Profiles
Mark Ambrose
UTAS Home Dr Mark Ambrose
Mark Ambrose
Lecturer in Medical Microbiology
Room 240-02 (Level 2) , Medical Sciences 1
+61 3 6226 4669 (phone)
Dr Mark Ambrose is a lecturer and researcher in the School of Medicine (Faculty of Health) at the University of Tasmania. He is currently co-leader of the Host-Pathogen Interactions Research Group.
Biography
Before joining the University of Tasmania, he completed postdoctoral studies in DNA repair and mutagenesis at the Harvard School of Public Health (Harvard University), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Career summary
Qualifications
- PhD, La Trobe University, Australia.
- BSc, La Trobe University, Australia.
Memberships
Professional practice
- American Society for Microbiology (ASM): 2007-current
- Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM): 2012-current
- Australian Society of Antimicrobials: 2014-current
- Member of the University of Tasmania's Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) (2013 - current)
Teaching
Microbiology, Molecular Biology.
Teaching responsibility
Units Taught
- Foundations of Medicine 1 (CAM101)
- Foundations of Medicine 2 (CAM102)
- Fundamentals of Clinical Practice 1 (CAM201)
- Fundamentals of Clinical Practice 2 (CAM202)
- Microbiology (KLA210)
- Fundamental of Clinical Science 3 (CAM304/305)
- Basic Pathological Processes & Immunity (CJA212)
- Advanced Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (CBA343)
View more on Dr Mark Ambrose in WARP
Expertise
- Microbial genetics and physiology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- DNA repair and mutagenesis assays
- Tissue culture
- Gene expression profiling
Research Themes
Dr Ambrose's research focus is on DNA-damage signalling, DNA repair, and mutagenesis in bacteria, yeast and human model systems. In particular, his research emphasises the use of conventional mutation detection assays, along with whole genome and proteome interrogation methodologies, to investigate the impact of physiological stress on the activation and modulation of damage-inducible error-prone DNA repair pathways. His research aimed at understanding how bacteria develop antimicrobial resistance during colonisation of the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) is aligned to the University's research theme of Better Health.
Fields of Research
- Medical bacteriology (320701)
- Anthropological genetics (310501)
- Pharmaceutical sciences (321405)
- Infectious diseases (320211)
- Respiratory diseases (320103)
- Health and community services (420305)
- Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences (321499)
- Ecology (310399)
- Cancer cell biology (321101)
- Conservation and biodiversity (410401)
- Higher education (390303)
- Cancer genetics (321103)
- Radiation therapy (321110)
- Epigenetics (incl. genome methylation and epigenomics) (310504)
- Cell development, proliferation and death (310102)
- Cellular nervous system (320902)
- Innate immunity (320407)
- Bacteriology (310701)
- Microbial genetics (310704)
Research Objectives
- Clinical health (200199)
- Human pharmaceutical treatments (240803)
- Expanding knowledge in the health sciences (280112)
- Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences (280102)
- Plastics (240910)
- Terrestrial biodiversity (180606)
- Women's and maternal health (200509)
- Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments (180602)
- Human pharmaceutical products (240899)
- Other education and training (169999)
- Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences (280103)
Publications
Total publications
18
Journal Article
(16 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Corban M, Ambrose M, Pagnon JC, Stringer D, Karpiniec S, et al., 'Pathway analysis of fucoidan activity using a yeast gene deletion library screen', Marine drugs, 17, (1) Article 54. ISSN 1660-3397 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3390/md17010054 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Corban M; Pagnon JC; Eri R; Fitton JH; Gueven N | |
| 2019 | See-Too WS, Ambrose M, Malley R, Ee R, Mulcahy-Singh EM, et al., 'Pandoraea fibrosis sp. nov., a novel Pandoraea species isolated from clinical respiratory samples', International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 69, (3) pp. 645-651. ISSN 1466-5026 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.003147 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Malley R; Mulcahy-Singh EM; Pagnon JC; Roddam LF | |
| 2019 | Sutton LP, Jeffreys SA, Phillips JL, Taberlay PC, Holloway AF, et al., 'DNA methylation changes following DNA damage in prostate cancer cells', Epigenetics, 14, (10) pp. 989-1002. ISSN 1559-2294 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1629231 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 16Web of Science - 13 Co-authors: Sutton LP; Jeffreys SA; Phillips JL; Taberlay PC; Holloway AF; Young A; Berry R; Brettingham-Moore KH | |
| 2017 | Ambrose M, Murray L, Handoyo NE, Tunggal D, Cooling N, 'Learning global health: a pilot study of an online collaborative intercultural peer group activity involving medical students in Australia and Indonesia', BMC Medical Education, 17 Article 10. ISSN 1472-6920 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1186/s12909-016-0851-6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 29 Co-authors: Murray L; Cooling N | |
