, no. 5, pp. 1519-1527.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1128/JB.01661-08
  • Beck, S., Marlow, VL., Woodall, K., Doerrler, WT., James, EK. & Ferguson, GP. (2008). 'The Sinorhizobium meliloti MsbA2 protein is essential for the legume symbiosis'. Microbiology, vol 154, pp. 1258-1270.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2007/014894-0
  • Parent, MA., Goenka, R., Murphy, E., LeVier, K., Carreiro, N., Golding, B., Ferguson, GP., Roop, RM., Walker, GC. & Baldwin, CL. (2007). 'Brucella abortus bacA mutant induces greater pro-inflammatory cytokines than the wild-type parent strain'. Microbes and Infection, vol 9, no. 1, pp. 55-62.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2006.10.008
  • Roop, RM., Robertson, GT., Ferguson, GP., Milford, LE., Winkler, ME. & Walker, GC. (2002). 'Seeking a niche'. Veterinary Microbiology, vol 90, no. 1-4, pp. 349-363.
  • Evans, GJ., Ferguson, GP., Booth, IR. & Vuilleumier, S. (2000). 'Growth inhibition of Escherichia coli by dichloromethane in cells expressing dichloromethane dehalogenase/glutathione S-transferase'. Microbiology, vol 146, pp. 2967-2975.
  • Ferguson, GP. & Booth, IR. (1998). 'Importance of glutathione for growth and survival of Escherichia coli cells'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 180, no. 16, pp. 4314-4318.
  • Ferguson, GP., Creighton, RI., Nikolaev, Y. & Booth, IR. (1998). 'Importance of RpoS and Dps in survival of exposure of both exponential- and stationary-phase Escherichia coli cells to the electrophile N-ethylmaleimide'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 180, no. 5, pp. 1030-1036.
  • MacLean, MJ., Ness, LS., Ferguson, GP. & Booth, IR. (1998). 'The role of glyoxalase I in the detoxification of methylglyoxal and in the activation of the KefB K+ efflux system in Escherichia coli'. Molecular Microbiology, vol 27, no. 3, pp. 563-571.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00701.x
  • Ferguson, GP., Nikolaev, Y., McLaggan, D., MacLean, M. & Booth, IR. (1997). 'Survival during exposure to the electrophilic reagent N-ethylmaleimide in Escherichia coli role of KefB and KefC potassium channels'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 179, no. 4, pp. 1007-1012.
  • Ness, LS., Ferguson, GP., Nikolaev, Y. & Booth, IR. (1997). 'Survival of Escherichia coli cells exposed to iodoacetate and chlorodinitrobenzene is independent of the glutathione-gated K+ efflux systems KefB and KefC'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol 63, no. 10, pp. 4083-4086.
  • Ferguson, GP., Chacko, AD., Lee, CH. & Booth, IR. (1996). 'The activity of the high-affinity K+ uptake system Kdp sensitizes cells of Escherichia coli to methylglyoxal'. Journal of Bacteriology, vol 178, no. 13, pp. 3957-61.
  • Ferguson, GP., McLaggan, D. & Booth, IR. (1995). 'Potassium channel activation by glutathione-S-conjugates in Escherichia coli: protection against methylglyoxal is mediated by cytoplasmic acidification'. Molecular Microbiology, vol 17, no. 6, pp. 1025-1033.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1995.mmi_17061025.x
  • Ferguson, GP., Munro, A., Douglas, RM., McLaggan, D. & Booth, IR. (1993). 'Activation of potassium channels during metabolite detoxification in Escherichia coli'. Molecular Microbiology, vol 9, no. 6, pp. 1297-1303.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1993.tb01259.x

Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings

Chapters

  • Bartlett, D., Ferguson, GP. & Valle, G. (2008). 'Adaptations of the Psychrotolerant Piezophile Photobacterium profundum SS9'. in C Michiels, DH Bartlett & A Aertsen (eds), High-Pressure Microbiology ASM Press, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 319-336.

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