The University of Western Australia
Professor Barbara Chang
Professor
Contact details
| Address | Microbiology and Immunology The University of Western Australia (M502) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 9346 2288 / 9346 2287 |
| Fax | 9346 2912 |
| barbara.chang@uwa.edu.au |
Location
Room 1.5A, L Block, QEII Medical Centre
Biography
Associate Professor Barbara Chang completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at The University of Adelaide. Her PhD from Monash University focussed on the genetics of outer membrane proteins in the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. She then undertook a post doctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary in Canada, working with Dr Bill Costerton on Pseudomonas biofilms before moving to The University of Western Australia. She is currently the Honours Co-ordinator for Microbiology as well as the Chair of Microbiology and Immunology.
Key research
- A/Prof Chang’s main research area is bacterial molecular biology. Her current projects are on bacterial virulence factors and the biology and uses of bacteriophages.
- Marine Bioprospecting, in collaboration with Dr David Sutton
- These projects involve finding natural products from marine organisms that potentially have commercial applications. A/Prof Chang is particularly interested in the Vibrio bacteria, a pathogen that interferes with aquaculture operations. The group is currently isolating substances that interfere with Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing and thus reduce bacterial virulence, and characterizing bacteriophages that could act as alternatives to antibiotic treatment of Vibrio infection.
- Bacterial Pathogens, in collaboration with Professor Tom Riley
- A/Prof Chang and Prof Tom Riley have collaborated on various projects including research on bacterial epidemiology, molecular typing, and virulence factors. One current project is attempting to determine why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is resistant to tea-tree oil. So far they have discovered a whole series of adaptations, including efflux pumps that can pump out the oil. Other organisms of current interest include Clostridium difficile, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Serratia marcescens and Aeromonas species.
- Chang and Riley are also looking at bacteriophages which act against Clostridium difficile. This is an emerging pathogen which is responsible for disease outbreaks overseas, but there has so far been little research on the phages associated with it. The group was among the first to isolate and determine the genomic sequence of a phage in C. difficile and is interested in how phages might contribute to the virulence of the pathogen.
Major research interests
- Bacteria—genetics
- Bacteria—growth
- Bacteria—pathogenesis
- Molecular biology
- Viruses—bacteriophages
Qualifications
BSc Adel., PhD Monash, FASM
Publications
Foster, N.F., Chang, B.J., Riley, T.V. Evaluation of a modified selective differential medium for the isolation of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 75 (1): 153-5 (2008)
Papadopoulos, C., Carson, C.F., Chang, B.J., Riley, T.V. Role of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in tolerance to tea-tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and its monoterpene components terpinen-4-ol, 1, 8-cineole, and alpha-terpineol. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74 (6): 1932-1935 (2008)
Elliott, B., Chang, B.J., Golledge, C.L., Riley, T.V. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea. Internal Medicine Journal. 37 (8): 561-568 (2007)
Goh, S., Ong, P.F., Song, K.P., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. The complete genome sequence of Clostridium difficile phage phiC2 and comparisons to phiCD119 and inducible prophages of CD630. Microbiology. 153 (3): 676-685 (2007)
Wang, Q., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. Neuraminidase production by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Veterinary Microbiology. 107 (3-4): 265-272 (2005)
Goh, S., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. Isolation and characterization of temperate bacteriophages of Clostridium difficile. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 71 (2): 1079-1083 (2005)
Goh, S., Chang, B.J., Riley, T.V. Effect of phage infection on toxin production by Clostridium difficile. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 54 (2): 129-135 (2005)
Su, L.H., Ou, J.T., Leu, H.S., Chiang, P.C., Chiu, Y.P., Chia, J.H., Kuo, A.J., Chiu, C.H., Chu, C., Wu, T.L., Sun, C.F., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. Extended epidemic of nosocomial urinary tract infections caused by Serratia marcescens. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41 (10): 4726-4732 (2003)
Levy, A., Chang, B.J., Abbott, L.K., Kuo, J., Harnett, G., Inglis, T.J. Invasion of spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora decipiens by Burkholderia spp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 69 (10): 6250-6256 (2003)
Inglis, T.J.I., Robertson, T., Woods, D.E., Dutton, N., Chang, B.J. Flagellum-mediated adhesion by Burkholderia pseudomallei precedes invasion of Acanthamoeba astronyxis. Infection and Immunity. 71: 2280-2282 (2003)
BOOK CHAPTERS
Chang, B.J., Mee, B.J., McGregor, K.F., Riley, T.V. (2001). Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis. In: Molecular Medical Microbiology. Ed. M. Sussman. Academic Press, Vol.3, p.1681-1702.
