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Professor Michael Bushell

Professor of Microbiology

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 9277
Room no: 04 AW 01

Office hours

Mon-Fri 9-5.30 by appointment only.

Further information

Biography

I am Professor of Microbiology in the Microbial Sciences Division, where I was formerly Head of Division. Prior to joining the University, I worked in the Pharmaceutical industry (Pfizer and GSK). I did my PhD with Alan Bull at the University of Kent on the physiology of Aspergillus nidulans in chemostat culture and my first degree (in Microbiology) at Kings College London.
I am currently a member of the BBSRC IBTI  committee and the Food Standard Agency ACNFP committee and the External Advisory Group for the Applied Biotechnology Research Cluster of the University of Westminster.
I live in Farnham with Carole and my hobbies include skiing, football, rugby, music, theatre, dancing and hanging out with friends in bars and cafes.

Research Interests

My current interests involve genome scale metabolic network modeling and advanced bioreactor technology applied to the physiology of a range of microorganisms.
Specific topics include antibiotic biosynthesis, bioreactor performance and micro-morphology of Streptomyces, recombinant protein production in Pichia pastoris and the role of Pseudomonas infections in cystic fibrosis.

Current grants

Growth-associated gene essentiality in StreptomycesBBSRC

£341,559 PI

In silico study of lignocellulosic biofuel processesBBSRC

£446,778 PI

The interplay between two-component signal transduction systems and genome scale metabolic in S.coelicolor

BBSRC

£714,859 CoI


Construction of a genome-scale in silico metabolic model of mycobacterium tuberculosis to investigate growth- modulation to identify vulnerable biochemical pathways for drug development to target persistent organisms

BBSRC

£530,000 CoI

  Metabolic engineering of StreptomycesEli Lilly

£90,000 PI

   
   
   

  Recently completed grants:
Development of a transcriptome-constrained genome-scale bioreaction network to provide an in silico model of cell metabolism with predictive power for secondary metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor.
BBSRC £256,035 PI
Actinogen-integrating genomics-based applications to exploit actinomycetes as a resource for new antibiotics EU £452,987 CoI
Influence of morphology on bioreactor performance of antibiotic-producing micro-organisms Abbott Laboratories, Chicago £90,000 PI

