Gwen Allison obtained a BSc (Food Science, 1992) from the University of Alberta, and a PhD (Microbiology, 1997) from North Carolina State University.  She subsequently undertook postdoctoral positions with Gist-Brocades Australia in Sydney (1997-1998) and with Naresh Verma in Bambi, ANU (1998-2000).  She moved back to Canada in 2001 to take up a position as Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta.  She took up her current position as Senior Lecturer with the ANU Medical School in 2003.

Contact Details

E: Gwen.Allison@anu.edu.au T: (+61 2) 6125 4795 F: (+61 2) 6125 0313

Main Research interests

Molecular biology and microbial ecology of bacteria in the health and disease of humans, animals, and the environment.

Teaching Activities

Medical School , Microbiology Biology BIOL2142: General Microbiology (microbial metabolism section) Biology BIOL3141: Infection and Immunity (Gram positive bacterial pathogens)

Current Research Group

Claire O'Brien - PhD student Chris Munday - Hons student David Stephenson - PhD student

Former PhD Students and Postdocs

Dr Leluo Guan – Assistant Professor, Bovine Functional Genomics, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta

Research Activities

Our research group is interested in the role of the commensal microflora in health and disease of humans, animals, and the environment.  We currently use a combination of culture-based and nucleic acid-based techniques to characterize microflora composition, and to identify and track members of the microflora in the following: -     human gastrointestinal, oral, urogenital, and clinical samples; -     animal gastrointestinal samples, -     terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environmental samples    In addition to total microflora composition, we are also interested in the molecular biology and microbial ecology of lactobacilli, which are autochthonous (i.e. natural) members of the gastrointestinal, oral, and urogenital microfloras of humans and animals.  Our interest in this particular group of micro-organisms has long term aims of understanding the interaction between the host and these important commensals, as well as identifying Lactobacillus strains with the potential to deliver therapeutic agents to these locations. Chris Munday Honours Student Honours Thesis Title:  Characterisation of the microbial ecology of aeolian dust and its sources Co-supervised by Prof Patrick DeDeckker (ANU, see http://ems.anu.edu.au/people/patrick [note - soon to be updated]) and Dr Jochen Brocks (ANU, see http://shrimp.anu.edu.au/people/jjb/jjb.html) Australia is the main source of dust in the South Pacific with estimates of 100 million tonnes deflated annually. The main dust source is the Lake Eyre region with prevailing winds blowing dust across the heavily populated East Coast.  My project involves developing methodology to microbiologically fingerprint the sources of Australian dust and the corresponding air samples. We hypothesise that the microorganisms found in the dust sources in arid regions can be picked up and transported by the prevailing weather conditions. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council (http://www.arc.gov.au/). Claire O’Brien PhD candidate PhD Thesis Title:  Microbiological Aspects of Crohn’s Disease Co-supervised by Dr Paul Pavli (Gastroenterologist, The Canberra Hospital), and Professor Jane Dahlstrom (Pathologist, The Canberra Hospital, see http://www.actpathology.act.gov.au/c/ap?a=sp&pid=1059112258) Crohn’s disease, one of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease, is thought to be caused by an inappropriate, ongoing immune response that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals as a result of a complex interaction between intestinal luminal flora and the mucosal immune system.  The aim of my PhD is to isolate and characterise bacteria associated with host immune tissues in the context of Crohn’s disease.  This research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (http://www.nhmrc.gov.au). David Stephenson PhD candidate PhD Thesis Title: Delivery of therapeutic proteins using Lactobacillus Co-supervised by Dr Rob Moore (CSIRO Livestock Industries Australian Animal Health Laboratory [AAHL], see http://www.csiro.au/people/Rob.Moore.html) My project involves identifying Lactobacillus strains which persist in the chicken gastrointestinal tract, and utilising them to deliver therapeutics targeted against Clostridium perfringens which causes necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.  The project involves working at the AAHL in Geelong (http://www.csiro.au/places/aahl.html), and is supported by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation – Chicken Meat Research Program (http://www.rirdc.gov.au/).

Selected Publications

Stephenson, D.P., Moore, R.J., and Allison, G.E. (2009) Comparison and utilisation of repetitive element PCR for typing Lactobacillus isolated from the chicken gastrointestinal tract. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 75: 6764-6776 [App Env Micro] Roberts, F., G. E. Allison, and N. K. Verma. (2007) Transcription termination mediated immunity and its prevention in bacteriophage SfV of Shigella flexneri. J. Gen. Virol. 88:3187-3197. Guban, J., D.R. Korver, G.E. Allison, and G.W. Tannock.  2006. Relationship of dietary antimicrobial drug administration with broiler performance, decreased population levels of Lactobacillus salivarius and reduced bile salt deconjugation in the ileum of broiler chickens.  Poult Sci.  85:2186-94 O'Dea, E.E., G.M. Fasenko, G.E. Allison, D.R. Korver, G.W. Tannock, and L.L. Guan. 2006.  Investigating the effects of commercial probiotics on broiler chick quality and production efficiency.  Poult Sci 85:1855-63 Snart, J., R. Bibiloni, T. Grayson, C. Lay, H. Zhang, G.E. Allison, J.K. Laverdiere, F. Temelli, T. Vasanthan, R. Bell, and G.W. Tannock. 2006. Supplementation of the diet with high-viscosity beta-glucan results in enrichment for lactobacilli in the rat cecum. Appl Environ Microbiol. 72:1925-31 Hagen, K.E., L.L. Guan, G.W. Tannock, D.R. Korver, and G.E. Allison. 2005. Detection, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo expression of genes encoding S-proteins in Lactobacillus gallinarum strains isolated from chicken crops. Appl Environ Microbiol. 71:6633-43 Majhenic, A.C., K. Venema, G.E. Allison, B.B. Matijasic, I. Rogelj, and T.R. Klaenhammer. 2004. DNA analysis of the genes encoding acidocin LF221 A and acidocin LF221 B, two bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus gasseri LF221. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 63:705-14 Guan, L.L., K.E. Hagen, G.W. Tannock, D.R. Korver, G.M. Fasenko, and G.E. Allison.  2003.  Detection and identification of Lactobacillus species in the crop of broilers of different ages using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  69:6750-6757. Wong, W.Y., P. Su, G.E. Allison, C.-Q. Liu, and N.W. Dunn.  2003.  A potential food-grade cloning vector for Streptococcus thermophilus that uses cadmium resistance as the selectable marker. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:5767-5771. Allison, G.E., D.C. Angeles, P.-t. Huan, and N.K. Verma.  2003.  Morphology of temperate bacteriophage SfV and characterisation of the DNA packaging and capsid genes:  the structural genes evolved from two different phage families.  Virol.  308:114-127. Allison, G.E., D. Angeles, N. Tran-Dinh, and N.K. Verma.  2002.  Complete genomic sequence of SfV, a serotype-converting temperate bacteriophage of Shigella flexneri.  J Bacteriol.  184:1974-1987. Dai, G., P. Su, G.E. Allison, B.L. Geller, P. Zhu, W.S. Kim, and N.W. Dunn.  2001.  Molecular characterization of a new abortive infection system (AbiU) from Lactococcus lactis LL51-1.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  67:5225-5232.