Dr Liam Burke

B.Sc., PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
Bacteriology
School of Medicine
Orbsen Building Room 226
University of Galway
E: liam.burke@universityofgalway.ie
 
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 built and natural environment), developing new diagnostics and therapeutics and informing interventions to protect public health. 

Research Interests

Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria
Virulent zoonotic pathogens
One Health
Genomics
Molecular diagnostics
Public health

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
DERIVE - Detection and RIsk management of Verotoxigenic E. coli in the water Environment 31-MAR-22 31-MAR-26
PLASMOMICS: Genomics-led solutions for the one health surveillance of mobile carbapenem resistance elements and management of healthcare associated infection 01-JAN-22 31-AUG-25
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

Contract Researchers

  Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
Dr Zina Alfahl DERIVE Postdoctoral Researcher

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Longitudinal carriage of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales in healthy individuals in Ireland - Assessing the impact of recreational water use on duration of carriage'
Maeve Louise Farrell; Alexandra Chueiri; Mark Maguire; Aneta Ková¿ová; Georgios Miliotis; Louise O'Connor; Francesca McDonagh; Sinead Duane; Martin Cormican; Genevieve Devane; Alma Tuohy; Niall Delappe; Florence De Bock; Liam P. Burke; Dearbháile Morris (2023) 'Longitudinal carriage of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales in healthy individuals in Ireland - Assessing the impact of recreational water use on duration of carriage'. Science Of The Total Environment, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Complete genome of an inhibitor-resistant blaTEM-30 encoding Escherichia coli sequence type 127 isolate identified in human saliva with a high genotypic virulence load'
Niamh McEvoy; Andy O'Connor; Francesca McDonagh; Aneesa Mangalam Lonappan; Maeve Louise Farrell; Aneta Kovarova; Liam Burke; Kate Ryan; Brian Hallahan; Georgios Miliotis (2023) 'Complete genome of an inhibitor-resistant blaTEM-30 encoding Escherichia coli sequence type 127 isolate identified in human saliva with a high genotypic virulence load'. Journal Of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Assessing antimicrobial and metal resistance genes in Escherichia coli from domestic groundwater supplies in rural Ireland'
Luisa Andrade; Michael P Ryan; Liam P Burke; Paul Hynds; John Weatherill; Jean O'Dwyer (2023) 'Assessing antimicrobial and metal resistance genes in Escherichia coli from domestic groundwater supplies in rural Ireland'. Environmental Pollution, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Assessing the impact of recreational water use on carriage of antimicrobial resistant organisms'
Maeve Louise Farrell; Alexandra Chueiri; Louise O'Connor; Sinead Duane; Mark Maguire; Georgios Miliotis; Martin Cormican; Brigid Hooban; Anne Leonard; William H. Gaze; Genevieve Devane; Alma Tuohy; Liam P. Burke, Dearbhaile Morris (2023) 'Assessing the impact of recreational water use on carriage of antimicrobial resistant organisms'. Science Of The Total Environment, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'First reported detection of the mobile colistin resistance genes, mcr-8 and mcr-9, in the Irish environment'
Niamh Cahill; Brigid Hooban; Kelly Fitzhenry; Aoife Joyce; Louise O'Connor; Georgios Miliotis; Francesca McDonagh; Liam Burke; Alexandra Chueiri; Maeve Louise Farrell; James E. Bray; Niall Delappe; Wendy Brennan; Deirdre Prendergast; Montserrat Gutierrez; Catherine Burgess; Martin Cormican; Dearbháile Morris (2023) 'First reported detection of the mobile colistin resistance genes, mcr-8 and mcr-9, in the Irish environment'. Science Of The Total Environment, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'First complete genome of a multidrug-resistant strain of the novel human pathogen Kalamiella piersonii (GABEKP28) identified in human saliva'
Francesca McDonagh, Nitin Kumar Singh, Kasthuri Venkateswaran, Aneesa Mangalam Lonappan, Brian Hallahan, Alma Tuohy, Liam Burke, Aneta Kovarova, Georgios Miliotis (2023) 'First complete genome of a multidrug-resistant strain of the novel human pathogen Kalamiella piersonii (GABEKP28) identified in human saliva'. Journal Of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli presence, serogroups and risk factors from private groundwater sources in western Ireland'
