![Professor Karolin Hijazi Professor Karolin Hijazi](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/den053/Karolin_Hijazi.png)
FDS(OM) RCSEd, DDS, PhD, MFDS RCPS (Glasg)
Clinical Chair
- About
-
- Email Address
- k.hijazi@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 555153
- Office Address
Room A107
University of Aberdeen Institute of Dentistry
Foresterhill Campus
Cornhill Road
Aberdeen AB25 2ZR
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
Dr Karolin Hijazi graduated from the University of Siena in 2004 with cum laude distinction. During her dental undergraduate programme she trained in molecular microbiology and developed a special interest for host-microbe interactions. After completing a PhD in Pathology at King’s College London in 2008, she worked as post-doctoral research associate and continued her involvement in 3 European Commission-funded projects aimed at the development of anti-HIV-1 microbicides. During this time she received early clinical training in Oral Medicine at the King’s College London Dental Institute. She was promoted to Senior Clinical Lecturer in 2016 and Clinical Reader in 2021.
Since her appointment to the University of Aberdeen, she has secured research grant funding totalling over 1 million for national and international collaborative projects in which she is the principal investigator. She is a member of the Infection & Immunity Programme of the Institute of Medical Sciences, and leads the Microbial Diseases Research Group at the Institute of Dentistry, active in several research strands concerned with the study of microbe-host interactions at the mucosal interface.
She has been invited to give research seminars at a number prestigious institutions including Imperial College, University College London and the University of Glasgow. She has acted as external PhD examiner for UK and European institutions. She serves on European Commission research grant funding panels.
Students and post-doctoral fellows of her team have received awards at both national (British Society for Oral Medicine; British Society of Periodontology) and international (HIV Research 4 Prevention) scientific conferences.
Qualifications
- FDS(OM) RCSEd Fellowship (Oral Medicine)2022 - Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
External Memberships
Expert evaluator for the European Commission (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe).
Section Editor - Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance (Elsevier). https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-global-antimicrobial-resistance
Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Dental Research (2020-2023).
Member of the Faculty Board of Examiners for the degree of PhD in Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena (Italy).
Examiner for the Licence in Dental Surgery Examination. Royal College of Surgeons of England, Faculty of Dental Surgery.
Peer-review of articles for a range of Infection and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy journals for example, Plos Pathogens, ASM journals (Journal of Virology, Journal of Bacteriology, Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy), Microbiome, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, AIDS, Journal of Infectious Diseases as well as dental research journals (Journal of Dental Research, Journal of Oral Microbiology) and Oral Medicine specialist journals (Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine, Oral Diseases).
Peer-review of research grant applications for MRC and Wellcome Trust.
Member Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow).
- Research
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Research Overview
The research work of my laboratory is concerned with the study of microbe-host interactions at the mucosal interface in the context of a range of diseases. Strands of work include the study of:
i) evolution of antimicrobial resistance as well as the discovery of new genes for antibiotic and biocide resistance in a range of pathogens on the WHO priority list.
ii) virulence mechanisms underpinning bacterial 'opportunistic' infections in the immunocompromised patient.
iii) imbalances of the oral mucosal microbiota and their relationship with events driving mucosal inflammation locally and at systemic level.
iv) modulation of host-pathogen interactions and distribution of antimicrobial agents to inhibit infections at mucosal sites (in the context of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infection).
The human mouth harbours one of the most diverse and complex microbial communities in the human body with over 1000 species of commensal bacteria colonizing teeth, gums and other mucosal surfaces. Oral diseases are the commonest bacterial diseases of mankind and the result of breakdown of homeostasis between the commensal microbiota, immune defences and other environmental factors. My research aims to discover bacterial mechanisms which underpin the phenotypic transition of oral bacteria from harmless commensals to a pathogenic state. This is investigated both at community level, for example in the context of perturbances of microbial ecology leading to mucosal inflammatory disease, and at individual species level, for example by investigating the ability of certain low-abundance oral pathogens to contribute to systemic inflammation. A further research strand of my work is to investigate interactions between the mucosal microbiota and HIV-1 mucosal transmission and how these interactions can be exploited for drug discovery.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Biomedical Sciences, Dentistry.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Pre-Clinical Dentistry
- Genomics
- Medical Microbiology
- Immunology
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
1-Study of the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and discovery of new genes for antibiotic and biocide resistance in key pathogens relevant to hospital-acquired infections:
- Pan-Scottish collaboration to investigate epidemiological and genetic links between intensive use of biocides and spread of multidrug resistant Staphylococci in intensive care units.
- Phylogenetic studies based on genome-wide analysis of national collections of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
2- Study of oral microbiota-host interactions:
- oral microbiome studies to inform adjuct/new treatments for oral mucosal inflammatory diseases based on microbial modulation.
- Investigation of mechanisms underpinning the ability of oral 'pathobionts' to cause systemic inflammation in coronary artery disease.
3- Novel approaches for pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV-1: Microbicides optimisation through innovative formulations for vaginal and rectal delivery.
4- Discovery of new inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2: ongoing collaborative projects for screening and optimisation of peptide- and small molecule-based binders of the 'spike' envelope glycoprotein for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Collaborations
Prof Ian M Gould, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK.
Prof. Charles Kelly, Mucosal and Salivary Biology, Dental Institute, King’s College, London UK.
Prof. Marco Oggioni, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leicester, Leicester UK.
Dr. Markus Hardt, Forsyth Institute, Harvard School of Medicine, USA.
