Dr James Lonnen Dept of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation Maurice Shock Bldg University of Leicester

How did it all start? 1997 – 2000: Biological Sciences BSc (Hons. Microbiology) November 2000 – Nalco Multinational water treatment & water hygeine company Technical Sales Engineer, UK Sales, North East Region Industrial boilers – Chemical treatment Cooling towers – Control of Legionella bacteria

1997 – 2000: Biological Sciences BSc (Hons. Microbiology)

November 2000 – Nalco

Multinational water treatment & water hygeine company

Technical Sales Engineer, UK Sales, North East Region

Industrial boilers – Chemical treatment

Cooling towers – Control of Legionella bacteria

Responsibilities Quality analysis of systems The sale of equipment and chemicals to develop existing accounts Provision of technical and health and safety information to customers The management of engineers to install or repair chemical dosing systems

Quality analysis of systems

The sale of equipment and chemicals to develop existing accounts

Provision of technical and health and safety information to customers

The management of engineers to install or repair chemical dosing systems

Day to Day Patch covered North East England Target of 4 calls per day Meet contact on site Check dosing systems, quality of water Provide analysis report, advise on system maintenance Produce quotations for new equipment and chemicals Close the sale MAKE MONEY

Patch covered North East England

Target of 4 calls per day

Meet contact on site

Check dosing systems, quality of water

Provide analysis report, advise on system maintenance

Produce quotations for new equipment and chemicals

Close the sale

MAKE MONEY

Transferable Skills Time management, organisation Communication skills – people at all levels Boiler men through to company directors Presentation skills Sell yourself

Time management, organisation

Communication skills – people at all levels

Boiler men through to company directors

Presentation skills

Sell yourself

Return to Leicester Wanted to move into a more research based field November 2002 - Research Technician, Dept of III Laboratory involved in both research and commercial work The testing of disinfectants against a range of microorganisms Acanthamoeba

Wanted to move into a more research based field

November 2002 - Research Technician, Dept of III

Laboratory involved in both research and commercial work

The testing of disinfectants against a range of microorganisms

Acanthamoeba

Acanthamoeba Trophozoite Cyst

PhD Wanted to do research on infectious microorganisms November 2003 – Full time (3 years) PhD, Dept of III BBSRC funded Characterising the mobile genome of Shigella Pathogenic bacterium, strain of E. coli Causes dysentery 60 million cases per year 1 million deaths

Wanted to do research on infectious microorganisms

November 2003 – Full time (3 years) PhD, Dept of III

BBSRC funded

Characterising the mobile genome of Shigella

Pathogenic bacterium, strain of E. coli

Causes dysentery

60 million cases per year

1 million deaths

Purpose of study To detect and identify genetic elements that confer pathogenicity (toxins, antibiotic resistance) across a panel of unsequenced Shigella strains To identify novel elements To gain insights into the distribution of pathogenicity determinants across Shigella To identify potential targets for novel Shigella -specific antimicrobial therapies

To detect and identify genetic elements that confer pathogenicity (toxins, antibiotic resistance) across a panel of unsequenced Shigella strains

To identify novel elements

To gain insights into the distribution of pathogenicity determinants across Shigella

To identify potential targets for novel Shigella -specific antimicrobial therapies

Transferable Skills Molecular biology – Extracting genomic DNA, cloning into plasmid vectors, PCR and many more.... Bioinformatics – DNA sequence analysis, manipulation, prediction of protein functions Scientific writing – Reports, papers Problem solving, analytical thinking, lateral thinking Determination, adapt to changes, implement changes Overall knowledge of the subject area

Molecular biology – Extracting genomic DNA, cloning into plasmid vectors, PCR and many more....

Bioinformatics – DNA sequence analysis, manipulation, prediction of protein functions

Scientific writing – Reports, papers

Problem solving, analytical thinking, lateral thinking

Determination, adapt to changes, implement changes

Overall knowledge of the subject area

1 st year of PhD - Subwarden Be involved in the University community Cheap rent! Role Pastoral care and discipline of students Organisation of activities in the hall Interpersonal, leadership and team working skills

Be involved in the University community

Cheap rent!

Role

Pastoral care and discipline of students

Organisation of activities in the hall

Interpersonal, leadership and team working skills

After a PhD?? Carry on in academic research? – Postdoctoral Researcher, Lecturer, Professor......... Move into Industrial Science? Do something completely different? Most highly educated and skilled group in the UK

Carry on in academic research? – Postdoctoral Researcher, Lecturer, Professor.........

Move into Industrial Science?

Do something completely different?

Most highly educated and skilled group in the UK

Back to the Acanthamoeba lab!! June 2007 – Laboratory Manager, Dept of III Both research and contract work for commercial clients Commercial Services Disinfectant and drug efficacy testing against bacteria, fungi, virus and Acanthamoeba Contact lens solutions, ISO standards Isolation and identification of pathogenic free-living amoeba and bacteria from water samples Microbial analysis of clinical samples

June 2007 – Laboratory Manager, Dept of III

Both research and contract work for commercial clients

Commercial Services

Disinfectant and drug efficacy testing against bacteria, fungi, virus and Acanthamoeba

Contact lens solutions, ISO standards

Isolation and identification of pathogenic free-living amoeba and bacteria from water samples

Microbial analysis of clinical samples

Manager – Acanthamoeba lab My Role Plan and oversee all aspects of commercial work undertaken in the laboratory Supervise and review the work and results generated by technical staff Expand existing contracts Generate new business Develop new assays to increase the market target for commercial enterprises – Acanthamoeba testing Produce protocols, client reports, maintain records in line with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).

My Role

Plan and oversee all aspects of commercial work undertaken in the laboratory

Supervise and review the work and results generated by technical staff

Expand existing contracts

Generate new business

Develop new assays to increase the market target for commercial enterprises – Acanthamoeba testing

Produce protocols, client reports, maintain records in line with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).

Acanthamoeba Keratitis Rare, but very painful and potentially blinding infection of the cornea, the transparent covering at the front of the eye 85% of cases are associated with contact lens use Due to patient non compliance Often misdiagnosed Difficult to treat due to the organisms ability to encyst Most cases result in permanent loss of vision

Rare, but very painful and potentially blinding infection of the cornea, the transparent covering at the front of the eye

85% of cases are associated with contact lens use

Due to patient non compliance

Often misdiagnosed

Difficult to treat due to the organisms ability to encyst

Most cases result in permanent loss of vision

Clients Eye care companies Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies Spas Water hygiene companies Other laboratories who require our specialist services Expertise

Eye care companies

Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies

Spas

Water hygiene companies

Other laboratories who require our specialist services

Expertise

Any Questions?