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Natural Sciences

Dr Tara Vollmerhausen

B.Sc., Ph.D.

Contact Details

Post Doctoral Research Fellowship
MICROBIOLOGY
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
NUI GALWAY

E: TARA.VOLLMERHAUSEN@nuigalway.ie
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Microbiology

T: Ext. 5091
 

Biography

Dr Tara Vollmerhausen is a postdoctoral research fellow based in the Bacterial Stress Response Group, Microbiology. She received her PhD from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia. In 2011 Tara joined the Annelie Brauner Group, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet as a visiting researcher to investigate new strategies to treat UTIs and biofilm-associated infections. Tara took up a post at NUI Galway in 2014 with the National Centre for Laser Applications to investigate the feasibility of using UVA light to prevent biofilm formation on medical devices. In 2015 she was awarded a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship to continue her research in the elucidation of the molecular response of Escherichia coli biofilms to blue light: towards light-based therapy for catheter associated infections.

Research Interests

Novel methods to target biofilm associated infections

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Visible and UVA light as a potential means of preventing Escherichia coli biofilm formation in urine and on materials used in urethral catheters'
Vollmerhausen, TL; Conneely, AJ; Bennett, C; Wagner, VE; Victor, JC; O'Byrne C (2017) 'Visible and UVA light as a potential means of preventing Escherichia coli biofilm formation in urine and on materials used in urethral catheters'. J Photochem Photobiol B, 22 :295-303 [Details]
(2017) 'Assessing the population dynamics of Escherichia coli in a metropolitan river after an extreme flood event'
Masters, N; Wiegand, A; Thompson, JM; Vollmerhausen, TL; Hatje, E; Katouli, M (2017) 'Assessing the population dynamics of Escherichia coli in a metropolitan river after an extreme flood event'. Journal Of Water And Health, 15 (2):196-208 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Comparison between virulence characteristics of dominant and non-dominant Escherichia coli strains of the gut and their interaction with Caco-2 cells'
Owrangi, B; Masters, N; Vollmerhausen, TL; O'Dea, C; Kuballa, A; Katouli, M (2017) 'Comparison between virulence characteristics of dominant and non-dominant Escherichia coli strains of the gut and their interaction with Caco-2 cells'. Microbial Pathogenesis, 105 :171-176 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Molecular characterisation of Escherichia coli isolated from hospitalised children and adults with urinary tract infection'
Vollmerhausen TL;Katouli M; (2014) 'Molecular characterisation of Escherichia coli isolated from hospitalised children and adults with urinary tract infection'. European Journal Of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication Of The European Society Of Clinical Microbiology, 33 (6) [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Interactions of uroseptic Escherichia coli with renal (A-498) and gastrointestinal (HT-29) cell lines'
Vollmerhausen TL;Woods JL;Faoagali J;Katouli M; (2014) 'Interactions of uroseptic Escherichia coli with renal (A-498) and gastrointestinal (HT-29) cell lines'. Journal Of Medical Microbiology, 63 (Pt 12) [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Decoctions from Citrus reticulata Blanco seeds protect the uroepithelium against Escherichia coli invasion'
Vollmerhausen TL;Ramos NL;Dzung DT;Brauner A; (2013) 'Decoctions from Citrus reticulata Blanco seeds protect the uroepithelium against Escherichia coli invasion'. Journal Of Ethnopharmacology, 150 (2) [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Antimicrobial resistance and distribution of sul genes and integron-associated intI genes among uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Queensland, Australia'
Gündoğdu A;Long YB;Vollmerhausen TL;Katouli M; (2011) 'Antimicrobial resistance and distribution of sul genes and integron-associated intI genes among uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Queensland, Australia'. Journal Of Medical Microbiology, 60 (Pt 11) [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Population structure and uropathogenic virulence-associated genes of faecal Escherichia coli from healthy young and elderly adults'
Vollmerhausen TL;Ramos NL;Gündogdu A;Robinson W;Brauner A;Katouli M; (2011) 'Population structure and uropathogenic virulence-associated genes of faecal Escherichia coli from healthy young and elderly adults'. Journal Of Medical Microbiology, 60 (Pt 5) [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'Prevalence and persistence of Escherichia coli strains with uropathogenic virulence characteristics in sewage treatment plants'
Anastasi EM;Matthews B;Gundogdu A;Vollmerhausen TL;Ramos NL;Stratton H;Ahmed W;Katouli M; (2010) 'Prevalence and persistence of Escherichia coli strains with uropathogenic virulence characteristics in sewage treatment plants'. Applied And Environmental Microbiology, 76 (17) [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Exploring the potential of light to prevent and treat microbial biofilms in medical and food applications'
Vollmerhausen, TL; Conneely, AJ; O'Byrne C (2017) 'Exploring the potential of light to prevent and treat microbial biofilms in medical and food applications' In: Antimicrobial Coatings and Modifications on Medical Devices. Gewerbestrasse, Switzerland: Springer Nature. [Details]
(2014) 'Virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and their role in development of urinary tract infection'
Vollmerhausen TL, Katouli M (2014) 'Virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and their role in development of urinary tract infection' In: Urinary Tract Infections: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Prevention. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2016) International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics
Conneely, AJ; Bennett, C; O'Connor, GM; Vollmerhausen, TL; O'Byrne, C; Spence, G; Rowe, D; Victor, J (2016) Generation of side-emitting polymer optical fibres by laser ablation for use in antimicrobial applications International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics San Diego, CA USA, [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2015 Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Irish Research Council

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Microbiology Society Member /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2014 University of the Sunshine Coast DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Microbiology

Reviews

  Journal Role
Journal Of Medical Microbiology Reviewer