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Medicine

Dr Liam Burke

B.Sc., PhD

 
researcher
 

Biography

I completed my BSc in NUI Galway in 2009 and my PhD in 2013 in the Clinical Microbiology Department at RCSI, under the supervision of Prof Hilary Humphreys and Dr Deirdre Fitzgerlad-Hughes. I am a Lecturer in the Discipline of Bacteriology and a member of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology (ARME) Research Group and the Centre for One Health. I teach students in the College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences on topics including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), healthcare associated infection, device related infection, molecular diagnostics and genetics. My current research focuses on antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and virulent zoonotic pathogens. I am interested in tracking the spread of AMR strains and resistance genes from a One Health perspective (between humans, animals and the environment), developing new diagnostics and therapeutics and informing interventions to protect public health. I am also interested in developing smart drug delivery systems for the prevention and treatment of AMR infections.

Research Interests

My current research focuses on antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and virulent zoonotic pathogens. I am interested in tracking the spread of AMR strains and resistance genes and zoonotic pathogens from a One Health perspective (between humans, animals and the environment), developing new diagnostics and therapeutics and informing interventions to protect public health. I am also interested in developing smart drug delivery systems for the prevention and treatment of AMR infections.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
PIER - Public health Impact of Exposure to antimicrobial Resistance in coastal waters 01-APR-19 31-MAR-23
DESIGN - Detection of Environmental Sources of Infectious diseases in Groundwater Networks 01-MAR-19 31-MAY-21