Research Collaborations

Prof C P Smith

Prof JJ McFadden

Dr C A Avignone-Rossa

Dr A Keirzek

Dr G Stewart

Publications

Journal articles

  • Ahmed AEI, Cavalli G, Bushell ME, Wardell JN, Pedley S, Charles K, Hay JN. (2011) 'New Approach To Produce Water Free of Bacteria, Viruses, and Halogens in a Recyclable System'. AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY APPL ENVIRON MICROB, 77 (3), pp. 847-853.
    doi: 10.1128/AEM.01645-10
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7417/
  • Ahmed AESI, Wardell JN, Thumser AE, Avignone-Rossa CA, Cavalli G, Hay JN, Bushell ME. (2011) 'Metabolomic Profiling Can Differentiate Between Bactericidal Effects of Free and Polymer Bound Halogen'. JOHN WILEY & SONS INC J APPL POLYM SCI, 119 (2), pp. 709-718.
    doi: 10.1002/app.32731
  • Lewis RA, Shahi SK, Laing E, Bucca G, Efthimiou G, Bushell M, Smith CP. (2011) 'Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of the response to nitrogen limitation in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).'. BMC Res Notes, England: 4
    doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-4-78
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/203297/
  • Sroka J, Bieniasz-Krzywiec L, Gwóźdź S, Leniowski D, Lącki J, Markowski M, Avignone-Rossa C, Bushell ME, McFadden J, Kierzek AM. (2011) 'Acorn: a grid computing system for constraint based modeling and visualization of the genome scale metabolic reaction networks via a web interface.'. BioMed Central BMC Bioinformatics, England: 12 (196)
    doi: 10.1186/1471-2105-12-196
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/185976/
  • Gevorgyan A, Bushell ME, Avignone-Rossa C, Kierzek AM. (2010) 'SurreyFBA: a command line tool and graphics user interface for constraint-based modeling of genome-scale metabolic reaction networks'. OXFORD UNIV PRESS BIOINFORMATICS, 27 (3), pp. 433-434.
    doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btq679
  • Ahmed AESI, Hay JN, Bushell ME, Wardell JN, Cavalli G. (2010) 'Macroscopic N-Halamine Biocidal Polymeric Beads'. JOHN WILEY & SONS INC J APPL POLYM SCI, 116 (4), pp. 2396-2408.
    doi: 10.1002/app.31774
  • Ahmed AESI, Hay JN, Bushell ME, Wardell JN, Cavalli G. (2009) 'Optimizing Halogenation Conditions of N-Halamine Polymers and Investigating Mode of Bactericidal Action'. JOHN WILEY & SONS INC J APPL POLYM SCI, 113 (4), pp. 2404-2412.
    doi: 10.1002/app.30390
  • Ahmed AESI, Hay JN, Bushell ME, Wardell JN, Cavalli G. (2008) 'Biocidal polymers (II): Determination of biological activity of novel N-halamine biocidal polymers and evaluation for use in water filters'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV REACT FUNCT POLYM, 68 (10), pp. 1448-1458.
    doi: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2008.06.021
  • Khannapho C, Zhao H, Bonde BK, Kierzek AM, Avignone-Rossa CA, Bushell ME. (2008) 'Selection of objective function in genome scale flux balance analysis for process feed development in antibiotic production'. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE METAB ENG, 10 (5), pp. 227-233.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2008.06.003
  • Ahmed AEI, Hay JN, Bushell ME, Wardell JN, Cavalli G. (2008) 'Biocidal polymers (I): Preparation and biological activity of some novel blocidal polymers based on uramil and its azo-dyes'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV REACT FUNCT POLYM, 68 (1), pp. 248-260.
    doi: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2007.09.004
  • Beste DJV, Laing E, Bonde B, Avignone-Rossa C, Bushell ME, McFadden JJ. (2007) 'Transcriptomic analysis identifies growth rate modulation as a component of the adaptation of mycobacteria to survival inside the macrophage'. AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY J BACTERIOL, 189 (11), pp. 3969-3976.
    doi: 10.1128/JB.01787-06
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/184935/
  • Beste DJV, Hooper T, Stewart G, Bonde B, Avignone-Rossa C, Bushell M, Wheeler P, Klamt S, Kierzek AM, McFadden J. (2007) 'GSMN-TB: a web-based genome scale network model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolism'. BIOMED CENTRAL LTD GENOME BIOL, 8 (5) Article number r89
    doi: 10.1186/gb-2007-8-5-r89
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/184904/
  • Bushell ME, Sequeira SIP, Khannapho C, Zhao HJ, Chater KF, Butler MJ, Kierzek AM, Avignone-Rossa CA. (2006) 'The use of genome scale metabolic flux variability analysis for process feed formulation based on an investigation of the effects of the zwf mutation on antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC ENZYME MICROB TECH, 39 (6), pp. 1347-1353.
    doi: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2006.06.011
  • Bushell ME, Kirk S, Zhao HJ, Avignone-Rossa CA. (2006) 'Manipulation of the physiology of clavulanic acid biosynthesis with the aid of metabolic flux analysis'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC ENZYME MICROB TECH, 39 (1), pp. 149-157.
    doi: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2006.01.017
  • Rozkov A, Avignone-Rossa CA, Ertl PF, Jones P, O'Kennedy RD, Smith JJ, Dale JW, Bushell ME. (2006) 'Fed batch culture with declining specific growth rate for high-yielding production of a plasmid containing a gene therapy sequence in Escherichia coli DH1'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC ENZYME MICROB TECH, 39 (1), pp. 47-50.
    doi: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2005.09.005
  • Beste DJ, Peters J, Hooper T, Avignone-Rossa C, Bushell ME, McFadden J. (2005) 'Compiling a molecular inventory for Mycobacterium bovis BCG at two growth rates: evidence for growth rate-mediated regulation of ribosome biosynthesis and lipid metabolism.'. J Bacteriol, United States: 187 (5), pp. 1677-1684.
    doi: 10.1128/JB.187.5.1677-1684.2005
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/184910/
  • Rozkov A, Avignone-Rossa CA, Ertl PF, Jones P, O'Kennedy RD, Smith JJ, Dale JW, Bushell ME. (2004) 'Characterization of the metabolic burden on Escherichia coli DH1 cells imposed by the presence of a plasmid containing a gene therapy sequence'. JOHN WILEY & SONS INC BIOTECHNOL BIOENG, 88 (7), pp. 909-915.
    doi: 10.1002/bit.20327
  • Bushell ME, Rowe M, Avignone-Rossa CA, Wardell JN. (2003) 'Cyclic fed-batch culture for production of human serum albumin in Pichia pastoris'. JOHN WILEY & SONS INC BIOTECHNOL BIOENG, 82 (6), pp. 678-683.
    doi: 10.1002/bit.10616
  • Wardell JN, Stocks SM, Thomas CR, Bushell ME. (2002) 'Decreasing the hyphal branching rate of Saccharopolyspora erythraea NRRL 2338 leads to increased resistance to breakage and increased antibiotic production.'. Biotechnol Bioeng, United States: 78 (2), pp. 141-146.
  • Kirk S, Avignone-Rossa CA, Bushell ME. (2000) 'Growth limiting substrate affects antibiotic production and associated metabolic fluxes in Streptomyces clavuligerus'. KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL BIOTECHNOL LETT, 22 (22), pp. 1803-1809.
  • Dunstan GH, Avignone-Rossa C, Langley D, Bushell ME. (2000) 'The Vancomycin biosynthetic pathway is induced in oxygen-limited Amycolatopsis orientalis (ATCC 19795) cultures that do not produce antibiotic.'. Enzyme Microb Technol, 27 (7), pp. 502-510.
  • Wardell JN, Bushell ME. (1999) 'Kinetics and manipulation of hyphal breakage and its effect on antibiotic production'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC ENZYME MICROB TECH, 25 (3-5), pp. 404-410.
  • Bushell ME, Bull AT. (1999) 'Sporulation at minimum specific growth rate in Aspergillus nidulans chemostat culture predicted using protein synthesis efficiency estimations.'. J Basic Microbiol, GERMANY: 39 (5-6), pp. 293-298.
  • Ives PR, Bushell ME. (1997) 'Manipulation of the physiology of clavulanic acid production in Streptomyces clavuligerus.'. Microbiology, ENGLAND: 143 ( Pt 11), pp. 3573-3579.
  • Moore J, Bushell ME. (1997) 'The effect of morphology and oxygen uptake on penicillin production by Aspergillus nidulans in submerged culture'. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS MYCOL RES, 101, pp. 1237-1241.
  • Bushell ME, Dunstan GL, Wilson GC. (1997) 'Effect of small scale culture vessel type on hyphal fragment size and erythromycin production in Saccharopolyspora erythraea'. CHAPMAN HALL LTD BIOTECHNOL LETT, 19 (9), pp. 849-852.
  • Bushell ME, Smith J, Lynch HC. (1997) 'A physiological model for the control of erythromycin production in batch and cyclic fed batch culture'. SOC GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY MICROBIOL-UK, 143, pp. 475-480.
  • Martin SM, Bushell ME. (1996) 'Effect of hyphal micromorphology on bioreactor performance of antibiotic-producing Saccharopolyspora erythraea cultures'. SOC GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY MICROBIOL-UK, 142, pp. 1783-1788.
  • Lynch HC, Bushell ME. (1995) 'The physiology of erythromycin biosynthesis in cyclic fed batch culture'. SOC GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY MICROBIOL-UK, 141, pp. 3105-3111.

