Biology
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Our BSc (Hons) Biology degree offers the chanc…
Dr Damian Rivett
Senior Lecturer in Microbiology
Microbiologist interested in biochemical and ecological interactions
My profile
Biography
My research interests lie in the field of bacterial interactions; having trained as a biochemist, ecologist, and microbiologist. I have broad intersts in how microbial species communicate, in terms of public goods and horizontal gene transfer, are able to persist in highly diverse communities, and how polymicrobial infections persist in the host. The questions I ask allow me to combine experimental microbiology with next generation sequencing to go beyond simply surveying the diversity, and understand functional processes underpinning the community dynamics. The use of, now commonplace, sequencing technologies has revolutionised the field of microbiology, but it is the ecology of these organisms that will allow us to understand what they are doing.
It is an exciting time to study microbial ecology. With the ever increasing technological advances we are now getting unparalleled amounts of data through which we can craft theories that underpin life on Earth. We can also use the knowledge of theory to tackle pressing issues such as the rise of antimicrobial resistance, pressures on food production, the progression of infectious disease, and rewilding of “lost” habitats.
Projects
Many questions remain unanswered in microbial ecology; general, reproducible data that tests wider-ecological theories is paramount. To achieve this I use a wide variety of samples from rain-filled pools amongst the roots of trees to plant associated soil, and even sputum expectorated due to respiratory disease. This way I can ask both fundamental and highly applied questions of my data.
My current projects include:
Environmental and Applied Microbiology (EERC aligned):
- Elucidating the biochemical mechanisms by which conjugative plasmids confer resistance to bacteriophages.
- Degradation of paper waste to efficiently produce methane during anearobic digestion.
- Remodelling biological networks after invasion mediated perturbations
Medical Microbiology (CBS aligned):
- Effects of Kaftrio on pathogen infection and the wider lung microbiota in cystic fibrosis.
- Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria infection and the wider lung microbiota in cystic fibrosis.
- Organisation and function of the gut microbiota in cystic fibrosis.
Teaching
All life depends on interactions with microscopic organisms. These interactions facilitate thousands of different organisms to communicate and have an impact on the whole ecosystem in both positive and negative ways. I use research-informed teaching across a range of topics:
- Microbiology - I teach on all microbiology units from Fundamental Microbiology (L4) and Microbiology (L5) to the final year unit Environmental Microbiology (L6). Throughout my teaching I use practical examples from my research to link the theory and praxis of studying the microscopic world.
- Microbial interactions - with the study of synergisms and antagonisms in microbial populations we will explore the implications of these in agriculture, bioremediation and human health in the Species Interaction (L5) unit.
- Enzymology and protein evolution - using specific examples of beta-lactamases and cellulose degrading enzymes we will construct strategies to observe natural selection in action and control evolution to create new functional proteins in the Biochemistry (L5) unit.
I also offer a range of laboratory, and analysis based, projects for final year students related to all areas stated above and my research interests.
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Watch our video of Biological Sciences student, Megan, as she gives us a glimpse into what life was like on her year-long placement at Chester Zoo.
Explore a fascinating area of biology: a microscopi…
Zoology
Watch our video of biology and conservation student, Megan, as she gives us a glimpse into what life was like on her year-long placement at Chester Zoo.
Our BSc (Hons) Zoology degree offers an interd…
Supervision
Current students
- Michelle Hardman (in progress; PhD)
- Ryan Marsh (in progress; PhD)
Completed
- Lewis Browett How does seawater influx ellicit compositional and functional changes in plant associated microbial communities? (Completed 12/21; MRes)
- Lauren Hadfield Improved methods for the detection of CF lung pathogens. (Completed 06/22; PhD)
- Helen Gavillet The role of the microbiome in persons with mild cystic fibrosis lung infections (Completed 06/22; PhD)
Research outputs
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Journal articles
Gavillet, H., Hatfield, L., Jones, A., Maitra, A., Horsley, A., Rivett, D., van der Gast, C. (2024) 'Ecological patterns and processes of temporal turnover within lung infection microbiota.' Microbiome, 12(1)
Browett, L.C., Ruiz-Lopez, S., Mossman, H.L., Dean, A.P., Rivett, D.W. (2023) 'Prior exposure of microbial communities to seawater reduces resilience but increases compositional and functional resistance to flooding events.' Science of the Total Environment, 896pp. 165040-165040.
Marsh, R., Dos Santos, C., Hanson, L., Ng, C., Major, G., Smyth, A.R., Rivett, D., van der Gast, C. (2023) 'Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor therapy has negligible effects on the cystic fibrosis gut microbiome.' Microbiology Spectrum, 11(5)
Hatfield, L., Bianco, B., Gavillet, H., Burns, P., Rivett, D., Smith, M., Jones, A., van der Gast, C., Horsley, A. (2023) 'Effects of postage on recovery of pathogens from cystic fibrosis sputum samples.' Journal of Cystic Fibrosis,
Kelly, L.C., Rivett, D.W., Pakostova, E., Creer, S., Cotterell, T., Johnson, D.B. (2022) 'Mineralogy affects prokaryotic community composition in an acidic metal mine.' Microbiological Research, 266pp. 127257-127257.
