Dr Shivanthi Samarasinghe

Dr Shivanthi Samarsinghe is a Associate Professor/Reader in Mocrobial Genetics and Genomics in the School of Allied health Sciences, De Montfort University. She obtained her BSc (Hons) in Chemistry/Biochemistry, and completed her PhD, in Microbial Molecular Genetics in 2008.

Dr. Samarasinghe’s doctoral work focused studying on the regulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli and her postdoctoral work (2011) expanded her interest into Eukaryotic regulation of gene expression in Saccharomyces pombe.

Research Interest: Molecular biology of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens;

The focuse of  my research is to understanding the molecular basis of the antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens assocaited with common microbial infections. This involves characterisation of the resistant determinants at the molecular level, how they acquire resistance genes (pathogen’s horizontal gene transfer) and analyse the mechanism by which these pathogenic microbes confer antimicrobial resistance. Further, my research team explores the use of cutting-edge Next-generation sequencing and Real-Time PCR-based approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of microbial infections. By leading the Moleculerbiology of drug-resistant pathogens research group, I effectively engage in the DMU's research priority theme of Lifelong Well-being and university's strategic research priorities in the United Nation's Sustainability Development Goals; specifically, in the area of promoting the well-being of mothers, babies and older adults.

• Biomedical and Environmental Health
• DMU-Willows  Centre for Primary Care Research

Click here for a full listing of Shivanthi Samarasinghe's publications and outputs.

• Samarasinghe, S. et al, (2008). Autoregulation of the Escherichia coli melR promoter: repression involves four molecules of MelR, Nucleic Acids Research, 1–10, doi:10.1093/nar/gkn119
• Funaya, C. and Samarasinghe, S. et al, (2012). Transient structure associated with the spindle pole body directs meiotic microtubule reorganization in S.pombe, Current Biology, 22, 1-10, D-11-01295R

• Elrobh, M., Webster, C., Samarasinghe, S. et al (2012). Two DNA sites for MelR in the same orientation are sufficient for optimal MelR-dependent repression at the Escherichia coli melR promoter, FEMSLE-12-07-0641.R1

• Key Research theme: Molecular biology of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens;
• Application of molecular tools for diagnosis of microbial infectious diseases
• Understanding the molecular basis of regulatory pathways in microbial pathogens
• Whole genome sequencing  and molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens .

• Basic Microbiology for Biomedical Science
• Medical Microbiology
• Molecular Genetics and Genomics- Advanced Biomedical Science
• MSc in Global Health

• 05-08/2020: Certificates of Achievement; Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced courses in Bacterial Genomics a) disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance (distinction), b) From DNA to Protein function using Bioinformatics (distinction) c) Accessing and analysing microbial genome data with Artemis (distinction); - accredited by Royal College of Pathology. Wellcome Sanger Institute,UK.

• Postdoctoral Research Associate in Molecular Cell Biology: Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester (2008 -2011)

• PhD in Microbial Molecular Genetics: School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, 2008
• BSc. Chemistry and Biochemistry: Institute of Chemistry, Sri Lanka, 2001

• Aurora-Leadership Development Programme for Women in Higher Education  UK (01/2021).

• Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics course bursary , Wellcome Genome Campus, Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK (10/2020).
• The Vice-Chancellor’s Future Research Leader Award- (DMU, 01/2014).
• Postdoctoral Research Associate in Molecular Cell Biology;Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, BBSRC funded postdoctoral research (01/08/2008- 31/07/2011).
• PhD studentship in      Microbial Molecular Genetics awarded by The School of Biosciences,      University of Birmingham and the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh      07/2004-07/2008.
• Awarded for best scientific paper submitted, Science Research Conference, Association of Professional Sri Lankans (APSL), London, 11/2011

• Institute of Biomedical Science: Fellowship (FIBMS); (no: 402725)  01/2015-01/2016
• Society for Applied Microbiology: Full Ordinary member (no: 503356) 01/2013-01/2016.
• Healthcare Infection Society: Full Ordinary member (no: 9030) 07/2014- 07/2016.

Fellow of Institute of Biomedical Sciences (2015)- FIBMS

• Bioinformatics analysis of the transcription regulators in multi-drug resistant microbial pathogens.
• Analysis of Quorum Sensing Regulations in the multi-drug resistant Europathogenic E. coli.
• Development of Quorum –based anti-virulence therapeutics targeting Gram-negative bacteria.
• Molecular diagnostics of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens.

1. Samarasinghe, S. and Akingbemisilu, D. (2020). Estimates of the high prevalence of neonatal sepsis in low-and middle-income countries; A systemic review and a meta-analysis. Global Women's Research Society (GLOW)

2. Al-Bayati, M and Samarasinghe, S. (2019). Real-time qPCR analysis of genes expression in carbapenem-resistant bacteria during biofilm formation. European Congress of Clinical Microbiology    &    Infectious    Diseases,    ECCMID,    Amsterdam,    Netherlands.    