Teaching

First year

Microbiology – microbes and Man; BMS1010

I currently lecture on the use of microbes by Pharma and other Companies for the manufacture of Bioproducts (both biomedical and other products you may not have realised were made by microbes). Click on the links below for further information on these topics.

LINK1

LINK2 http://sbms.surrey.ac.uk/default.aspx

Second year

Microbiology Systems; BMS2028

My 12 lectures provide your one stop shop for an introduction to microbial bioproducts, their uses and the tricks we play on the unsuspecting microorganisms to force then to produce what we want.

LINK 1

LINK2 http://sbms.surrey.ac.uk/default.aspx

Third year

Biomedical Microbial Products; BMS3032

This course was designed with consultation with Biotech and Pharma companies. I often get phone calls from potential employers asking me to recommend good students from the course for vacancies in those companies. I take the students to the cutting edge of the science behind bioproducts, integrating the latest findings from my own research where I can.

LINK 1

LINK2 http://sbms.surrey.ac.uk/default.aspx

Practical Microbial Bioproduct Discovery; BMS3031

Originally designed to complement 3032 (which it still synergizes with, this course can now be taken as a stand-alone module. You will be given an example of how to discover new biopharmaceuticals to order.

LINK 1

LINK2 http://sbms.surrey.ac.uk/default.aspx