Prof Geoffrey Hanlon

Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology

contact:
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Moulsecoomb
Brighton
BN2 4GJ

Telephone: +44 (0)1273 642082

Email: G.W.Hanlon@brighton.ac.uk

Research Interests

• Biocompatibility of medical devices
• Microbial adhesion to and biofilm formation on indwelling devices
• Microbial models of mammalian drug metabolism
• Use of bacteriophages for the treatment of infections
• Mode of action of biocidal agents

My research interests have always centred on pharmaceutical microbiology although, within that general area, I have been involved in a diverse range of projects including:

• The role of bacterial adhesion in the pathogenesis of device-related infections. Medical devices examined have included IUCDs, CAPD catheters, urinary catheters, fixation pins, intraocular lenses and contact lenses. The main focus of this work has been an examination of the initial adhesive events (including cell and substratum surface characterisation), development of in vitro  models to mimic the in vivo  situation and evaluation of strategies to minimise adhesion. Our group also has a longstanding interest in bacterial biofilms; in particular, their resistance to antimicrobial treatments.
  


• Mode of action of biocidal agents. The pharmaceutical industry employs a wide range of biocidal agents as preservatives, disinfectants, antiseptics etc. Most of these agents have been in use for many years and yet very little is known about their precise mode of action. This has become of particular importance as the costs of bringing a new product to market escalate and manufacturers look to reformulating existing compounds to provide synergistic effects. The group has a great deal of experience in investigating the mode of action of biocidal agents and has combined this with its knowledge of biofilms to create new surface disinfection models.
  


• Microbial models of mammalian drug metabolism. Microorganisms, particularly fungi, have a wide range of metabolic enzymes which have been shown to be similar in many ways to mammalian systems. The use of such organisms can, therefore, provide a useful alternative to mammalian systems in the study of drug metabolism. We have been examining the microbial chiral inversion of the profen drugs and have isolated fungi with the ability to produce nearly pure enantiomers from racemic mixtures. Other work within the group has centred on the stereochemistry of hydroxylation of steroids by fungi and is beginning to explore the utility of thermophilic fungi which also has a resistance to organic solvents.
  

• The emergence of bacteria resistant to most, if not all, of the commonly used antibiotics is a cause of great concern and has prompted the search for alternative treatment strategies in cases of bacterial infections. We have investigated the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents, in particular against Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is a common pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis and burns. The concept of phage therapy is being extended in research programmes examining Acinetobacter spp. and Clostridium difficile.  In collaboration with colleagues in the School of the Environment the group is involved in a EU funded programme investigating the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the environment and the role played by agricultural growth promotors in their recent emergence as a health risk.
  

• Close links with local health care providers has enabled access to an extensive patient base which has been utilised in the evaluation of in-use microbial contamination of pharmaceutical products, in particular ophthalmic preparations. This has resulted in recommendations to the DoH regarding changes in the procedures for the storage and use of eye drops in hospitals.

AMACOM is a collaboration between the University of Brighton, the University of Rouen and Southern Water Scientific Services. AMACOM is a cross-border project with a multidisciplinary approach to analysing surface and ground waters for microbial contamination. The project instigates collaboration between two centres of microbiology expertise to form a 'centre of excellence' in microbial water quality for the EURO-Region, for the benefit of public health and the environment.

Scholarly Activities

Postdoctoral Research Supervision

Dr G. Smith, Unilever funded Post Doctoral Fellow 1992-93. Working on project entitled "An investigation into the mechanism of combined biocide action".

Dr W. Rhys-Williams, University-funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1993-1996. Working on Microbial Chiral Inversion project.

Dr R.G.A. Faragher, DoH/MRC Funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1993-1996. Working on LINK Biomimpoliol Project in collaboration with Iolab Intraocular and Biocompatibles plc.

Dr S. Mikhalovsky, DoH/MRC Funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1993-1996. Working on LINK Biomimpoliol Project in collaboration with Iolab Intraocular and Biocompatibles plc.

Dr S. Reed (Dropcova), DoH/MRC Funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1993-1996. Working on LINK Biomimpoliol Project in collaboration with Iolab Intraocular and Biocompatibles plc.

Dr C. Holden, Zeneca Bioproducts Funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1994. Working on project entitled “The use of polyhydroxy-butyrate (Biopol) as a biocide-releasing coating for medical devices.

Dr J.P. Reynolds, Glaxo Research and Development Funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1995. Working on project entitled “Comparative study of nasal spray microbial preservation”.

Dr M. Wassall, Biocompatibles Funded Post-Doctoral Fellow 1996. Working on project entitled "Due diligence study on coated contact lens cases".

Dr Alex Blanchard, MAFF Funded Post Doctoral Fellow 1998 to 1999. Working on project entitled "Efficacy testing of detergents and sanitisers used in the food industry against a range of pathogens including E. coli 0157". In collaboration with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

Dr Oxana Gvozdyak, Royal Society/National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine funded Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow 1999. Working on project entitled "Mechanism of action of batumin - a specific inhibitor of staphylococci".

Dr Gary Phillips, Sterilox Medical Europe Ltd funded Post Doctoral Fellow 2000. Working on project entitled " An investigation into the factors affecting the biocidal activity of Sterilox".

Dr Lara Marie Barnes, Procter and Gamble funded Post Doctoral Fellow 2000-01. Working on project entitled “Studies into a novel surface disinfection model”.

Dr Moira Harrison. Craig Medical Products 2001. Investigation into the antimicrobial properties of various formulations of superabsorbent polyacrylate and sucralfate.

Dr Lara Marie Barnes, BBSRC funded Post Doctoral Fellow 2001-2002. Working on project entitled "A novel acoustic wave device for real-time measurement of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation".

Dr Sebastien Fraud, Procter and Gamble funded Post Doctoral Fellow 2002-2003. Working on project entitled "Antimicrobial activity of amine oxide against microorganisms in an oral environment".

Dr Iain Allan , Procter and Gamble funded Post Doctoral Fellow 2003-2004. Working on project entitled "Determination of the interactions between formulation components of F&HC products and commercially available preservatives".

Other Research Support Staff

Ms S. Savjani. Wellcome Trust Summer Studentship 1992. Development of a continuous culture system using peritoneal dialysate to study bacterial adhesion to biomaterials

Mr S. Nagri. Wellcome Trust Summer Studentship 1994. An investigation of factors affecting the adhesion of fibroblasts to biomaterials

Mr F. McCarthy. Wellcome Trust Summer Studentship 1995. An investigation into the mechanisms of chiral inversion of 2-PPA by Cordyceps militaris

Mrs S. Dyke. South Thames RHA Project Grant Scheme, 1996 Research Technician.

Ms. L. Wong. NHS/DTI funded Research Technician 1997-98. Working on AGFID Medical Implants LINK Programme.

Mr B. Griffiths. Placement student working on MAFF/LGC programme 1999-2000.

Mr R Palmer. Summer placement student working for Blue Prince Mushrooms 2000

Ms R. Henocq. TCS Associate, Sauflon Pharmaceuticals 1999-2002.

Ms K Denyer. The Wellcome Trust Summer Studentship 2001. Cross resistance between triclosan and antibiotics.

Ms S. West. EPSRC funded Research Technician 2000-2002.

Mr B. Burrowes. Placement student. Working on Acinetobacter phage project 2001-2002.

Chris Morris. Profile Therapeutics funded research technician 2002. Design development test - ProDose cleaning procedure.

Recent Publications