3.     Reid,     R.   and Samarasinghe, S. (2018). Rapid Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for the Identification of ESBL Genes in Urinary Tract Infections without the Need for Melting Curve Analysis. American Society for MicrobiologyConference, ASM Microbe.

4. Reid, R. and Samarasinghe, S. (2017) The 7th Congress of European Microbiologists (FEMS 2017), Valencia, Spain. Phenotypic and genotypic identification of urinary tract infections caused by E. coli in the  Leicestershire area. 

5.  Reid,  R.  and Samarasinghe, S.  (2015-2018) Identification of ESBL Genes in Urinary Tract Infections. British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, BSAC. Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms Annual Research Conference, Birmingham, UK.

Open access Book Chapter; Samarasinghe. S., Reid, R., AL-Bayati, M. (2021). The Anti-Virulence Effect of Cranberry Active Compound Proanthocyanins (PACs) on Expression of Genes in the Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia coli CTXM-15 Associated with Urinary Tract Infections. In: Wang, L. (ed.) Prime Archives in Microbiology: 2nd Edition. Hyderabad, India: Vide Leaf. (https://aricjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13756-019-0637-9

Samarasinghe, S. Durber, K and Baho, S. (2020) The Efficacy of Antibiotics in the Treatment of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infections during Pregnancy. A Systematic Review and a Meta-analysis. International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research, 4 (4), pp. 77-95, IF 5.796

 Open Access Book. Al Marjani, M.F., Samarasinghe, S., Al Kadmy, I.M.S. (2020). Multiple Choice Questions in Microbial Molecular Genetics; DOI https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-947204-8-5

• 01/2021 - to date: Academic Consultant for Antibiotic Stewardship Steering committee, Willows health- NHS primary care provider in Leicester/Leicestershire. 

1. Asley Alibi (PhD 2021-2025: 1^st Supervisor)
2. Taiye Olorunipa (PhD/PT  2018-2025: 1^st Supervisor)
3. Valina Mylona  (PhD/PT  2018-2025: 2^nd Supervisor)

• 03/2022- Ministry of Education Nigeria funded PhD studentship. Molecular Characterisation of antibiotic resistant determinants in hopital isolates from South East Nigeria. £56,100 (2nd Supervisor).
• 01/2022- Self funded International PhD studentship: Evaluale the burdern of burden of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria colonised in mothers and the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) decision support tool for the management of infections during pregnancy and neonates in BME women in Leicestershire.  £50,100  (1^st Supervisor)

• 03/2021- DMU/GCRF- Evaluate the risk factors associated with susceptibility and severalty of Urinary Tract Infection among pregnant women, and build the capacity of rapid and enhanced genomic surveillance in Kenya, £24,385 (Co-PI and Research lead).

• 09/2019- Shofu Dental Corporation, USA - Determining the ability of the GIOMER product to alter the biofilms and virulence efficacy of P. gingivalis. £19,500. (joint PI)

• 04/2018- Society for Applied Microbiology President's fund - Development of a rapid multiplex real-time PCR assay to detect ESBL genes. £1,200 - PI

• 10/2017-12/2025: Self-funded International PhDs (2) and MSc (2) studentships; £63,560-(1^st Supervisor).

• 07/2015- Schwabe pharma (UK). The antimicrobial effect of natural oil extracted from the plant-based product on Gut Microflora is £6,000 (CI).
  

• 04/2015-09/2020: Ministry of Higher Education Iraq funded PhD (2) studentships; £118,220 (1^st Supervisor). 

• 10/2004-06/2008: Darwin Trust of Edinburg Doctoral Fellowship; Darwin Trust/ University of Birmingham,£66,900 - PI 

 Small project Scheme to establish the molecular microbiology research lab (£5000) Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, 05/2013, PI).

Research Investment Capital Funding for Real-Time PCR (£12,600, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, 10/2013, PI).

DMU fees only PhD      studentship; Molecular Characterisation and development of molecular      diagnostic markers for CTX-M antibiotic resistant E. coli. first      supervisor/PI (10/2014-10/2017)

DMU fees only PhD studentship; Analysis of virulence gene expression via quantitative Real-time PCR during biofilm formation in MRSA. Co-investigator/ second supervisor. (2014-2016).

06/2021: Invited reviewer for Medical Research Council (MRC) Career development fellowship grant; Understanding and preventing the evolution of antibiotic tolerance (MR/W01713X/1).

01/2021 - to date: Academic Consultant for Antibiotic Stewardship Steering committee, Willows health- NHS primary care provider in Leicester/Leicestershire.

12/2020: Invited reviewer for MRC Career development fellowship grant; A lateral flow device for detecting beta-Lactamases in Urine (MR/V030906/1).

05/2020 - to date: Editor; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IF 3.39), H- index; 113, Special Issue-Microbial Biofilms and implications for Healthcare and Environment.

