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Professor Kenneth Watson - Acting Head of School

Professor Kenneth Watson - Acting Head of School

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.   Professor Watson is the Coordinator for the Centre for Bioactive Discovery in Health and Ageing.  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, and the subjects below as listed:
  • MICR220
  • MICR350
  • HHSC384
  • HSNS284
  • HHSC243

    •  

    Publications 2005 to 2007

    Book Chapters:

    Agnew, L. and Watson, K., 2006, Detection of stress proteins as biomarkers of oxidative stress, In Current Protocols in Toxicology (Maines, M., ed.). Wiley, New York, 17.8.1-17.8.26. 25 pp.

    Jones, G.L., Smith, J.E. and Watson, K., 2007, Bioactive properties of native Australian medicinal plants, In Advances in Medicinal Plant Research (Acharya, S.N. and Thomas, J.E., eds) Research Signpost. pp.257-286.

    Journals:

    Agnew, L.L., Guffogg, S.P., Matthias, A., Lehmann, R.P., Bone, K.M. and Watson, K., 2005, Echinacea intake induces 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.

    Mijajlovic, S., Smith, J., Watson, K., Parsons, P. and Jones, G.L., 2006, Traditional Australian medicinal plants: screening for activity against human cancer cell lines, J. Aust. Trad. Med. Soc., 12, 129-132.

    Smith, J., Tucker, D., Watson, K. and Jones, G.L., 2007, Identification of antibacterial constituents from the indigenous Australian medicinal plant Eremophila duttonii F. Muell. (Myoporaceae), Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 112: 189-194.

    Andrews, C., Matthias, A., Agnew, L., Reinke, N., Watson, K., Bone, K. & Lehmann R. 2007. Enhanced antioxidant effect of a herbal-nutrient complex including ascorbic acid and Polygonum cuspidatum extract (resveratrol). Aust. J. Med. Herbalism 19: 1-5.

    Matthias, A., Addison, R.S., Agnew, L.L., Bone, K.M., Watson, K. and Lehmann, R.P., 2007, Comparison of Echinacea alkylamide pharmacokinetics between liquid and tablet preparations, Phytomedicine, 14: 587-590.

    Conference Proceedings:

    Smith, J., Jones, G., and Watson, K. Characterisation and evaluation of antibacterial activity of a new type of essential oil from Eremophila longifolia. P415, 53rd Annual Congress of the Gesellschaft fur Arzneipflanzenforschung (GA) and joint congress with the Societa Italiana di Fitochimica (SIF) August 21-25 2005, Florence.

    Smith, J., Watson, K., Mijajlovic, S. and Jones, G.L.  Identification of three antimicrobial compounds from Eremophila duttonii, an indigenous Australian plant  P20  CNIC 14th International congress 27th-30th June 2005 Havana, Cuba.

    Mijajlovic S, Jones GL, Parsons P, Watson K. In vitro screening of Australian traditional medicinal plants for activity against cancer cell lines CNIC 14th Internat congress 27th-30th June 2005 Havana Cuba.

    Smith, J., Jones, G., and Watson, K. Isolation and identification of antimicrobial compounds from the Australian medicinal plant Eremophila duttonii (Scrophulariaceae) P407, 53rd Annual Congress of the Gesellschaft fur Arzneipflanzenforschung (GA) and joint congress with the Societa Italiana di Fitochimica (SIF) August 21-25 2005, Florence.

    Mijajlovic, S., Jones, G., Parsons, P., and Watson, K. In vitro screening of Australian traditional medicinal plants for activity against cancer cell lines. P414, 53rd Annual Congress of the Gesellschaft fur Arzneipflanzenforschung (GA) and joint congress with the Societa Italiana di Fitochimica (SIF) August 21-25 2005, Florence.

    Guffogg, S., Khan, S., Dunlap, W. & Watson, K. The Antarctic yeast adapts to UV radiation by redox changes in ubiquinone. P 48, Annual Conference Australian Society for Microbiology, Sydney, September 2007.

    Publications 2002 to 2004

    Book Chapters:

    Peng, J., Jones, G.J., Boyle, G.M., Parsons, P., Piva, T. and Watson, K., 2003, Stress response of human cell lines to ultraviolet B radiation, Free Radical Research.  In Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pathophysiological Implications, (Galaris, D., ed.). Medimond, Bologna, pp. 79-84.

