Dr Frank Katzer

Moredun Research Institute
Pentlands Science Park
Bush Loan
Penicuik
Midlothian EH26 0PZ

Biography

Frank Katzer is a molecular parasitologist working on protozoan parasites of veterinary and public health importance. He obtained his DPhil from the University of York in 1995 and has been active in veterinary research throughout his career.

Initially he worked on tick borne protozoan parasites of tropical and sub-tropical importance; predominantly Theileria annulata and Theileria parva but also other Theileria and Babesia species. This research was conducted that the University of York, Glasgow Veterinary School and Edinburgh Veterinary School. In 2007 he joined the Moredun Research Institute and his research interest broadened to include diseases that are endemic within the United Kingdom. At Moredun, he manages the protozoology group which work on Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Babesia and Giardia parasites. Frank’s research interest is focused on molecular epidemiology, trying to understand parasite survival and transmission mechanisms in order to identify intervention strategies that will help to control these parasites or limit the impact of the disease they cause.

Frank Katzer is an associate editor for Parasites & Vectors and also Veterinary Research. He is also on the editorial board for Parasitology and is a member of the British Society for Parasitology and the British Pteridological Society.

Current Research

Improved sero-diagnostics for Neospora caninum infection in cattle, especially for the detection of persistently infected animals.
Applying molecular epidemiological techniques to improve the understanding of Cryptosporidium transmission dynamics within farms and catchments to develop disease control strategies for cryptosporidiosis.
Reducing the public health impact of zoonotic protozoa by means of vaccination of food animals against Toxoplasma infection and also by understanding transmission dynamics of Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma and Giardia from animals to humans.
Develop improved in vitro culture systems for Cryptosporidium parvum, which will allow drug testing against the parasite and also genetic manipulation of the parasite.
Disinfection studies and testing of the efficacy of different disinfectants against Cryptosporidium
Association between genotype and virulence for different apicomplexan parasites.

Grants:

EU - Aquavalens: Microbial safe water. Value 8,600,000 Euro. Co-I, April 2013-March 2018.
AHDB - Cryptosporidium in the farm environment. Value £68,000 – PI, October 2015- September 2018.
BBSRC-ARC - Host responses to Cryptosporidium infection. Value £1,100,000 – Co-I, June 2015-August 2018.
BBSRC-Zoetis PhD CASE studentship - Specific diagnostic tools for protozoan infection of ruminants. Value £138K - Co-I, October 2014-September 2018.

Selected Key Publications

Hamilton, C.M., Kelly, P.J., Boey, K., Corey, T.M., Huynh, H., Metzler, D., Villena, I., Su, C., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2017. Predominance of atypical genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in free-roaming chickens in St. Kitts, West Indies Parasites & Vectors 10():104.
Burrells, A., Opsteegh, M., Pollock, K.G., Alexander, C.L., Chatterton, J., Evans, R., Walker, R., McKenzie, C.A., Hill, D., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2016. The prevalence and genotypic analysis of Toxoplasma gondii from individuals in Scotland, 2006–2012 Parasites & Vectors 9():324.
Bartley, P.M., Hamilton, C., Wilson, C., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2016. Detection of Babesia annae DNA in lung exudate samples from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Great Britain Parasites & Vectors 9():84.
Guido, S., Katzer, F., Nanjiani, I., Milne, E., Innes, E.A. 2016. Serology-based diagnostics for the control of bovine neosporosis Trends in Parasitology 32(2):131-143.
Hotchkiss, E.J., Gilray, J.A., Brennan, M.L., Christley, R.M., Morrison, L.J., Jonsson, N.N., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2015. Development of a framework for genotyping bovine-derived Cryptosporidium parvum, using a multilocus fragment typing tool Parasites & Vectors 8():500.
Wells, B., Shaw, H., Innocent, G., Guido, S., Hotchkiss, E., Parigi, M., Opsteegh, M., Green, J., Gillespie, S., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2015. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in water samples from Scotland and a comparison between the 529bp real-time PCR and ITS1 nested PCR Water Research 87():175-181.
Burrells, A., Benavides, J., Cantón, G., Garcia, J.L., Bartley, P.M., Nath, M., Thomson, J., Chianini, F., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2015. Vaccination of pigs with the S48 strain of Toxoplasma gondii – safer meat for human consumption Veterinary Research 46():47.
Wells, B., Shaw, H., Hotchkiss, E., Gilray, J., Ayton, R., Green, J., Katzer, F., Wells, A., Innes, E. 2015. Prevalence, species identification and genotyping Cryptosporidium from livestock and deer in a catchment in the Cairngorms with a history of a contaminated public water supply Parasites & Vectors 8():66.
Hamilton, C.M., Kelly, P.J., Bartley, P.M., Burrells, A., Porco, A., Metzler, D., Crouch, K., Ketzis, J.K., Innes, E.A., Katzer, F. 2015. Toxoplasma gondii in livestock in St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies Parasites & Vectors 8():166.
Katzer, F., Canton, G., Burrells, A., Palarea-Albaladejo, J., Horton, B., Bartley, P.M., Pang, Y., Chianini, F., Innes, E.A., Benavides, J. 2014. Immunization of lambs with the S48 strain of Toxoplasma gondii reduces tissue cyst burden following oral challenge with a complete strain of the parasite Veterinary Parasitology 205(1-2):46-56.
Chalmers, R.M., Katzer, F. 2013. Looking for Cryptosporidium: the application of advances in detection and diagnosis Trends in Parasitology 29(5):237-251.

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Dr Frank Katzer

Biography

Current Research

Grants:

Selected Key Publications

People