06/2018 - to date: Reviewer; Journal of Microbiology-Antimicrobial Drug resistance theme, (IF 3.235), H- index; 63, Microbiology Society, UK.

12/2015: Invited reviewer for BBSRC Major Research grant; Evolutionary events leading to the emergence of dominant Multi-Drug-Resistant lineages of E. coli. (BB/N01538X/1).

In my postdoctoral work (Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, under the Principal Investigator, Dr. Kayoko Tanaka) I have contributed to the following research project.

Scientists make stunning inner space observations
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High-powered microscopes reveal workings of the cell – results could impact treatment of Down’s Syndrome, lissencephaly (a brain formation disorder) or cancer.

26/12/2020: Speaker and Chairing a panel discussion; Application of Biomedical Technology and Microbial Genetics, International Conference of Computing and Emerging Science (ICCES'2020-virtual) Erbil, Iraq.

10/09/2020: MRC-Global Maternal and Neonatal health sponsored Global Women's Research Society (GLOW) virtual conference; University of Liverpool, UK. Estimates of the high prevalence of neonatal sepsis in low-and middle-income countries.

27/02/2018: Industry sector presentation: Molecular Diagnostics of Multi-drug resistant pathogens, Medlink- East Midlands, Leicester.

22/09/2014: Analysis of unique and specific genetic markers for diagnosis of antibiotic-resistant, pathogenic E. coli encoding resistance to the third generation of antibiotic cefotaxime. Annual International European Congress in Translational Medicine, Vienna, Austria

1. Majid AL-Bayati – (PhD 2021; 1^st Supervisor)
2. Sinan Baho – (PhD 2020; 1^st Supervisor)
3. Ruth Reid – (PhD 2019; 1^st Supervisor)
4. Pat Adkin (PhD 2020; 2^nd Supervisor)
5. William Robinson (PhD 2019; 2^nd Supervisor)
6. Jyoti Tejpal (PhD 2019; 2^nd Supervisor)
7. Joshua MacLeod (MRes. 2022, 1^st Supervisor)
8. Rupika Gulati (MRes. 2019, 1^st Supervisor)

18/11/2019: Planned, organised, and Chaired; DMU Be part of the solution; World Antibiotic awareness day event; DMU has officially launched the Antibiotic Guardian Pledge, and staff, students, and public led to raising 76462 Pledges creating awareness about the effective and safe use of antibiotics.

31/03/2015: Planned, organised, and Chaired the British Science Association-funded event at DMU; 'Are new antibiotics the only way to solve this crisis?' A BBC Question Time-style debate between a panel of experts and public audience to raise awareness about the safe use of antibiotics.

Samarasinghe, S., Reid, R. & AL-Bayati, M. (2019). The anti-virulence effect of cranberry active compound proanthocyanins (PACs) on the expression of genes in the third-generation cephalosporin- resistant Escherichia coli CTX-M-15 associated with urinary tract infection. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 8, 181 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-019-0637-9, IF 4.51 H-index; 37 REF2021

Samarasinghe, S., Baho, S. and Czapnik, P. (2019). Preliminary Analysis of the Anti-biofilm Efficacy of Manuka Honey on Extended Spectrum Β-lactamase Producing Escherichia coli TEM-3 and Klebsiella pneumoniae SHV-18, Associated with Urinary Tract Infections. International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research, 3 (3), pp 62-77 http://www.ijmshr.com/uploads2019/IJMSHR_134.pdf IF 5.05 REF2021

Baho, S., Hoosen, H., Samarasinghe, S., Walsh, S.E., Lobo-Bedmar, M.C., del Aguila, C., Fenoy, S., Izquierdo, F., Magnet, A. and Pena-Fernandez, A., (2016). Presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in faecal samples collected in urban parks in Leicester, UK. Toxicology Letters; 258S: S183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.1676 IF 3.85 H-index; 145 REF2021

Elrobh, M.S., Webster, C.L., Samarasinghe, S., Durose, D. and Busby, S.J., Two DNA sites for MelR in the same orientation are sufficient for optimal MelR-dependent repression at the Escherichia coli melR promoter (2013). FEMS microbiology letters, 338(1), pp.62-67. IF: 1.99 H-index; 151 REF2014 - 3*

 Funaya, C., Samarasinghe, S., Pruggnaller, S., Ohta, M., Connolly, Y., Müller, J., Murakami, H., Grallert, A., Yamamoto, M., Smith, D. and Antony, C., (2012). The transient structure associated with the spindle pole body directs meiotic microtubule reorganisation in S. pombe. Current Biology, 22(7), pp.562-574. (joint first author) IF: 9.19, H-index; 316 REF2014 - 4*

Samarasinghe, S., El-Robh, M.S., Grainger, D.C., Zhang, W., Soultanas, P. and Busby, S.J., (2008). Autoregulation of the Escherichia coli melR promoter: repression involves four molecules of MelR. Nucleic acids research, 36(8), pp.2667-2676. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn119 IF: 11.14, H-index; 537 REF2014 - 4*