Dr Amy Scott-Thomas, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch

Senior Research Fellow
Laboratory Manager

BSc(Hons)(Otago), PhD(Lincoln)

Email amy.scott-thomas@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 244 1088

Research interests

Dr Amy Scott-Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Infection Group and leads the team in the development of non-invasive diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. While the Infection Group performs research into multiple lung pathogens such as Aspergillosis, Tuberculosis and Legionnaires' disease (LD), Dr Scott-Thomas has a special interest in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its growth in the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung.

A biomedical scientist with advanced microbiology and analytical chemistry skills, her expertise includes bacterial genetics, bacterial biosensors, microbiology, tissue culture techniques, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electrochemistry.

Affiliations

Publications

Jun, H., Chambers, S. T., Williman, J., Slow, S., Murdoch, D. R., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2024). The inhibitory effect of copper, zinc, and manganese on Legionella longbeachae in potting mix leachate. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 77, ovae081. doi: 10.1093/lambio/ovae081 Journal - Research Article

Carr, A. C., Vlasiuk, E., Zawari, M., Scott-Thomas, A., Storer, M., Maze, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2023). Low vitamin C concentrations in patients with community-acquired pneumonia resolved with pragmatic administration of intravenous and oral vitamin C. Antioxidants, 12, 1610. doi: 10.3390/antiox12081610 Journal - Research Article

Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., Storer, M., Slow, S., Williman, J., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., Metcalf, S., Carr, A., Isenman, H., & Maze, M. (2023). Adjunctive intravenous then oral vitamin C for moderate and severe community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized adults: Feasibility of randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 13, 11879. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37934-z Journal - Research Article

Jun, H., Scott-Thomas, A., Slow, S., Williman, J., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2023). The inhibitory effect of copper, zinc, and manganese on Legionella longbeachae and other Legionella spp. in vitro. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 76, 1-9. doi: 10.1093/lambio/ovad074 Journal - Research Article

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). A novel monoclonal antibody 1D2 that broadly inhibits clinically important Aspergillus species. Journal of Fungi, 8, 960. doi: 10.3390/jof8090960 Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

2022

Journal - Research Article

Manandhar, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Harrington, M., Sinha, P., Pilbrow, A., Richards, A. M., Cameron, V., Bhatia, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Hydrogen sulfide and substance P levels in patients with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 8639. doi: 10.3390/ijms23158639

Lian, X., Chambers, S., Lewis, J. G., Scott-Thomas, A., & Bhatia, M. (2022). Two monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize aspergillus cell wall antigens and can detect circulating antigens in infected mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 252. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010252

Journal - Research Other

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Bhatia, M., MacPherson, S. A., Zeng, Y., & Chambers, S. T. (2022). Monoclonal antibodies and invasive aspergillosis: Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 5563. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105563

2021

Journal - Research Article

Chambers, S. T., Withers, A., Dawson, K., Anderson, T., Williman, J., Murdoch, D., Scott-Thomas, A., & Slow, S. (2021). How safe are gloves and masks used for protection against Legionella longbeachae infection when gardening? Letters in Applied Microbiology, 73, 616-622. doi: 10.1111/lam.13546

Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Anderson, T., Williman, J., Scott, P., Murdoch, D., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2021). Presence of Legionella Longbeachae in pine but not composted green waste used in manufacture of potting soils in New Zealand. Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 9(1), 1-4. doi: 10.12691/jaem-9-1-1

Journal - Research Other

Chambers, S. T., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., & Murdoch, D. R. (2021). Legionellosis caused by non-Legionella pneumophila species, with a focus on Legionella longbeachae. Microorganisms, 9, 291. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020291

2020

Journal - Research Article

Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., Lewis, J. G., Anderson, T., Podmore, R., Williman, J., Murdoch, D., & Slow, S. (2020). Enhancement of culture of Legionella longbeachae from respiratory samples using immunomagnetic separation and antimicrobial decontamination. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 58(11), e01218-20. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01218-20

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Lian, X., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Lewis, J., Aamir, R., & Bhatia, M. (2020, December). The application of MARS spectral CT in diagnosing invasive aspergillosis. Poster session presented at the 6th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, [Online].