| 2016 | Ambrose M, Malley RC, Warren SJ, Beggs SA, Swallow OFE, et al., 'Pandoraea pnomenusa isolated from an Australian patient with cystic fibrosis', Frontiers in microbiology, 7 Article 692. ISSN 1664-302X (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00692 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Malley RC; Beggs SA; Roddam LF | |
| 2015 | Ee R, Ambrose M, Lazenby C, Williams P, Chan K-G, et al., 'Genome sequences of two Pandoraea pnomenusa isolates recovered 11 months apart from a cystic fibrosis patient', Genome Announcements, 3, (1) Article e01389-14. ISSN 2169-8287 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.01389-14 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 10 Co-authors: Roddam L | |
| 2015 | Gizdavic-Nikolaidis MR, Pagnon JC, Ali N, Sum R, Davies N, et al., 'Functionalized polyanilines disrupt Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms', Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 136 pp. 666-673. ISSN 0927-7765 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.10.015 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 22Web of Science - 20 Co-authors: Pagnon JC; Ali N; Davies N; Roddam LF | |
| 2013 | Ambrose M, Gatti RA, 'Pathogenesis of ataxia-telangiectasia: the next generation of ATM functions', Blood, 121, (20) pp. 4036-4045. ISSN 0006-4971 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-09-456897 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 146Web of Science - 134 | |
| 2011 | Gizdavic-Nikolaidis MR, Bennett JR, Swift S, Easteal AJ, Ambrose M, 'Broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of functionalized polyanilines', Acta Biomaterialia, 7, (12) pp. 4204-4209. ISSN 1742-7061 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2011.07.018 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 161Web of Science - 149 | |
| 2010 | MacPhee DG, Ambrose M, 'Catabolite repression of SOS-dependent and SOS-independent spontaneous mutagenesis in stationary-phase Escherichia coli', Mutation Research, 686, (1-2) pp. 84-89. ISSN 0027-5107 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2010.01.022 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5 | |
| 2007 | Ambrose M, Goldstine JV, Gatti RA, 'Intrinsic mitochondrial dysfunction in ATM-deficient lymphoblastoid cells', Human Molecular Genetics, 16, (18) pp. 2154-64. ISSN 0964-6906 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddm166 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 138Web of Science - 130 | |
| 2007 | Rusyn I, Fry RC, Begley TJ, Klapacz J, Svensson JP, et al., 'Transcriptional networks in S. cerevisiae linked to an accumulation of base excision repair intermediates', PLoS One, 2, (11) pp. e1252. ISSN 1932-6203 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001252 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 15Web of Science - 16 | |
| 2003 | Hofseth LJ, Khan MA, Ambrose M, Nikolayeva O, Xu-Welliver M, et al., 'The adaptive imbalance in base excision-repair enzymes generates microsatellite instability in chronic inflammation', Journal of Clinical Investigation, 112, (12) pp. 1887-94. ISSN 0021-9738 (2003) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1172/JCI200319757 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 179Web of Science - 171 | |
| 1998 | Ambrose M, MacPhee DG, 'Catabolite repressors are potent antimutagens in Escherichia coli plate incorporation assays: experiments with glucose, glucose-6-phosphate and methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside', Mutation Research, 398, (1-2) pp. 175-82. ISSN 0027-5107 (1998) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/S0027-5107(97)00315-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 7Web of Science - 7 | |
| 1998 | Ambrose M, MacPhee DG, 'Glucose and related catabolite repressors are powerful inhibitors of pKM101-enhanced UV mutagenesis in Escherichia coli', Mutation Research, 422, (1) pp. 107-12. ISSN 0027-5107 (1998) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/S0027-5107(98)00179-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5 | |
| 1996 | MacPhee DG, Ambrose M, 'Spontaneous mutations in bacteria: chance or necessity?', Genetica, 97, (1) pp. 87-101. ISSN 0016-6707 (1996) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/BF00132585 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 8 |
Conference Publication
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Ambrose M, Pagnon JC, Roddam LF, 'Regulation of mutagenesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa', Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting, 8-12 August, 2016, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA (2016) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Pagnon JC; Roddam LF | |
| 2015 | Cooling NB, Ambrose M, Murray LJ, Handoyo NE, Dedi MAE, 'Reciprocal intercultural peer e-learning in global health: Experiences and perceptions of Australian and Indonesian third-year medical students', 7th International Conference on Public health among the Greater Mekong Sub-Regional Countries, 25-27 September 2017, Hue, Vietnam (2015) [Plenary Presentation] Co-authors: Cooling NB; Murray LJ |
Grants & Funding
Funding Summary
Number of grants
11
Total funding
$447,277
Projects
Processes regulating biofilm dispersal impact the mutability of the cystic fibrosis pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2023)$22,545
