Rowena Jenkins

• PhD
• Researcher at Swansea University

Introduction Bacterial infection and biofilm formation contribute to impaired healing in chronic diabetic wounds. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found in human diabetic wound biofilms. They may develop antibiotic resistance, increasing the urgency for alternative or complementary therapies. Diabetic wound healing may be improv...

The exposure of human lung and skin to carbon black (CB) is continuous due to its widespread applications. Current toxicological testing uses ‘healthy’ cellular systems; however, questions remain whether this mimics the everyday stresses that human cells are exposed to, including infection. Staphylococcus aureus lung and skin infections remain prev...

Background People with cystic fibrosis (CF) are prone to bacterial respiratory infections; these are often antibiotic resistant, are difficult to treat, and impact on the quality of life and lung function. The upper respiratory tract can act as a reservoir for these pathogens, and as part of clinical care, sinus rinses are used to alleviate symptom...

Human exposure to carbon black (CB) is inevitable due to its widespread applications in the medical, industrial and consumer sectors. With an ageing population, it is imperative that the effects of (nano)particle exposure in individuals with compromised immunity or infection are considered. Since barrier immunity provides the first line of defence...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Patients with VAP have poorly functioning neutrophils, related to increased levels of the complement fragment C5a. The antibiotic linezolid has been useful in controlling MRSA-related VAP infections; however clinical benefit does not a...

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an important member of the skin microbial community in animals and can cause opportunistic infections in both pets and their owners. The high incidence of antimicrobial resistance in S. pseudintermedius highlights that this opportunistic zoonotic pathogen can cause infections which require prolonged and intensive...

Sepsis is defined as life threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, and is responsible for 52,000 deaths in the UK per year. Approximately 50% of sepsis episodes are related to bacteria where the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli is a leading causative agent. Our previous work with the Hywel Dda Health...

Area of expertise: Microbiology, biochemistry, antimicrobials, medieval Welsh texts exploration. Future goals: Medieval and other historical Welsh texts are newly being translated into English, which include the Red Book of Hergest used by the Physicians of Myddfai, the famous Welsh medical practitioners of the 12th century. The previous translatio...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes problematic chronic lung infections in those suffering from cystic fibrosis. This is due to its antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and its ability to form robust biofilm communities with increased antimicrobial tolerances. Using novel antimicrobials or repurposing current ones is required in order to overcome these pr...

Background:

INTRODUCTION: As manuka honey (MH) exhibits immunoregulatory and anti-staphylococcal activities, we aimed to investigate if it could be effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: Adult volunteers with bilateral AD lesions were asked to apply MH on one site overnight for seven consecutive days and leave the contralateral site unt...

Having introduced some of the concepts of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) in the previous chapter, this chapter deals with some of the more practical considerations for setting up and running Q-PCR. It provides information about reagents, commercially available kits, and suppliers as well as suggesting some basic protocols that can b...

This chapter provides practical advice on designing polymerase chain reaction primers and optimizing them. From using databases to identify genes and ordering primers, the reader is guided through the practical aspects of primer design and the common pitfalls. Guidance on how to test a new pair of primers is given along with a trouble-shooting guid...

This chapter explains how to analyze your template DNA and end point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction using classical electrophoresis techniques as well as by spectrophotometry. It explains how to interpret what you see to determine yield and purity of the DNA/PCR product. This chapter also offers useful recipes for basic reagents necessary...

This chapter will introduce the reader to fundamental concepts that require consideration prior to undertaking quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). It describes different types of Q-PCR as well as different applications. Advice is given regarding the type of Q-PCR machine to use, cDNA conversion, and quantification is reiterated, as well...

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be utilized as a molecular tool for functional analysis of genes and can be used in concert with protein and gene expression to thoroughly describe the role of a given gene or genes. This chapter will describe how PCR can be used to prepare construct that are necessary to generate knockout mutations and how to as...

This chapter provides practical advice on what needs to be addressed before undertaking polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From keeping the workspace nuclease free to recipes and shopping lists; information that is vital know and understand before putting on a lab coat and entering the lab, is described. The reader is guided through the practical asp...

This chapter will describe how polymerase chain reaction amplified genes or gene fragments can be used in cloning experiments for a number of applications including complementation, functional analysis of proteins, or proteins overexpression prior to purification by chromatography. The reader will be able to utilize the skills learned in Chapters 1...

Significance and impact of the study: Manuka honey is known to have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, with the bacterial cell wall being suggested as a predominant site of action. This study has demonstrated that Manuka honey has activity against Ureaplasma spp., a genus of cell wall-free bacteria which are intrinsically resistant to man...

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest medical challenges the world faces. It was estimated recently that by 2050, AMR will account for 10 million extra deaths annually with additional economic costs in the region of $100 trillion. In order to combat this, novel antimicrobial agents with a broad spectrum of activity are required. Bee...

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing clinical problem precipitated by the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the later parts of the 20th Century. This problem, coupled with the lack of novel therapeutics in the development pipeline, means AMR is reaching crisis point, with an expected annual death rate of ten million people worldwide by...

Pseudomonas and Burkholderia pose a significant health threat to people with chronic respiratory conditions; the resistance inherent in these bacteria indicates that new antimicrobial strategies are required. Susceptibility of 56 strains of P. aeruginosa and 55 strains of Burkholderia to manuka honey, tobramycin and colistin using microbroth diluti...

Aim: To characterize the effect of manuka honey on medically important wound bacteria in vitro, focusing on its antiadhesive properties. Materials & methods: Crystal violet biofilm assays, fluorescent microscopy, protein adhesion assay and gentamicin protection assay were used to determine the impact of manuka honey on biofilm formation, human p...

Resistance to antibiotics continues to rise and few new therapies are on the horizon. Honey has good antibacterial activity against numerous microorganisms of many different genera and no honey-resistant phenotypes have yet emerged. The mechanisms of antimicrobial activity are just beginning to be understood; however, it is apparent that these are...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen. Its resistance to multiple antibiotics and its prevalence in healthcare establishments make it a serious threat to human health that requires novel interventions. Manuka honey is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that is gaining acceptance in the topical treatment of wo...

Following the discovery of synergistic action between oxacillin and manuka honey against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, this study was undertaken to search for further synergistic combinations of antibiotics and honey that might have potential in treating wounds. Fifteen antibiotics were tested with and without sublethal concentration...

Honey is an ancient wound remedy that has recently been introduced into modern clinical practice in developed countries. Manuka honey inhibits growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by preventing cell division. In Gram-negative bacteria a synergistic interaction between honey and antibiotics has been suggested. We aimed to det...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of manuka honey, artificial honey and an antibacterial component (methylglyoxal) on cell division in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Viability of epidemic MRSA-15 NCTC 13142 incubated with manuka honey, artificial honey and methylglyoxal was determined, and structural effects m...

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that can cause many problems, from impetigo to endo-carditis. With its continued resistance to multiple antibiotics, S. aureus remains a serious health threat. Honey has been used to eradicate meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains from wounds, but its mode of action is not yet understood. Prote...

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that can cause many problems, from impetigo to endocarditis. With its continued resistance to multiple antibiotics, S. aureus remains a serious health threat. Honey has been used to eradicate meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains from wounds, but its mode of action is not yet understood. Proteo...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of manuka honey on the structural integrity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of manuka honey for P. aeruginosa were determined by a microtitre plate method, and the survival of bacteria exposed to...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of manuka honey on Staphylococcus aureus in order to identify the intracellular target site. The mode of inhibition of manuka honey against S. aureus NCTC 10017 was investigated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the effect o...