    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 and Oxidative Stress: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pathophysiological Implications, (Galaris, D., ed.). Medimond, Bologna, pp. 133-138.

    Journals:

    Thomas-Hall, S. and Watson, K., 2002, Cryptococcus nyarrowii sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast from Antarctica, International J. Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 52: 1033-1038.           

    Howard, J., Jones, G.L., Oliver, C. and Watson, K., 2002, Dietary intake of antioxidant supplements modulate antioxidant status and heat shock protein 70 expression, Redox Report, 7: 308-311.

    Tsimako, M., Guffogg, S., Thomas-Hall, S. and Watson, K., 2002, Resistance to UVB radiation in Antarctic yeasts, Redox Report, 7: 312-314.                                                                                                

    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 and Evolutionary Microbiology, 52: 2302-2308.                          

    Rao, D.V., Boyle, 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 and Development, 124: 55-69.                                                                           
    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, 7: 3-6.                                                                                                     

    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, 1-7.

    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.                                                                                                         

    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 and Evolutionary Microbiology, 54, 275-277.                                  

    Conferences:

    Agnew, L., Kelly, M., Howard, J., Serangapany, J., Batterham, M., Ffrench, R., Gold, J. & Watson, K.  2002.  Altered heat stress protein expression in patients with HIV disease.  14th Annual Conference Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, Sydney, 23 - 26 October.

    Agnew, L., Howard, J., Kelly, M., Ffrench, R. & Watson, K.  2002.  Stress proteins and oxidative stress in HIV individuals  2002 ASM Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne Convention Centre, 29 September – 3 October.

    Guffog, S., Thomas-Hall, S., Tsimago, M., Holloway, P. & Watson, K.  2002.  Antarctic Yeasts:  Phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis.  2002 ASM Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, 29 September – 3 October.

    Jones, G.L., Peng, J., Piva, T.J., Boyle, G.M., Parsons, P.G. & Watson, K.  2002.  Antioxidant modifies the stress response of human cell lines to UVB Irradiation.  1st Conference on Functional Genomics of Ageing, Spain, 24 - 27 April.

    Khan, S., Guffogg, S., Tsimako, M. & Watson, K.  2002.  UVB sensitivity of mesophilic and psychrophilic Antarctic yeasts at different stages of growth.  Proceedings of the 2nd Australian Conference on Yeast:  Products and Discovery, Melbourne, 27 - 29 November.

     Visala Rao, D., Boyle, G.M., Parsons, P.G., Watson, K. & Jones, G.L.  2002.  CDNA Microarray Analysis of the Effects of Heat and Oxidative Stress in Young and Old Human Peripheral Lymphocytes.  1st Conference on Functional Genomics of Aging, Seville, Spain, 24 - 27 April.

    Watson, K., Howard, J., Jones, G.L. & Oliver, C.  2002.  Dietary supplements of vitamins and antioxidants modulate oxidative stress in baby boomers.   1st Asia Pacific Conference and Exhibition on Anti-Aging Medicine, Singapore, 23 - 26 June.

    Watson, K. & Howard, J.  2002.  Drinking in moderation is good for you – trust us.  XII Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research, Paris, France, 16 - 20 July.

    Watson, K., Howard, J., Kelly, M. & Ffrench, R.  2002.  Heat Shock Protein 70 is upregulated in HIV-AIDS.  XII Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research, Paris, France, 16 - 20 July.

    Agnew, L.L., Ffrench, K.M., Gold, R.A. and Watson, K.  2003.  Altered expression of heat shock proteins (HSP70, HSP110) in lymphocytes from HIV-positive individuals.  15th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, Cairns, 22-25 October.

    Jones, G.L., Peng, J., Boyle, G.M., Parsons, P.G. & Watson, K.  2003.  Free radicals and the stress response of human cell lines to UVB radiation.  Society for Free Radical Research, Greece, 26-29 June.

    Watson, K., Jones, G.L. & Rao, V.  2003.  Heat shock proteins as biomarkers of oxidative stress and ageing.  Society for Free Radical Research in Biology and Medicine,10th Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA, 20-24 November.

    Rao, D.V., Boyle, G.M., Parsons, P.G., Watson, K. & Jones, G.L.  2004.  Heat stress response in young and old human peripheral lymphocytes P64.  2nd International Conference on Functional Genomics of Ageing, Crete, 12-17th April.