2018

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Mohammadi, A., Chambers, S., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Scott, P., Anderson, T., & Murdoch, D. (2018, December). Enhancing the culturability and qPCR efficiency for Legionella longbeachae in sputum specimens using immunomagnetic separation. Poster session presented at the 4th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

Chambers, S., Withers, A., Mohammadi, A., Chim, M., Slow, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Scott, P., … Anderson, T., & Murdoch, D. (2018, December). Legionella longbeachae in bark from living P. radiata trees around Christchurch. Poster session presented at the 4th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Other

Scott-Thomas, A., & Chambers, S. T. (2017). Volatile organic compounds: Upcoming role in diagnosis of invasive mould infections. Current Fungal Infection Reports, 11(3), 117-123. doi: 10.1007/s12281-017-0284-7

2013

Journal - Research Article

Scott-Thomas, A., Epton, M., & Chambers, S. (2013). Validating a breath collection and analysis system for the new tuberculosis breath test. Journal of Breath Research, 7(3), 037108. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/7/3/037108

Dummer, J., Storer, M., Sturney, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Chambers, S., Swanney, M., & Epton, M. (2013). Quantification of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in breath using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry: HCN is not a biomarker of Pseudomonas in chronic suppurative lung disease. Journal of Breath Research, 7(1), 017105. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/7/1/017105

Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2013). Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test. Tuberculosis, 93(3), 312-317. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2013.01.005

2012

Journal - Research Article

Chambers, S. T., Scott-Thomas, A., & Epton, M. (2012). Developments in novel breath tests for bacterial and fungal pulmonary infection. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 18(3), 228-232. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0b013e328351f98b

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., Epton, M., Murdoch, D. R., & Chambers, S. T. (2012). Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Otago International Health Research Network (OIHRN) Conference. Retrieved from http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/international_hlth/conference/programme.html

2011

Journal - Research Article

Bhandari, S., Chambers, S., Pearson, J., Syhre, M., Epton, M., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2011). Determining the limits and confounders for the 2-pentyl furan breath test by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B, 879(26), 2815-2820. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.08.010

Scott-Thomas, A., Pearson, J., & Chambers, S. (2011). Potential sources of 2-aminoacetophenone to confound the Pseudomonas aeruginosa breath test, including analysis of a food challenge study. Journal of Breath Research, 5(4), 046002. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/5/4/046002

Dummer, J., Storer, M., Swanney, M., McEwan, M., Scott-Thomas, A., Bhandari, S., Chambers, S., … Epton, M. (2011). Analysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds in human health and disease. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 30(7), 960-967. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2011.03.011

Chambers, S. T., Bhandari, S., Scott-Thomas, A., & Syhre, M. (2011). Novel diagnostics: Progress toward a breath test for invasive Aspergillus fumigatus. Medical Mycology, 49(Suppl. 1), S54-S61. doi: 10.3109/13693786.2010.508187

2010

Journal - Research Article

Scott-Thomas, A. J., Syhre, M., Pattemore, P. K., Epton, M., Laing, R., Pearson, J., & Chambers, S. T. (2010). 2-Aminoacetophenone as a potential breath biomarker for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis lung. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 10, 56. doi: 10.1186/1471-2466-10-56

Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A. J., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3 activation in endothelial cells. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 49(6), 1054-1063. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.06.028

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Bhandari, S., Charles, C. J., Miller, A. P., Scott-Thomas, A., Syhre, M., & Chambers, S. T. (2010, September). Cyclophosphamide pulmonary toxicity limiting sheep model of immunosuppression. Poster session presented at the Fourth Annual Division of Health Sciences Research Forum, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010, November-December). Hypothiocyanous acid is a selective inhibitor of caspase activation and apoptosis. Verbal presentation at the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR) Australasia 19th Annual Conference, Akaroa, New Zealand.

2009

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. (2009). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3 activation. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 47(Suppl. 1), (pp. S55). [Abstract]

Film/Video/CD Rom

Fraser, R., Chambers, S., Fellows, A., Brennan, S., Vissers, M., Fu, R., & Scott-Thomas, A. (2009). The Body, the Research, the Professor: Respiratory Research and Cystic Fibrosis [Episode 5] [Film]. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury Medical Research Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.cmrf.org.nz/Home/Videos/#vid1

2008

Journal - Research Article

Pascoe, N. F., Gooneratne, R., Daniel, R. M., Czollner, A., & Scott, A. J. (2008). Toxicity assessment of chlorophenols using a mediated microbial toxicity assay. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 88(15), 1063-1075. doi: 10.1080/03067310802248028

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vissers, M., Suzuki, S., Scott-Thomas, A., Gunningham, S., & Dachs, G. (2008). The effect of intracellular ascorbate on HIF-1 mediated gene expression and the phenotype of tumour cells. New Zealand Medical Journal, 121(1271). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1271/2990/content.pdf

2006

Journal - Research Article

Lamont, I. L., Martin, L. W., Sims, T., Scott, A., & Wallace, M. (2006). Characterization of a gene encoding an acetylase required for pyoverdine synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Bacteriology, 188(8), 3149-3152. doi: 10.1128/JB.188.8.3149-3152.2006