- Description
- People with cystic fibrosis (CF) develop lung infection by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which escapes antibiotics because of its ability to form resistant biofilm in the airways of people with CF. Investigators are developing anti-biofilm (dispersal) therapeutic strategies to improve the antibiotic susceptible of the bacterial cells, however, the impact of biofilm dispersal on the mutability of this organism in the presence of antibiotics has been poorly investigated, and hence is not fully understood. Our working hypothesis is that biofilm dispersal by P. aeruginosa is intrinsically linked to the operation(s) of its mutation generation system(s), and that this nexus has important implications for how investigators approach the development of anti-biofilm (dispersal) therapeutics.
- Funding
- The MPST Foundation Ltd ($22,545)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Ambrose M
- Year
- 2023
Characterising the regulation of antibiotic resistance mutations in the cystic fibrosis pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2020)$25,000
- Description
- People with cystic fibrosis (CF) develop lung infection by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which escapes antibiotic treatment and eventually becomes permanently established in the airways of people with CF. How this organism resists antibiotic challenges is not yet fully understood. Our working hypothesis is that P. aeruginosa evolves through antibiotic challenges by accumulating resistance mutations via a metabolically-sensitive mutation generation pathway, whose regulation we believe represents an underexplored therapeutic target.
- Funding
- The MPST Foundation Ltd ($25,000)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Ambrose M
- Year
- 2020
Pre-clinical toxicity assessment to select drug development candidates against mitochondrial dysfunction (2020 - 2021)$144,300
- Description
- This application supports a valley of death project to generate the pre-clinical toxicity data that are required towards commercialisation of UTAS-derived novel drug candidates
- Funding
- National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation ($144,300)
- Scheme
- Grant-Expression of Interest
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Guven N; Smith JA; Ambrose M
- Period
- 2020 - 2021
Characterisation of newly identified Pandoraea isolates from paediatric Tasmanian CF patients (2020)$8,550
- Description
- Pandoraea, an emerging bacterial pathogen, is highly antibiotic resistant and was first isolated from a Tasmanian CF patient in 2012, then again in 2018 from two Tasmanian paediatric patients. We will characterise these new isolates (determine species, antibiotic resistance profiles and virulence potential) to advance our understanding of this pathogen.
- Funding
- Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($8,550)
- Scheme
- Grant-Incubator
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Roddam LF; Ambrose M; Pagnon JC; McEwan B; Beggs S
- Year
- 2020
Cystic Fibrosis: Investigating the acute stage of infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2018)$10,000
- Description
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients develop chronic lung infection by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are resistant to antibiotic treatment. We need to target the early (acute) stage of infection by this organism, and we will use primary CF epithelial cells and P. aeruginosa gene arrays to identity potential bacterial targets.
- Funding
- Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($10,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Starter
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Ambrose M; Beggs S
- Year
- 2018
Non-conventional antimicrobial testing of emerging pathogens (2017)$10,000
- Description
- Pandoraea, is an emerging bacterial pathogen of cystic fibrosis. Conventional antibiotic susceptibility testing shows Pandoraea to be multi-drug resistant with limited treatment options. We will investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of Pandoraea using non-conventional methods to determine if we are underestimating treatment options for this chronic infection.
- Funding
- Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($10,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Starter
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Roddam LF; Beggs S; Ambrose M; Malley RC
- Year
- 2017
Anti-inflammatory efficacy of Marinovas Fucoidan & interactions with microbiota (2016)$100,000
- Description
- Industry interaction to develop Marinova's fucoidan extracts for gut health
- Funding
- Department of Industry, Innovation and Science ($50,000); Marinova Pty Ltd ($50,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Guven N; Eri RD; Ahuja KDK; Ball MJ; Ambrose M; Roddam LF; Zosky GR
- Year
- 2016
Molecular profiling of the post radiotherapy chromatin landscape in prostate cancer cells (2016)$33,000
- Description
- This project will investigate the basal and post radiotherapy epigenetic changes in prostate cancer cells with divergent response to radiotherapy (RT). It will validate methylation data obtained from illumina Infinium 450 beadchip arrays, profile histone modifications post RT and investigate DNA damage post RT in cells treated with inhibitors of epigenetic enzymes (DNMT and HDAC).
