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Katie Solomon

Katie Solomon

Co Director of Education and Student Experience (DESE) / Senior Lecturer in Biosciences

 5328

 Geoffrey Pope 217

 

Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter , Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK

Overview

I am module convenor for:

BIO2068 Forensic Science (core module for BSc Archaeology and Forensic Science)

BIO2066 Forensic Science

I teach on the collowing modules:

BIO2078 Medical and General Microbiology

BIO1337 Microbiology

BIO1332 Biochemistry

BIO1339 Cells

BIO1333 Fundamental Principles for Bioscientists

CSC1004 Fundamental Principles for Medical Scientists

I also have roles as:

Senior Tutor (Final year)

Exams Officer for Biosciences

Biosciences Advisor for Medical Sciences

Member of Biosciences Strategic Management Committee

Qualifications

 

  • 2015 - Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
  • 2014 - Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • 2004 - PhD Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Nottingham
  • 2000 - MSc Molecular Medical Microbiology, University of Nottingham
  • 1999 - BSc Hons Biological Sciences (Microbiology)

Career

2019 - Present - Senior Lecturer in Biosciences, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2014 – 2019 - Lecturer in Biosciences, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2013 - 2014 - Associate Lecturer in Biosciences, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2008 – 2014 - Research Fellow, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin,   Ireland

2004 – 2008 -  Research Fellow, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Nottingham

Research

Research interests

My research interests are in the field of Clinical Microbiology, including Clostridium difficile infection, human microbiome in health and diease and antimicrobial resistance.

I have investigated many aspects of Clostridium difficile infection biology, including sporulation and germination, host immune responses, antimicrobial resistance, epidemiology and surveillance of novel transposable elements encoding antimicrobial resistance in C. difficile and other gut microorganisms.

Research projects

I have supervised undergraduate student dissertations on diverse topics including:

  •  HIV and TB; Co-Morbid Diseases, Syndemics and Society
  • Could phage therapy ever be better than antimicrobial therapy for treating Clostridium difficile?
  • Analysis of the UK public's perceptions and knowlege of antibiotic resistance
  • Barriers and solutions to the progress of tackling antimicrobial resistance worldwide.
  • Surveillance of a novel erythromycin resistance determinant first isolated from Clostridium difficile ribotype 027, in human gut microorganisms.

Publications

Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year

Key publications

Moore P, Kyne L, Martin A, Solomon K (2013). Germination efficiency of clinical Clostridium difficile spores and correlation with ribotype, disease severity and therapy failure. J Med Microbiol, 62(Pt 9), 1405-1413. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Martin AJ, O'Donoghue C, Chen X, Fenelon L, Fanning S, Kelly CP, Kyne L (2013). Mortality in patients with Clostridium difficile infection correlates with host pro-inflammatory and humoral immune responses. J Med Microbiol, 62(Pt 9), 1453-1460. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K (2013). The host immune response to Clostridium difficile infection. Ther Adv Infect Dis, 1(1), 19-35. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Kyne L (2012). Clostridium difficile-Associated Colitis: Role of the Immune Response and Approach to Treatment. In  (Ed) Colitis.  Author URL.
Martin A, Solomon K, O'Donoghue C, Hannan M, Fenelon L, Kyne L (2012). Cognitive Impairment Increases Risk of Infection, Recurrence and Death Due to Hospital-onset C. Difficile. IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, 181, S229-S229. Author URL.
Solomon K (2012). Host immune response to C. difficile. European Conference of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). 31st Mar - 3rd Apr 2012.