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Contamination of domestic groundwater systems by verotoxigenic escherichia coli (VTEC), 2003-2019: A global scoping review'
Chique C;Hynds P;Burke LP;Morris D;Ryan MP;O'Dwyer J; (2021) 'Contamination of domestic groundwater systems by verotoxigenic escherichia coli (VTEC), 2003-2019: A global scoping review'. Water Research, 188 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Cryptosporidium spp. in groundwater supplies intended for human consumption - A descriptive review of global prevalence, risk factors and knowledge gaps'
Chique C;Hynds PD;Andrade L;Burke L;Morris D;Ryan MP;O'Dwyer J; (2020) 'Cryptosporidium spp. in groundwater supplies intended for human consumption - A descriptive review of global prevalence, risk factors and knowledge gaps'. Water Research, 176 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Effects of All-Trans Retinoic Acid Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in an A549 Epithelial Cell Line Model'
Payne, CM,Burke, LP,Cavanagh, B,O'Toole, D,Cryan, SA,Kelly, HM (2019) 'Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Effects of All-Trans Retinoic Acid Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in an A549 Epithelial Cell Line Model'. Pharmaceutical Research, 36 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'The Molecular Epidemiology of Resistance in Cefotaximase-Producing Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates from Dublin, Ireland'
Burke, LP; Humphreys, H; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D (2016) 'The Molecular Epidemiology of Resistance in Cefotaximase-Producing Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates from Dublin, Ireland'. Microbial Drug Resistance, 22 (7):552-558 [Details]
(2014) 'Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in human non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolates from England and Wales, 2010-2012'
Burke, L; Hopkins, KL; Meunier, D; de Pinna, E; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D; Humphreys, H; Woodford, N. (2014) 'Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in human non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica isolates from England and Wales, 2010-2012'. Journal Of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 69 (4):977-981 [Details]
(2014) 'The susceptibility of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli to commercial and laboratory bacteriophages'
Fitzgerald-Hughes, D; Bolkvadze, D; Balarjishivi, N; Leshkasheli, L; Ryan, M; Burke, L; Stevens, N; Humphreys, H; Kutateladze, M. (2014) 'The susceptibility of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli to commercial and laboratory bacteriophages'. Journal Of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 69 (4):1148-1150 [Details]
(2013) 'The clinical features and molecular epidemiology of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae - the hidden messages'
Russell-Goldman, E; Burke, L; Humphreys, H; Gilleece, A; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D; O’Neill, E. (2013) 'The clinical features and molecular epidemiology of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae - the hidden messages'. Journal Of Medical Microbiology, 62 (11):1768-1771 [Details]
(2013) 'Search and you will find: detecting extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from a patient's immediate environment'
Judge, C; Galvin, S; Burke, L; Thomas, T; Humphreys, H; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D: (2013) 'Search and you will find: detecting extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from a patient's immediate environment'. Infection control and hospital epidemiology : the official journal of the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America, 34 (5):534-536 [Details]
(2012) 'The revolving door between hospital and community: extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in Dublin'
Burke, L; Humphreys, H; and Fitzgerald-Hughes, D. (2012) 'The revolving door between hospital and community: extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in Dublin'. Journal Of Hospital Infection, 81 (3):192-198 [Details]
(2012) 'β-Lactam-host defence peptide conjugates as antibiotic prodrug candidates targeting resistant bacteria'
Desgranges, S; Ruddle, CC; Burke, LP; McFadden, TM; O’Brien, JE; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D; Humphreys, H; Smythe, TP; Devocelle, M. (2012) 'β-Lactam-host defence peptide conjugates as antibiotic prodrug candidates targeting resistant bacteria'. Rsc Advances, 2 :2480-2492 [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2017) ISCM Spring Meeting
D. Morris, J. Killeen, B. Mahon, E. Burke, L. O’Connor, and M. Cormican (2017) Ready to Eat foods are not a major source of antimicrobial resistant bacteria ISCM Spring Meeting [Details]
(2017) Med-Vet-Net Annual Scientific Meeting
D. Morris, J. Killeen, B. Mahon, E. Burke, L. O’Connor, and M. Cormican (2017) Ready to Eat foods are not a major source of antimicrobial resistant bacteria Med-Vet-Net Annual Scientific Meeting [Details]
(2020) 6th World One Health Congress
Farrell, M., Duane, S., Cormican, M., Domegan, C., O’Connor, L., Britton, E., McNamara, Á., Kiernan, R., Harkin, K., O’Donovan, D., Leonard, A., Gaze, W., Burke, L., Morris, D (2020) PIER: Public health Impact of Exposure to antibiotic Resistance in recreational water 6th World One Health Congress [Details]
(2020) Environ
Heskin, R., Duane, S., Farrell, M., Burke, L., Morris, D., McNamara, Á. (2020) Is water quality a determinant of beach choice? A survey of bathing water users in the West of Ireland Environ [Details]
(2020) One Health European Joint Programme Annual Scientific Meeting