Hurst, G., Ruiz-Lopez, S., Rivett, D., Tedesco, S. (2022) 'Effect of hydrochar from acid hydrolysis on anaerobic digestion of chicken manure.' Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10(5)
Gavillet, H., Hatfield, L., Rivett, D., Jones, A., Maitra, A., Horsley, A., van der Gast, C. (2022) 'Bacterial culture underestimates lung pathogen detection and infection status in cystic fibrosis.' Microbiology Spectrum, 10(5) pp. e0041922-e0041922.
Wood, J., van der Gast, C., Rivett, D., Verran, J., Redfern, J. (2022) 'Reproducibility of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers Over Sub-Cultured Generations for the Development of Novel Textiles.' Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10pp. 876822-876822.
Scheuerl, T., Hopkins, M., Nowell, R.W., Rivett, D.W., Barraclough, T.G., Bell, T. (2021) 'Author Correction : Bacterial adaptation is constrained in complex communities (Nature Communications, (2020), 11, 1, (754), 10.1038/s41467-020-14570-z).' Nature Communications, 12(1) pp. 7347-7347.
Marsh, R., Gavillet, H., Hanson, L., Ng, C., Mitchell-Whyte, M., Major, G., Smyth, A.R., Rivett, D., van der Gast, C. (2021) 'Intestinal function and transit associate with gut microbiota dysbiosis in cystic fibrosis.' Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 21(3) pp. 506-513.
Jones, M.L., Rivett, D.W., Pascual-Garria, A., Bell, T. (2021) 'Relationships between community composition, productivity and invasion resistance in semi-natural bacterial microcosms.' eLife, 10pp. e71811-e71811.
O’Toole, G.A., Crabbé, A., Kümmerli, R., LiPuma, J.J., Bomberger, J.M., Davies, J.C., Limoli, D., Phelan, V.V., Bliska, J.B., DePas, W.H., Dietrich, L.E., Hampton, T.H., Hunter, R., Khursigara, C.M., Price-Whelan, A., Ashare, A., Cramer, R.A., Goldberg, J.B., Harrison, F., Hogan, D.A., Henson, M.A., Madden, D.R., Mayers, J.R., Nadell, C., Newman, D., Prince, A., Rivett, D.W., Schwartzman, J.D., Schultz, D., Sheppard, D.C., Smyth, A.R., Spero, M.A., Stanton, B.A., Turner, P.E., van der Gast, C., Whelan, F.J., Whitaker, R., Whiteson, K. (2021) 'Model Systems to Study the Chronic, Polymicrobial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Exploring Future Directions.' mBio, 12(5)
Rivett, D.W., Mombrikotb, S.B., Gweon, H.S., Bell, T., van der Gast, C. (2021) 'Bacterial communities in larger islands have reduced temporal turnover.' The ISME Journal: multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology, 15(10) pp. 2947-2955.
Marsh, R., Ng, C., Major, G., Rivett, D., Smyth, A., van der Gast, C. (2021) 'Persistent intestinal abnormalities and symptoms in cystic fibrosis: The underpinning mechanisms impacting gut health and motility. Protocol for a systematic review..' medRxiv,
Marrs, T., Jo, J.H., Perkin, M.R., Rivett, D.W., Witney, A.A., Bruce, K.D., Logan, K., Craven, J., Radulovic, S., Versteeg, S.A., van Ree, R., McLean, W.H.I., Strachan, D.P., Lack, G., Kong, H.H., Flohr, C. (2021) 'Gut microbiota development during infancy: impact of introducing allergenic foods.' Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 147(2) pp. 613-621.e9.
Martin, M.J., Zain, N.M.M., Hearson, G., Rivett, D.W., Koller, G., Wooldridge, D.J., Rose, G., Gharbia, S.E., Forbes, B., Bruce, K.D., Harrison, T.W. (2020) 'The airways microbiome of individuals with asthma treated with high and low doses of inhaled corticosteroids.' PLoS One, 15(12)
Ritson, J.P., Alderson, D.M., Robinson, C.H., Burkitt, A.E., Heinemeyer, A., Stimson, A.G., Gallego-Sala, A., Harris, A., Quillet, A., Malik, A.A., Cole, B., Robroek, B.J.M., Heppell, C.M., Rivett, D.W., Chandler, D.M., Elliott, D.R., Shuttleworth, E.L., Lilleskov, E., Cox, F., Clay, G.D., Diack, I., Rowson, J., Pratscher, J., Lloyd, J.R., Walker, J.S., Belyea, L.R., Dumont, M.G., Longden, M., Bell, N.G.A., Artz, R.R.E., Bardgett, R.D., Griffiths, R.I., Andersen, R., Chadburn, S.E., Hutchinson, S.M., Page, S.E., Thom, T., Burn, W., Evans, M.G. (2020) 'Towards a microbial process-based understanding of the resilience of peatland ecosystem service provisioning – A research agenda.' Science of The Total Environment, 759
Cuthbertson, L., Walker, A.W., Oliver, A.E., Rogers, G.B., Rivett, D.W., Hampton, T.H., Ashare, A., Elborn, J.S., De Soyza, A., Carroll, M.P., Hoffman, L.R., Lanyon, C., Moskowitz, S.M., O'Toole, G.A., Parkhill, J., Planet, P.J., Teneback, C.C., Tunney, M.M., Zuckerman, J.B., Bruce, K.D., Van Der Gast, C.J. (2020) 'Lung function and microbiota diversity in cystic fibrosis.' Microbiome, 8(1)
Morgan, B.G., Warren, P., Mewis, R.E., Rivett, D.W. (2020) 'Bacterial dominance is due to effective utilisation of secondary metabolites produced by competitors..' Scientific reports, 10(1) pp. 2316-2316.
