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Ken Watson

Ken Watson

Professor, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, School of Science and Technology

Qualifications

BSc (Hons), Chemistry, PhD (Applied Microbiology), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Contact

Email: kwatson2@une.edu.au
Room: McClymont Building 346
Phone: 02 6773 3125 (or +61 2 6773 3125 overseas)
Fax: 02 6773 3267

My career has included positions in Biochemistry and Molecular biology at Monash University (Melbourne), Warwick University (UK), James Cook University (Townsville), Labatts Brewing (Canada) and I have been at the University of New England since 1985.  I am currently Professor and Head of the School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences.  Research interests are in the Biology of Human Ageing, particularly the roles of stress proteins and the efficacy of antioxidants in combating free radical damage in human cells.  Collaborative studies on ageing include research into stress proteins in centenarians associated with the Okinawa Centenarians Study in Japan.  Another area of research is on the role of stress proteins and antioxidants in HIV-positive individuals, in collaboration with the Albion Street Centre and St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.  Research is also concentrated on the isolation and characterization by biochemical and molecular techniques of novel Antarctic microbes and on protection against UV damaged in cells by antioxidants and natural products.   I was awarded the University postgraduate Supervisor of the Year 2000.   Teaching is primarily in the areas of Introductory Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Cellular Mechanisms of Disease and in Human Biology.  Units include degree courses in Science, Rural Science and Human Health Science.

Areas of Teaching

  • microbiology

    • Publications

    1. Falkenstein, F., Kortner, G., Watson, K. and Geiser, F. 2001. Dietary fats and body lipid composition in relation to hibernation in free-ranging echidnas. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 171 : 189-194.
    2. Thomas-Hall, S. and Watson, K. 2002. Cryptococcus nyarrowii sp.nov., a basidiomycetous yeast from Antarctica.  International J. Systematic & Evolutionary Microbiology 52: 1033-1038.
    3. Howard, J., Jones G.L., Oliver, C. and Watson, K. 2002. Dietary intake of antioxidant supplements modulate antioxidant status and heat shock protein in 70 expression. Redox Report 7: 308-311.
    4. Tsimako, M., Guffogg, S., Thomas-Hall, S. and Watson, K. 2002. Resistance to UVB radiation in Antarctic yeasts. Radox Report 7 : 308-311.
    5. Thomas-Hall, S., Watson, K. and Scorzetti, G. 2002.  Cryptococcus stazelliae sp. Nov., and three novel strains of Cryptococcus victoriae, yeasts isolated from Antarctic soil. International J. Systematic & Evolutionary Microbiology 52: 2302-2308.
    6. Rao, D.V., Boyke, G., Parsons, P., Watson, K. and Jones, G. 2003.  Influence of ageing, heat shock treatment and in vivo total antioxidant status on gene-expression profile and protein synthesis in human peripheral lymphocytes.  Mechanisms of Ageing & Development 124: 55-69.
    7. Agnew, L., Kelly, M., Howard, J., Jeganathan, S., Batterham, M., Ffrench, R.A., Gold, J. and Watson, K. 2003.  Altered lymphocyte heat shock protein 70 expression in patients with HIV disease. AIDS 17 : 3-6
    8. Mijajlovic, S., Jones, G.L., Minichiello, V. and Watson, K. 2003. A comprehensive review of evidence-based CAM use in HIV-AIDS. Journal of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society 9: 17.
    9. Khodr, B., Howard, J., Watson, K. and Khalil, Z. 2003. Effect of short-term and long-term antioxidant therapy on primary and secondary ageing neurovascular processes. Journal of Gerontology 58A: 698-708.
    10. Peng, J., Jones, G.L., Boyle, G.M., Parsons, P., Piva, T. and Watson, K . 2003. Stress response to human cell lines to ultraviolet B radiation.  Free Radical Research.  In Free Radicals & Oxidative Stress: Chemistry, Biochemistry & Pathophysiological Implications (Galaris, D., ed.). Medimond, Bologna. pp. 79-84.
    11. Khalil, Z., Khodr, B., Howard, J. and Watson, K. 2003. Vitamin E reduces oxidative stress markers and modulates wound repair in aged animals. In Free Radicals & Oxidative Stress: Chemistry, Biochemistry & Pathophysiological Implications (Galaris, D., ed.). Medimond, Bologna. pp. 133-138.
    12. Guffogg, S., Thomas-Hall, S., Holloway, P. and Watson, K. 2004. A novel psychrotolerant member of the hymenomycetous yeasts from Antarctica:  Cryptococcus watticus sp. nov. International J. Systematic & Evolutionary Microbiology. 54: 275-277.
    13. Agnew, L.L., Guffogg, S.P., Matthias, A., Lehmann, R.P., Bone, K.M. and Watson, K. 2005. Echinacea intake reduces an immune response through altered expression of leucocyte hsp70, increase white cell counts and improved erythrocyte antioxidant defences. J Clin Pharm Therapeut. 30: 363-369.
    14. Agnew, L. and Watson, K. 2005. Stress protein as biomarkers of oxidative stress.  In Current Protocols in Toxicology (Maines, M., ed.) Wiley, New York, In Press. Invited review.