O’Connor, L., Brehony, C., Hooban, B., Fitzhenry, K., Cahill. N., Burke, L., Hickey, P., Keane, S., McNamara, Á., Cormican, M., Morris, D. (2020) Recreational waters as a transmission route for shiga toxin producing E. coli One Health European Joint Programme Annual Scientific Meeting [Details]
(2020) One Health European Joint Programme Annual Scientific Meeting
Smith, T., Morris, D., Burke, L., O’Connor, L., Higgins, O., La Ragione, R., van Vliet, A., Barnaghi, P., Gonzalez-Zorn, B., Suarez, M., Kisand, V., Menge, C., Berens, C., Canica, M., Manageiro, V (2020) WORLDCOM One Health European Joint Programme Annual Scientific Meeting [Details]
(2020) One Health European Joint Programme Annual Scientific Meeting
Burke, L., O’Connor, L., Brosnan, E., Olaore, L., Fitzhenry, K., Hooban, B., Cahill. N., Chique, C., Ryan, M.P., Hynds, P., O’Dwyer, J., Morris, D. (2020) DESIGN One Health European Joint Programme Annual Scientific Meeting [Details]
(2020) Environ
Farrell, M., Duane, S., Cormican, M., Domegan, C., O’Connor, L., Britton, E., McNamara, Á., Kiernan, R., Harkin, K., O’Donovan, D., Leonard, A., Gaze, W., Burke, L., Morris, D (2020) What lurks beneath the PIER – are recreational water users at risk from superbugs? Environ [Details]
(2020) European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (ECCMID)
Brosnan, E., Olaore, L., O’Connor, L., Hooban, B., Fitzhenry, K., Cahill, N., Chique, C., Ryan, M.P., Morris, D., Hynds, P., O’Dwyer, J., Burke, L. (2020) Investigation of the prevalence of Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) contamination of private groundwater wells in Ireland European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (ECCMID) [Details]
(2015) IPITA-IXA-CTS 2015 Joint Conference
Duffy, G; Burke, L. (2015) DRIVE: Diabetes reversing implants with enhanced viability and long-term efficacy IPITA-IXA-CTS 2015 Joint Conference Melbourne, Australia, , 15-NOV-15 - 19-NOV-15 , pp.S102-S102 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Judge,C; Burke, L; Galvin, S; fitzgerald-Hughes, D; Humphreys, H. (2012) Recovery of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria from the hospital environment 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases London, United Kingdom, , 31-MAR-12 - 02-APR-13 [Details]
(2012) 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Burke, L; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D; Humphreys, H. (2012) The open door: ESBL producing Escherichia coli in the acute hospital and the community 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases London, United Kingdom, , 31-MAR-12 - 03-APR-12 [Details]
(2011) 51st International Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Burke, LP; Desgranges, S; Devocelle, M; Fitzgerald-Hughes, D; Humphreys, H. (2011) Evaluation of in vitro Activity of a Beta-Lactam-Host Defence Peptide Prodrug Therapeutic Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria of Clinical Importance 51st International Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Chicago, USA, , 17-SEP-11 - 20-SEP-11 [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2020) Cryptosporidium spp. in groundwater supplies intended for human consumption - A descriptive review of global prevalence, risk factors and knowledge gaps.
Chique, C;Hynds, PD;Andrade, L;Burke, L;Morris, D;Ryan, MP;O'Dwyer, J (2020) Cryptosporidium spp. in groundwater supplies intended for human consumption - A descriptive review of global prevalence, risk factors and knowledge gaps. OXFORD: Reviews [DOI] [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2019 Med-Vet-Net Association Travel Grant Award Med-Vet-Net Association
2011 Terry Hennessy Microbiology Fellowship British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
2009 Prof Kieran L Dunican Memorial Medal NUI Galway Microbiology Dept
2009 HRB PhD Scholarship in Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Human Disease Health Research Board
2008 Society for General Microbiology Undergraduate Prize Society for General Microbiology
2008 Infectious Disease UREKA Scholarship SFI

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Member /
Med-Vet-Net Association Scientific Committee Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Med-Vet-Net Scientific Committee Member 01-MAY-18 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2019 National University of Ireland Galway Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education Teaching & Learning in Higher Education
2009 NUI Galway BSc (Hons) Microbiology
2013 Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland PhD Microbiology

Languages

  Language
Portuguese

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach ARME Schools Workshop - A world we cannot see, the secret life of microbes /
Outreach HRB-TMRN START programme 01-MAY-18 /

Other Activities

  Description

Thesis Examiner - Dr Meera Tandan

Teaching Interests

I teach School of Medicine students on the topics of microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, healthcare associated infection, molecular diagnostics and human genetics. I am interested in using interactive methods that engage the student such as technology enhanced learning - podcasts, video and mobile web learning tools. I believe that multidisciplinary teaching and interdisciplinary teaching is especially important for School of Medicine students, who will work as part of a large interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals in their future careers.

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2020 Yvonne McNicholas Msc Y

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Maeve Louise Farrell Doctorate - Structured Ph.D (Medicine) Co-supervisor (1)
Eimear Wallace Doctorate - Ph.D. Co-supervisor (1)

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2nd Medicine Genes Gametes and Embryos MD210 Human Genetics