Helen L Brown

​My current research focuses on the treatment of opportunistic biofilm-forming pathogens, and falls broadly into two complementary fields of interest: dispersal of biofilms by degradation of extracellular matrix, and investigating the antimicrobial activity of natural products, in particular manuka honey. Previously I worked with the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, investigating its ability to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces within food processing areas. I also worked with industrial partners to develop safe and cost effective solutions to help minimise these biofilms and thereby help to reduce contamination of foods.

Reuter M, Periago P M, Mulholland F, Brown H L, van Vliet A H M (2015) A PAS Domain-Containing Regulator Controls Flagella-Flagella Interactions in Campylobacter jejuni. Frontiers in Microbiology. 6, article 770

Brown H L, Reuter M, Hanman K, Betts R P, van Vliet A H M (2015) Prevention of biofilm formation and removal of existing biofilms by extracellular DNases of Campylobacter jejuni. Plos One. 10(3): e0121680.

Brown H L, Reuter M, Salt L J, Cross K L, Betts R P, van Vliet A H M (2014) Chicken juice enhances surface attachment and biofilm formation of Campylobacter jejuni. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 80, (22) 7053 – 7060

Marlow V L, MacLean T, Brown H L, Kiley T B, Stanley-Wall N R (2013) Blast-a-biofilm: a hands on activity for school children and members of the public. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 14, p252-4

Brown H L, van Vliet A H M, Betts R P, Reuter M (2015) Tetrazolium reduction allows quantification of biofilm formation by Campylobacter jejuni in a food matrix model. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 115, (5), 1212-21

Assessor for the Science Councils professional registers

Member of the Royal Society of Biology (assessor for the societies professional accreditation register)

Member of the Microbiology Society (member of the communications committee)

Member of the Society of Applied Microbiology