Publications by category

Journal articles

Cairns MD, Preston MD, Hall CL, Gerding DN, Hawkey PM, Kato H, Kim H, Kuijper EJ, Lawley TD, Pituch H, et al (2017). Comparative Genome Analysis and Global Phylogeny of the Toxin Variant Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 017 Reveals the Evolution of Two Independent Sublineages. J Clin Microbiol, 55(3), 865-876. Abstract.  Author URL.
Cairns MD, Preston MD, Hall CL, Gerding DN, Hawkey PM, Kato H, Kim H, Kuijper EJ, Lawley TD, Pituch H, et al (2017). Correction for Cairns et al. "Comparative Genome Analysis and Global Phylogeny of the Toxin Variant Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 017 Reveals the Evolution of Two Independent Sublineages". J Clin Microbiol, 55(6). Author URL.
O'Donoghue C, Solomon K, Fenelon L, Fitzpatrick F, Kyne L (2016). Effect of proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics on the gut microbiome of hospitalised older persons. J Infect, 72(4), 498-500. Author URL.
Fox EM, Solomon K, Moore JE, Wall PG, Fanning S (2014). Phylogenetic profiles of in-house microflora in drains at a food production facility: comparison and biocontrol implications of Listeria-positive and -negative bacterial populations. Appl Environ Microbiol, 80(11), 3369-3374. Abstract.  Author URL.
Moore P, Kyne L, Martin A, Solomon K (2013). Germination efficiency of clinical Clostridium difficile spores and correlation with ribotype, disease severity and therapy failure. J Med Microbiol, 62(Pt 9), 1405-1413. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Martin AJ, O'Donoghue C, Chen X, Fenelon L, Fanning S, Kelly CP, Kyne L (2013). Mortality in patients with Clostridium difficile infection correlates with host pro-inflammatory and humoral immune responses. J Med Microbiol, 62(Pt 9), 1453-1460. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K (2013). The host immune response to Clostridium difficile infection. Ther Adv Infect Dis, 1(1), 19-35. Abstract.  Author URL.
Martin A, Solomon K, O'Donoghue C, Hannan M, Fenelon L, Kyne L (2012). Cognitive Impairment Increases Risk of Infection, Recurrence and Death Due to Hospital-onset C. Difficile. IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, 181, S229-S229. Author URL.
Solomon K, Murray S, Scott L, McDermott S, Drudy D, Martin A, O'Donoghue C, Skally M, Burns K, Fenelon L, et al (2011). An investigation of the subtype diversity of clinical isolates of Irish Clostridium difficile ribotypes 027 and 078 by repetitive-extragenic palindromic PCR. J Med Microbiol, 60(Pt 8), 1080-1087. Abstract.  Author URL.
Modi N, Gulati N, Solomon K, Monaghan T, Robins A, Sewell HF, Mahida YR (2011). Differential binding and internalization of Clostridium difficile toxin a by human peripheral blood monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes. Scand J Immunol, 74(3), 264-271. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Fanning S, McDermott S, Murray S, Scott L, Martin A, Skally M, Burns K, Kuijper E, Fitzpatrick F, et al (2011). PCR ribotype prevalence and molecular basis of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) and fluoroquinolone resistance in Irish clinical Clostridium difficile isolates. J Antimicrob Chemother, 66(9), 1976-1982. Abstract.  Author URL.
Burns K, Skally M, Solomon K, Scott L, McDermott S, O'Flanagan D, Fanning S, Kyne L, Fenelon L, Fitzpatrick F, et al (2010). Clostridium difficile infection in the Republic of Ireland: results of a 1-month national surveillance and ribotyping project, March 2009. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 31(10), 1085-1087. Author URL.
Sutton PA, Li S, Webb J, Solomon K, Brazier J, Mahida YR (2008). Essential role of toxin a in C. difficile 027 and reference strain supernatant-mediated disruption of Caco-2 intestinal epithelial barrier function. Clin Exp Immunol, 153(3), 439-447. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Webb J, Ali N, Robins RA, Mahida YR (2005). Monocytes are highly sensitive to clostridium difficile toxin A-induced apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell death. Infect Immun, 73(3), 1625-1634. Abstract.  Author URL.
Johal SS, Hammond J, Solomon K, James PD, Mahida YR (2004). Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea in hospitalised patients: onset in the community and hospital and role of flexible sigmoidoscopy. Gut, 53(5), 673-677. Abstract.  Author URL.
Johal SS, Solomon K, Dodson S, Borriello SP, Mahida YR (2004). Differential effects of varying concentrations of clostridium difficile toxin a on epithelial barrier function and expression of cytokines. J Infect Dis, 189(11), 2110-2119. Abstract.  Author URL.
Johal SS, Solomon K, Webb J, Dodson S, Mahida YR (2002). Changes in epithelial barrier and cytokine release in response to C-difficile toxin A. GUT, 50, A70-A70. Author URL.

Chapters

Solomon K, Kyne L (2012). Clostridium difficile-Associated Colitis: Role of the Immune Response and Approach to Treatment. In  (Ed) Colitis.  Author URL.
Whyte P, Fanning S, O’Brien S, O’Grady L, Solomon K (2011). 18 Tracing pathogens in red meat and game production chains and at the abattoir. In  (Ed) Tracing Pathogens in the Food Chain, 393-432.
Whyte P, O’Grady L, O’Brien S, Fanning S, Solomon K (2010). Tracing pathogens in red meat and game production chains and at the abattoir. In Brul S, Fratamico PM, McMeekin TA (Eds.) Tracing Pathogens in the Food Chain, Elsevier, 393-432.  Abstract.