- Funding
- Cancer Council of Tasmania ($33,000)
- Scheme
- Grant-Cancer Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Brettingham-Moore KH; Ambrose M; Holloway AF; Skala M; Taberlay PC
- Year
- 2016
Prevalence and virulence of an emerging bacterial pathogen of Tasmanian cystic fibrosis patients (2015)$11,100
- Description
- Pandoraea, an emerging bacterial pathogen of cystic fibrosis is difficult to identify, is of unknown clinical significance and was recently isolated from a Tasmanian CF patient. we will investigate the prevalence of Pandoraea in Tasmanian CF patients, describe its virulence potential and investigate its susceptilility to our new antimicrobial therapy.
- Funding
- Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation ($11,100)
- Scheme
- Grant-Clinical Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Roddam LF; Ambrose M; Beggs S; Cooley MA; Malley RC; Warren SJ; Wilson RR; McEwan B
- Year
- 2015
A human paraoxonase 2-based therapy for cystic fibrosis A (2014 - 2016)$15,000
- Description
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic condition affecting Australians. People with CF carry a mutation in a gene, which is essential for maintaining the proper balance of salt and water in lungs. As a result, CF patients experience a continuous build-up of thick and sticky mucous in their lungs, which can be colonised by many different types of microorganisms, and especially by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infections by P. aeruginosa cannot be completely eradicated using currently available antibiotics because cells of this organism can group together to live in so-called biofilms (which are essentially protected cell communities), which antibiotics simply fail to penetrate successfully. This project will investigate ways to make P. aeruginosa more susceptible to existing antibiotics. The approach aims to prevent/disrupt the grouping together of individual bacterial cells in the first instance, thereby allowing the antibiotics to kill them more effectively. Current research is producing in the laboratory a human anti-biofilm enzyme, known as human paraoxonase 2 (PON2). PON2 is usually produced inside of human cells, which means it is not able to attack the bacterial cells that usually live outside human cells. By administering the recombinant human PON2 (as an aerosol, for example), together with certain antibiotics, it is anticipated that prevention and/or eradication of P. aeruginosa infections will be possible in people with CF.
- Funding
- Australian Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust ($15,000)
- Scheme
- Scholarship-Top-Up
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Roddam LF; Cooley MA; Ambrose M
- Period
- 2014 - 2016
Testing a new therapy against lung infections for people with cystic fibrosis (2013)$67,782
- Description
- P. aeruginosa uses small diffusible signal molecules called acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) to alter its growth, which enables it to hide from antibiotic therapies and the immune system of the host thereby preventing its eradication from the lungs. These bacterial AHL molecules can also enter and affect human cells leading to further lung damage. This project aims to demonstrate that a novel therapy that inactivates bacterial AHLs can protect human cells from these molecules. Demonstration of this is the first step in showing that this therapy can protect the lungs of people with CF from P. aeruginosa infections. In summary, this new treatment approach should at a minimum prevent a significant amount of the lung damage that occurs, resulting in better quality of life and increased life span. More importantly, this therapy also has the potential to prevent P. aeruginosa lung infections in CF.
- Funding
- Clifford Craig Foundation ($67,782)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Roddam LF; Cooley MA; Ambrose M; Tristram SG
- Year
- 2013
Research Supervision
Current
1
Completed
4
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | The microbial ecology of transmission sites of Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease | 2014 |
Completed
| Degree | Title | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Recombinant Human Paraoxonase-2 as a Therapy to Diminish Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Virulence and Protect Host Cells from Infection Candidate: Simone Anne Page | 2022 |
| PhD | The Mutagenic Activity of Oxazolopyridine Compounds Candidate: Hsien Hooi Lee | 2018 |
| PhD | The Potential Therapeutic Benefits of rhPON2 Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infections Candidate: Joanne Carmen Pagnon | 2018 |
| PhD | Potential of Human PON2 as an Anti-Pseudomonal Therapy Candidate: Naseem Mohammad Ali | 2015 |