Scheuerl, T., Hopkins, M., Nowell, R.W., Rivett, D.W., Barraclough, T.G., Bell, T. (2020) 'Bacterial adaptation is constrained in complex communities.' Nature Communications, 11(1) pp. 754-754.
Jones, M.L., Rivett, D.W., Pascual-García, A., Bell, T. (2019) 'Productive bacterial communities exclude invaders.' bioRxiv,
Vyrides, I., Rivett, D.W., Bruce, K.D., Lilley, A.K. (2019) 'Selection and assembly of indigenous bacteria and methanogens from spent metalworking fluids and their potential as a starting culture in a fluidized bed reactor.' Microbial Biotechnology, 12(6) pp. 1302-1312.
Rivett, D.W., Bell, T. (2018) 'Abundance determines the functional role of bacterial phylotypes in complex communities.' Nature Microbiology, 3pp. 767-772.
Rivett, D.W., Jones, M.L., Ramoneda, J., Mombrikotb, S.B., Ransome, E., Bell, T. (2018) 'Elevated success of multispecies bacterial invasions impacts community composition during ecological succession.' Ecology Letters, 21(4) pp. 516-524.
Jones, M.L., Ramoneda, J., Rivett, D.W., Bell, T. (2017) 'Biotic resistance shapes the influence of propagule pressure on invasion success in bacterial communities.' Ecology, 98(7) pp. 1743-1749.
Rivett, D.W., Lilley, A.K., Connett, G.J., Carroll, M.P., Legg, J.P., Bruce, K.D. (2017) 'Contributions of Composition and Interactions to Bacterial Respiration Are Reliant on the Phylogenetic Similarity of the Measured Community.' Microbial Ecology, 74(3) pp. 757-760.
Jousset, A., Bienhold, C., Chatzinotas, A., Gallien, L., Gobet, A., Kurm, V., Küsel, K., Rillig, M.C., Rivett, D.W., Salles, J.F., van der Heijden, M.G.A., Youssef, N.H., Zhang, X., Wei, Z., Hol, W.H.G. (2017) 'Where less may be more: how the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings.' The ISME Journal, 11(4) pp. 853-862.
Rivett, D.W., Scheuerl, T., Culbert, C.T., Mombrikotb, S.B., Johnstone, E., Barraclough, T.G., Bell, T. (2016) 'Resource-dependent attenuation of species interactions during bacterial succession.' The ISME Journal, 10(9) pp. 2259-2268.
Rogers, G.B., Zain, N.M.M., Bruce, K.D., Burr, L.D., Chen, A.C., Rivett, D.W., McGuckin, M.A., Serisier, D.J. (2014) 'A novel microbiota stratification system predicts future exacerbations in bronchiectasis..' Ann Am Thorac Soc, 11(4) pp. 496-503.
Kozlowska, J., Rivett, D.W., Vermeer, L.S., Carroll, M.P., Bruce, K.D., Mason, A.J., Rogers, G.B. (2013) 'A relationship between Pseudomonal growth behaviour and cystic fibrosis patient lung function identified in a metabolomic investigation..' Metabolomics, 9(6)
Slater, M., Rivett, D.W., Williams, L., Martin, M., Harrison, T., Sayers, I., Bruce, K.D., Shaw, D. (2013) 'The impact of azithromycin therapy on the airway microbiota in asthma.' Thorax, 69(7) pp. 673-674.
Marrs, T., Bruce, K.D., Logan, K., Rivett, D.W., Perkin, M.R., Lack, G., Flohr, C. (2013) 'Is there an association between microbial exposure and food allergy? A systematic review..' Pediatr Allergy Immunol, 24(4) pp. 311-320.e8.
Fernandes, E.S., Liang, L., Smillie, S.J., Kaiser, F., Purcell, R., Rivett, D.W., Alam, S., Howat, S., Collins, H., Thompson, S.J., Keeble, J.E., Riffo-Vasquez, Y., Bruce, K.D., Brain, S.D. (2012) 'TRPV1 deletion enhances local inflammation and accelerates the onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome.' Journal of Immunology, 188(11) pp. 5741-5751.
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Presentations
Hurst, G., Ruiz-Lopez, S., Rivett, D., Tedesco, S. (2021) Solid residue by-product from levulinic acid production as biogas enhancers and promoters of microbial diversity in anaerobic digestion systems. [Presentation] Platform presentation (online),28/6/2021.