Conferences

Solomon K (2012). Host immune response to C. difficile. European Conference of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). 31st Mar - 3rd Apr 2012.
Gulati N, Modi N, Solomon K, Robins A, Mahida YR (2010). Differential binding and internalisation of Clostridium difficile toxin a by human peripheral blood monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Robins A, Mahida YR (2008). Cell surface binding and internalisation of clostridium difficile toxin a by human intestinal epithelial cells.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Robins RA, Mahida YR (2003). C difficile toxin a induces rapid and selective monocyte cell death.  Author URL.

Publications by year

2017

Cairns MD, Preston MD, Hall CL, Gerding DN, Hawkey PM, Kato H, Kim H, Kuijper EJ, Lawley TD, Pituch H, et al (2017). Comparative Genome Analysis and Global Phylogeny of the Toxin Variant Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 017 Reveals the Evolution of Two Independent Sublineages. J Clin Microbiol, 55(3), 865-876. Abstract.  Author URL.
Cairns MD, Preston MD, Hall CL, Gerding DN, Hawkey PM, Kato H, Kim H, Kuijper EJ, Lawley TD, Pituch H, et al (2017). Correction for Cairns et al. "Comparative Genome Analysis and Global Phylogeny of the Toxin Variant Clostridium difficile PCR Ribotype 017 Reveals the Evolution of Two Independent Sublineages". J Clin Microbiol, 55(6). Author URL.

2016

O'Donoghue C, Solomon K, Fenelon L, Fitzpatrick F, Kyne L (2016). Effect of proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics on the gut microbiome of hospitalised older persons. J Infect, 72(4), 498-500. Author URL.

2014

Fox EM, Solomon K, Moore JE, Wall PG, Fanning S (2014). Phylogenetic profiles of in-house microflora in drains at a food production facility: comparison and biocontrol implications of Listeria-positive and -negative bacterial populations. Appl Environ Microbiol, 80(11), 3369-3374. Abstract.  Author URL.

2013

Moore P, Kyne L, Martin A, Solomon K (2013). Germination efficiency of clinical Clostridium difficile spores and correlation with ribotype, disease severity and therapy failure. J Med Microbiol, 62(Pt 9), 1405-1413. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Martin AJ, O'Donoghue C, Chen X, Fenelon L, Fanning S, Kelly CP, Kyne L (2013). Mortality in patients with Clostridium difficile infection correlates with host pro-inflammatory and humoral immune responses. J Med Microbiol, 62(Pt 9), 1453-1460. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K (2013). The host immune response to Clostridium difficile infection. Ther Adv Infect Dis, 1(1), 19-35. Abstract.  Author URL.

2012

Solomon K, Kyne L (2012). Clostridium difficile-Associated Colitis: Role of the Immune Response and Approach to Treatment. In  (Ed) Colitis.  Author URL.
Martin A, Solomon K, O'Donoghue C, Hannan M, Fenelon L, Kyne L (2012). Cognitive Impairment Increases Risk of Infection, Recurrence and Death Due to Hospital-onset C. Difficile. IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE, 181, S229-S229. Author URL.
Solomon K (2012). Host immune response to C. difficile. European Conference of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). 31st Mar - 3rd Apr 2012.

2011

Whyte P, Fanning S, O’Brien S, O’Grady L, Solomon K (2011). 18 Tracing pathogens in red meat and game production chains and at the abattoir. In  (Ed) Tracing Pathogens in the Food Chain, 393-432.
Solomon K, Murray S, Scott L, McDermott S, Drudy D, Martin A, O'Donoghue C, Skally M, Burns K, Fenelon L, et al (2011). An investigation of the subtype diversity of clinical isolates of Irish Clostridium difficile ribotypes 027 and 078 by repetitive-extragenic palindromic PCR. J Med Microbiol, 60(Pt 8), 1080-1087. Abstract.  Author URL.
Modi N, Gulati N, Solomon K, Monaghan T, Robins A, Sewell HF, Mahida YR (2011). Differential binding and internalization of Clostridium difficile toxin a by human peripheral blood monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes. Scand J Immunol, 74(3), 264-271. Abstract.  Author URL.
Solomon K, Fanning S, McDermott S, Murray S, Scott L, Martin A, Skally M, Burns K, Kuijper E, Fitzpatrick F, et al (2011). PCR ribotype prevalence and molecular basis of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) and fluoroquinolone resistance in Irish clinical Clostridium difficile isolates. J Antimicrob Chemother, 66(9), 1976-1982. Abstract.  Author URL.

