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
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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.
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Publications
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 <i>C-difficile</i> 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, Elsevier, 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 <i>Clostridium difficile</i> 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.
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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).
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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
2023/24
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