Dr Frances Colles

Background

Dr Fran Colles studied Zoology and Microbiology at Aberystwyth University, completed an MSc in Medical Microbiology at the University of Westminster, before moving to the University of Oxford where she obtained a DPhil in molecular epidemiology. She began her career in diagnostic and clinical microbiology laboratories and is a professionally qualified Biomedical Scientist. She now works in research with a public health focus.

Teaching

Dr Colles is a Departmental lecturer and teaches on microbiology and infectious disease options within the undergraduate Biology course. She has extensive experience teaching practical classes across different Departments and Summer Schools within the University of Oxford, as well as supervising undergraduate projects.

Research interests

My research focuses on Campylobacter, a food poisoning bacterium which on average infects one person every 2 minutes in the UK, resulting in an economic burden of around £1billion a year. Although we know contaminated chicken meat is a major source of the illness, it is still not clear how chickens become infected in the first place, or how we can limit disease in humans. I use molecular techniques to trace the epidemiology of infection on farms, but my research is often multidisciplinary, meaning I work closely with experts in animal behaviour and mathematical modelling.

Selected publications

• Colles FM, Preston SG, Klingenberg Barfod K, Flammer PG, Maiden MCJ, Smith AL. (2019) Parallel sequencing of porA reveals a complex pattern of Campylobacter genotypes that differs between broiler and broiler breeder chickens. Scientific Reports 9(1):6204.
• Kraimi N, Dawkins M, Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Velge P, Rychlik I, Volf J, Creach P, Smith A, Colles F, Leterrier C. (2019) Influence of the microbiota-gut-brain axis on behaviour and welfare in farm animals: A review. Physiology and Behavior Oct15:210
• Colles FM, Cain RJ, Nickson T, Smith AL, Roberts SJ, Maiden MC, Lunn D, Dawkins MS. (2016) Monitoring chicken flock behaviour provides early warning of infection by human pathogen Campylobacter. Royal Society Proceedings B. 282(1822).
• Colles FM, McCarthy ND, Bliss, CM, Layton R, Maiden MC. (2015) The long-term dynamics of Campylobacter colonizing a free-range broiler breeder flock: an observational study. Environmental Microbiology. 17(4):938-46
• Colles FM, McCarthy ND, Layton R, Maiden MC. The prevalence of Campylobacter amongst a free-range broiler breeder flock was primarily affected by flock age. (2011) PLoS One 6(12):e22825
• Colles FM, Ali JS, Sheppard SK, McCarthy ND, Maiden MC. Campylobacter populations in wild and domesticated Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Environmental Microbiology Reports. (2011) 3(5):574-580.
• Colles FM, McCarthy ND, Sheppard SK, Layton R, Maiden MC. Comparison of Campylobacter populations isolated from a free-range broiler flock before and after slaughter. International Journal of Food Microbiology. 2010 Feb 28;137(2-3):259-64.
• Colles FM, McCarthy ND, Howe JC, Devereux CL, Gosler AG, Maiden MC. Dynamics of Campylobacter colonization of a natural host, Sturnus vulgaris (European starling). Environmental Microbiology. 2009 Jan;11(1):258-67.
• Colles FM, Jones TA, McCarthy ND, Sheppard SK, Cody AJ, Dingle KE, Dawkins MS, Maiden MC. Campylobacter infection of broiler chickens in a free-range environment. Environmental Microbiology. 2008 Aug;10(8):2042-50.
• Colles FM, Dingle KE, Cody AJ, Maiden MC. Comparison of Campylobacter populations in wild geese with those in starlings and free-range poultry on the same farm. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2008 Jun;74(11):3583-90.