Prof. Jaqueline Reilly, Department of Nursing and Community Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow UK.
Dr Cesar Nebot, Centro Universitario de la Defensa, Spain
Prof Neil Gow, Professor of Microbiology, University of Exeter, Exeter UK.
Dr Iva Navratilova, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee UK.
Dr Roger LeGrand, CEA, Université Paris Sud, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
Prof. Soledad Penades, CIC biomaGUNE, Parque Technologico San Sebastian, Spain.
Prof Guido Vanham, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Prof. Robin Shattock, Mucosal Infection and Immunity, Section of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London UK.
Prof Dana Dawson, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Funding and Grants
British Heart Foundation.
Friends of Anchor.
European Commission.
British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
SULSA.
Tenovus Scotland.
Medical Research Scotland.
Healthcare Infection Society.
NHS Grampian Endowment Fund.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
I am the Academic Lead for Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology for the BDS programme.
I teach on the following courses:
- BDS. Dental Health & Disease (DE3031, DE4031, DE5031) which I also coordinate
- BDS. Patient Care (DE4007, DE5007)
- Masters in Physician Associate Studies. Advanced Clinical Method (ME5031)
- Publications
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Hospital disinfectants should be regulated like antibiotics new study suggests
The ConversationContributions to Specialist Publications: ArticlesAn update on Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis from the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC)
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 9-15Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.09.014
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/12962/1/Final_Draft_2Aug_2018.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Challenges and opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship in resource-rich and resource-limited countries
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, vol. 17, no. 8, pp. 621-634Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCorrigendum to Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) Staphylococcus aureus a position statement from the International Society of Chemotherapy (vol 51, pg 16, 2018)
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 125Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.03.005
Hot topics in necrotising skin and soft tissue infections
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 1-10Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPanton–Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus: a position statement from the International Society of Chemotherapy
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 16-25Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924857917303941
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2017.11.002
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/11487/1/Panton_Valentine_Leucocidin_PVL_Staphylococcus_aureus_a_position_statement_from_the_International_Society_of_Chemotherapy.pdf
Draft whole genome sequences of the periodontal pathobionts Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia contain phase variable restriction modification systems
Genome Announcements, vol. 5, no. 46, pp. 1-3Contributions to Journals: ArticlesTransporters for Antiretroviral Drugs in Colorectal CD4+ T Cells and Circulating α4β7 Integrin CD4+ T cells: Implications for HIV Microbicides
Molecular Pharmaceutics, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 3334-3340Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSusceptibility to chlorhexidine amongst multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from bloodstream infections
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 86-90Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2016.04.015
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/8641/4/Hijazi_et_al_ms_table_figures_IJAA_v2_clean.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/8641/2/Supplemental_table_1.docx
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/8641/1/Supplemental_file_2.docx.xlsx
Drug Transporter Gene Expression in Human Colorectal Tissue and Cell Lines: Modulation with Antiretrovirals for Microbicide Optimization
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 372-386Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPredictive value of the admissions process and the UK Clinical Aptitude Test in a graduate-entry dental school
British Dental Journal, vol. 218, no. 12, pp. 687-689Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.437
Expression of Genes for Drug Transporters in the Human Female Genital Tract and Modulatory Effect of Antiretroviral Drugs
PloS ONE, vol. 10, no. 6, e0131405Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMucosal microbiome in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Journal of Dental Research, vol. 94, no. 3 Suppl.1, pp. 87S-94SContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034514565458
Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of Candida .spp isolates from the Oral Cavity Reveals Strain Persistence and Clonality within and between niches from Dental Patients and Healthy Control Subjects
Contributions to Conferences: PostersChallenges in Microbicide Drug Delivery: Identifying Targets and Evolving Strategies
Drug Delivery and Development of Anti-HIV Microbicides. das Neves, J., Sarmento, B. (eds.). Pan Stanford PublishingChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersCharacterisation of Drug Transporter Gene Expression in Colorectal Tissue and Cell Lines: Induction with Anti-retrovirals for Microbicide Optimization
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, vol. 30 , no. Suppl 1, pp. A201Contributions to Journals: Abstracts- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/aid.2014.5433.abstract
Expression of Drug Transporters in Cervicovaginal Cell Lines and Modulatory Effect of Candidate Anti-retroviral Microbicides
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, vol. 30 , no. Suppl 1, pp. A201Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/aid.2014.5434.abstract
Analysis of inter-examiner reliability of OSCE assessments
Contributions to Journals: Conference Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12048
An analysis of admissions data and subsequent OSCE performance in a graduate-entry dental school
38th Annual Meeting of the Association for Dental Education in Europe, pp. e191Contributions to Journals: Abstracts- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12048
Can admissions data predict subsequent academic and clinical performance in a graduate-entry dental school?
Contributions to Journals: Conference Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12048
Dental students’ consistency in applying the ICDAS system within paediatric dentistry
38th conference meeting ADEE, pp. e206Contributions to Journals: Abstracts- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12048
The admissions process in a graduate-entry dental school: can we predict academic performance?
British Dental Journal, vol. 214, no. 2, E4Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.56
The restorative dentistry experience of the first cohort of students to graduate from a Scottish graduate-entry programme: Have we met the pre-requisites?
38th conference meeting ADEEContributions to Conferences: PostersCan students predict their OSCE performance within a graduate-entry school?
Association for Dental Education in EuropeContributions to Conferences: AbstractsCan students predict their OSCE performance within a graduate-entry school?
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12048