Liam Patrick Burke, Carlos Chique, Kelly Fitzhenry, Alexandra Chueiri, Louise O'Connor, Brigid Hooban, Niamh Cahill , Ellen Brosnan, Lateefat Olaore, Emma Sullivan, Louise Reilly, Dearbháile Morris, Paul Hynds, Jean O'Dwyer (2023) 'Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli presence, serogroups and risk factors from private groundwater sources in western Ireland'. Science Of The Total Environment, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Rapid culture-independent loop-mediated isothermal amplification detection of antimicrobial resistance markers from environmental water samples'
Marwa M. Hassan; Arnoud H. M. van Vliet; Owen Higgins; Liam P. Burke; Alexandra Chueiri; Louise O'Connor; Dearbháile Morris; Terry J. Smith; Roberto M. La Ragione (2023) 'Rapid culture-independent loop-mediated isothermal amplification detection of antimicrobial resistance markers from environmental water samples'. Microbial Biotechnology, [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Portable Differential Detection of CTX-M ESBL Gene Variants, blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15, from Escherichia coli Isolates and Animal Fecal Samples Using Loop-Primer Endonuclease Cleavage Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification'
Owen Higgins, Alexandra Chueiri, Louise O'Connor, Sinéad Lahiff, Liam Burke, Dearbhaile Morris, Nicola Maria Pfeifer, Belén González Santamarina, Christian Berens, Christian Menge, Manuela Caniça, Vera Manageiro, Veljo Kisand, Marwa M. Hassan, Brian Gardner, Arnoud H. M. van Vliet, Roberto M. La Ragione, Bruno Gonzalez-Zorn, Terry J. Smith (2022) 'Portable Differential Detection of CTX-M ESBL Gene Variants, blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15, from Escherichia coli Isolates and Animal Fecal Samples Using Loop-Primer Endonuclease Cleavage Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification'. Appl Environ Microbiol, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Additive Manufacturing of Multi-Scale Porous Soft Tissue Implants That Encourage Vascularization and Tissue Ingrowth'
Fergal B. Coulter, Ruth E. Levey, Scott T. Robinson, Eimear B. Dolan, Stefano Deotti, Michael Monaghan, Peter Dockery, Brian S. Coulter, Liam P. Burke, Aoife J. Lowery, Rachel Beatty, Ryan Paetzold, James J. Prendergast, Gabriella Bellavia, Stefania Straino, Francesca Cianfarani, Monica Salamone, Carmelo M. Bruno, Kevin M. Moerman, Giulio Ghersi, Garry P. Duffy, Eoin D. O'Cearbhaill (2021) 'Additive Manufacturing of Multi-Scale Porous Soft Tissue Implants That Encourage Vascularization and Tissue Ingrowth'. Advanced Healthcare Materials, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Assessing the Effects of VEGF Releasing Microspheres on the Angiogenic and Foreign Body Response to a 3D Printed Silicone-Based Macroencapsulation Device'
Ruth E. Levey, Fergal B. Coulter, Karina C. Scheiner, Stefano Deotti, Scott T. Robinson, Liam McDonough, Thanh T. Nguyen, Rob Steendam, Mark Canney, Robert Wylie, Liam P. Burke, Eimear B. Dolan, Peter Dockery, Helena M. Kelly,Giulio Ghersi,Wim E. Hennink,Robbert J. Kok, Eoin O¿Cearbhaill and Garry P. Duffy (2021) 'Assessing the Effects of VEGF Releasing Microspheres on the Angiogenic and Foreign Body Response to a 3D Printed Silicone-Based Macroencapsulation Device'. Pharmaceutics, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Evaluating the potential for exposure to organisms of public health concern in naturally occurring bathing waters in Europe: a scoping review'
Farrell, M.F., Joyce, A., Duane, S., Fitzhenry, K., Hooban, B., Burke, L., Morris, D (2021) 'Evaluating the potential for exposure to organisms of public health concern in naturally occurring bathing waters in Europe: a scoping review'. Water Research, [DOI] [Details]
(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]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Turning the tide on poor Blue Space quality through stakeholder engagement - lessons from PIER'
Sinead Duane, Maeve Louise Farrell, Alexandra Chueiri, Christine Domegan, Liam Burke, Dearbháile Morris (2023) 'Turning the tide on poor Blue Space quality through stakeholder engagement - lessons from PIER' In: Social Marketing: Principles and practice for delivering global change. London: Routledge. [DOI] [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]

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
School of Medicine Health and Safety Member 01-AUG-23 /
Undergraduate Medical Curriculum Steering Group Member 01-SEP-21 /
School of Medicine Undergraduate Research Deputy Coordinator 01-SEP-21 /
School of Medicine Research Committee Member 01-SEP-21 /
CMNHS Equality Diversity Inclusion and Wellbeing Committee Member 01-SEP-20 / 01-AUG-23

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

Thesis Examiner - Dr Neyaz Khan

Thesis Examiner - Dr Brigid Hooban

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
2024 Maeve Louise Farrell PhD
2022 Louise Catherine Murphy MSc in Biomedical Science Y
2020 Yvonne McNicholas Msc Y

Modules Taught

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