2010

Burns K, Skally M, Solomon K, Scott L, McDermott S, O'Flanagan D, Fanning S, Kyne L, Fenelon L, Fitzpatrick F, et al (2010). Clostridium difficile infection in the Republic of Ireland: results of a 1-month national surveillance and ribotyping project, March 2009. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 31(10), 1085-1087. Author URL.
Gulati N, Modi N, Solomon K, Robins A, Mahida YR (2010). Differential binding and internalisation of Clostridium difficile toxin a by human peripheral blood monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes.  Author URL.
Whyte P, O’Grady L, O’Brien S, Fanning S, Solomon K (2010). Tracing pathogens in red meat and game production chains and at the abattoir. In Brul S, Fratamico PM, McMeekin TA (Eds.) Tracing Pathogens in the Food Chain, Elsevier, 393-432.  Abstract.

2008

Solomon K, Robins A, Mahida YR (2008). Cell surface binding and internalisation of clostridium difficile toxin a by human intestinal epithelial cells.  Author URL.
Sutton PA, Li S, Webb J, Solomon K, Brazier J, Mahida YR (2008). Essential role of toxin a in C. difficile 027 and reference strain supernatant-mediated disruption of Caco-2 intestinal epithelial barrier function. Clin Exp Immunol, 153(3), 439-447. Abstract.  Author URL.

2005

Solomon K, Webb J, Ali N, Robins RA, Mahida YR (2005). Monocytes are highly sensitive to clostridium difficile toxin A-induced apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell death. Infect Immun, 73(3), 1625-1634. Abstract.  Author URL.

2004

Johal SS, Hammond J, Solomon K, James PD, Mahida YR (2004). Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea in hospitalised patients: onset in the community and hospital and role of flexible sigmoidoscopy. Gut, 53(5), 673-677. Abstract.  Author URL.
Johal SS, Solomon K, Dodson S, Borriello SP, Mahida YR (2004). Differential effects of varying concentrations of clostridium difficile toxin a on epithelial barrier function and expression of cytokines. J Infect Dis, 189(11), 2110-2119. Abstract.  Author URL.

2003

Solomon K, Robins RA, Mahida YR (2003). C difficile toxin a induces rapid and selective monocyte cell death.  Author URL.

2002

Johal SS, Solomon K, Webb J, Dodson S, Mahida YR (2002). Changes in epithelial barrier and cytokine release in response to C-difficile toxin A. GUT, 50, A70-A70. Author URL.

Refresh publications

External Engagement and Impact

Awards/Honorary fellowships

Professional Society Membership
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)

Microbiology Society


Committee/panel activities

Consultancy for Sanofi Pasteur/Sanofi Aventis – C. difficile vaccine development

Consultancy for BioMerieux – genotyping product development


Editorial responsibilities

Peer review for Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Journal of Medical Microbiology, Future Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, BMC Microbiology and Anaerobe.

Grant panel review for Medical Research Council (MRC) – Infections and Immunity Research Board (IIB).

Find out more as.exeter.ac.uk/aspire

Teaching

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Module convenor for BSc Biosciences modules:

 

  • BIO2066 Forensic Science
  • BIO2068 Forensic Science (core module for BSc Archaeology and Forensic Science)

I also contribute to teaching on the following modules:

Year 1

  • BIO1333 Fundamental Principles for Bioscientists
  • BIO1332 Biochemistry
  • BIO1337 Microbiology
  • BIO1339 Cells
  • CSC1004 Fundamental Principles for Medical Scientists

Year 2

  • BIO2071 Research Skills and Bioethics
  • BIO2078 Medical and General Microbiology

Year 3

  • BIO3096 Independent Research Project
  • I offer self-designed final year projects to students to foster their independence and interest in the topic and to enable them to follow themes that aren't usually offered in the department. These often follow themes aligned to their chosen further study/career in teaching, science communication and civil service.

Modules

2022/23


Supervision / Group

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