Chang, B.J., Janda, J.M. (2005). Aeromonas. In: Topley and Wilson’s Microbiology and Microbial Infections. 10th Edition. Ed. S. P. Borriello, P.R. Murray and G. Funke. Hodder Arnold, Bacteriology Vol 2, p. 1524-1540.
Papadopoulos, C., Carson, C.F., Chang, B.J., Riley, T.V. Role of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in tolerance to tea-tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and its monoterpene components terpinen-4-ol, 1, 8-cineole, and alpha-terpineol. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74 (6): 1932-1935 (2008)
Elliott, B., Chang, B.J., Golledge, C.L., Riley, T.V. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea. Internal Medicine Journal. 37 (8): 561-568 (2007)
Goh, S., Ong, P.F., Song, K.P., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. The complete genome sequence of Clostridium difficile phage phiC2 and comparisons to phiCD119 and inducible prophages of CD630. Microbiology. 153 (3): 676-685 (2007)
Wang, Q., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. Neuraminidase production by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Veterinary Microbiology. 107 (3-4): 265-272 (2005)
Goh, S., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. Isolation and characterization of temperate bacteriophages of Clostridium difficile. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 71 (2): 1079-1083 (2005)
Goh, S., Chang, B.J., Riley, T.V. Effect of phage infection on toxin production by Clostridium difficile. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 54 (2): 129-135 (2005)
Su, L.H., Ou, J.T., Leu, H.S., Chiang, P.C., Chiu, Y.P., Chia, J.H., Kuo, A.J., Chiu, C.H., Chu, C., Wu, T.L., Sun, C.F., Riley, T.V., Chang, B.J. Extended epidemic of nosocomial urinary tract infections caused by Serratia marcescens. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 41 (10): 4726-4732 (2003)
Levy, A., Chang, B.J., Abbott, L.K., Kuo, J., Harnett, G., Inglis, T.J. Invasion of spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora decipiens by Burkholderia spp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 69 (10): 6250-6256 (2003)
Inglis, T.J.I., Robertson, T., Woods, D.E., Dutton, N., Chang, B.J. Flagellum-mediated adhesion by Burkholderia pseudomallei precedes invasion of Acanthamoeba astronyxis. Infection and Immunity. 71: 2280-2282 (2003)
BOOK CHAPTERS
Chang, B.J., Mee, B.J., McGregor, K.F., Riley, T.V. (2001). Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis. In: Molecular Medical Microbiology. Ed. M. Sussman. Academic Press, Vol.3, p.1681-1702.
Chang, B.J., Janda, J.M. (2005). Aeromonas. In: Topley and Wilson’s Microbiology and Microbial Infections. 10th Edition. Ed. S. P. Borriello, P.R. Murray and G. Funke. Hodder Arnold, Bacteriology Vol 2, p. 1524-1540.
Honours and awards
UWA Undergraduate Teaching Award
UWA Postgraduate Teaching Award
UWA Postgraduate Teaching Award
Teaching
Dr Chang teaches in:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
SCIE3325 Molecular Biology
GENE2204 Principles of Genetics
MICR2204 Introductory Microbiology
MICR2205 General and Applied Microbiology
MICR3301 General Microbiology
MICR3302 Infection and Immunity
MICR8831 Molecular and Cellular Microbiology
MICR8833 Antimicrobial Agents
She also supervises the following PhD students:
Max Aravena-Roman
Briony Elliott
Niki Foster
Wasantha Gunawardhana
Kevin Li
Chelsea Papadopoulos
Lin- Hui Su
Jamie Summerfield
Trina-Jean Tan
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
SCIE3325 Molecular Biology
GENE2204 Principles of Genetics
MICR2204 Introductory Microbiology
MICR2205 General and Applied Microbiology
MICR3301 General Microbiology
MICR3302 Infection and Immunity
MICR8831 Molecular and Cellular Microbiology
MICR8833 Antimicrobial Agents
She also supervises the following PhD students:
Max Aravena-Roman
Briony Elliott
Niki Foster
Wasantha Gunawardhana
Kevin Li
Chelsea Papadopoulos
Lin- Hui Su
Jamie Summerfield
Trina-Jean Tan
Research profile
