Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology
I joined the School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences as a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology in 2018. I graduated from Lancaster University with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences with Biomedicine in 2005 and an MSc in Biomedical Science from the University of the West of England in 2006. I successfully completed my PhD from Cardiff University in 2011 during which time I studied the potential use of bacteriophages for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infections.
My initial postdoctoral work at Cardiff University, in collaboration with colleagues in Turkey, focused on the formulation and efficacy of chemical biocides against Bacillus anthracis from contaminated animal burial sites.
In January 2015, I relocated to Stockholm University where I was involved in a number of projects focusing on bacteriophage biology and phage based therapeutics.
My primary research focus is on bacteriophages, both as an alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of multidrug resistant bacterial infections and also the basic biology and evolution of phages. I also maintain an active interest in infection control, decontamination and bacterial biofilms.
Teaching and supervision
Research interests for potential research students
- Bacteriophage biology and Phage therapy
- Antimicrobial drug development
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Biocide efficacy and formulation
Research
Since the completion of my PhD, my research has primarily focused on the development of bacteriophages (phages) as an alternative way of treating multidrug resistant bacterial infections and environmental contamination. I have also previously been involved in a number of industry and government sponsored projects looking at the formulation and antimicrobial efficacy of chemical biocides.
Phages and Phage Therapy
Phages are viruses which specifically infect bacterial cells and are believed to be one of the most abundant biological entities on the face of the Earth. Once phages have successfully infected their bacterial hosts, they can integrate their genomes into the host or replicate and ultimately destroy the bacterial host. Historically, phage therapy has been confined to Eastern Europe where it still used to treat many common ailments. Due to an urgent need for new antimicrobial agents there is renewed interest in the application of phages and their derived antimicrobial products to treat resistant bacterial infections in the wider world.
Publications
Article
Koonjan, Shazeeda, Cooper, Callum and Nilsson, Anders (2021) Complete Genome Sequence of vB_EcoP_SU7, a Podoviridae Coliphage with the Rare C3 Morphotype. Microoganisms, 9 (8). p. 1576. ISSN 2076-2607
Koonjan, Shazeeda, Seijsing, Fredrik, Cooper, Callum and Nilsson, Anders (2020) Infection kinetics and phylogenetic analysis of vB_EcoD_SU57, a virulent T1-like Drexlerviridae coliphage. Frontiers in Microbiology. ISSN 1664-302X
Cooper, Callum, Koonjan, Shazeeda and Nilsson, Anders (2018) Enhancing Whole Phage Therapy and Their Derived Antimicrobial Enzymes through Complex Formulation. Pharmaceuticals. ISSN 1424-8247
Pimchan, T, Cooper, Callum, Eumkeb, G and Nilsson, A.S (2017) In vitro activity of a combination of bacteriophages and antimicrobial plant extracts. Journal of Applied Microbiology. ISSN 1364-5072
Cooper, Callum, Buyuk, Fatih, Schelkle, Bettina, Saglam, Aliye Gulmez, Celik, Elif, Celebi, Ozgur, Sahin, Mitat, Hawkyard, Tom and Baillie, Les (2016) Virulence plasmid stability in environmentally occurring Bacillus anthracis from North East Turkey. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 110 (1). pp. 167-170. ISSN 0003-6072
Cooper, Callum, Khan Mirzaei, Mohammadali and Nilsson, Anders (2016) Adapting Drug Approval Pathways for Bacteriophage-Based Therapeutics. Frontiers in Microbiology. ISSN 1664-302X
Henein, Alexandra E., Hanlon, Geoffery W., Cooper, Callum, Denyer, Stephen P. and Maillard, Jean-Yves (2016) A Partially Purified Acinetobacter baumannii Phage Preparation Exhibits no Cytotoxicity in 3T3 Mouse Fibroblast Cells. Frontiers in Microbiology. ISSN 1664-302X
Khan Mirzaei, Mohammadali, Haileselassie, Yeneneh, Navis, Marit, Cooper, Callum, Sverremark-Ekström, Eva and Nilsson, Anders S (2016) Morphologically Distinct Escherichia coli Bacteriophages Differ in Their Efficacy and Ability to Stimulate Cytokine Release In Vitro. Frontiers in Microbiology. ISSN 1664-302X
Celebi, Ozgur, Buyuk, Fatih, Pottage, Tom, Crook, Ant, Hawkey, Suzanna, Cooper, Callum, Bennett, Allan, Sahin, Mitat and Ballie, Les (2016) The Use of Germinants to Potentiate the Sensitivity of Bacillus anthracis Spores to Peracetic Acid. Frontiers in Microbiology. ISSN 1664-302X
Nakonieczna, A, Cooper, Callum and Gryko, R (2015) Bacteriophages and bacteriophage‐derived endolysins as potential therapeutics to combat Gram‐positive spore forming bacteria. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 119 (3). pp. 620-631. ISSN 1364-5072
Buyuk, Fatih, Sahin, Mitat, Cooper, Callum, Celebi, Ozgur, Saglam, Aliye Gulmez, Ballie, Les, Celik, Elif, Akca, Dogan and Otlu, Salih (2015) The effect of prolonged storage on the virulence of isolates of Bacillus anthracis obtained from environmental and animal sources in the Kars Region of Turkey. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 13 (1). ISSN 0378-1097
Cooper, Callum, Denyer, S.P. and Maillard, J-Y (2014) Stability and purity of a bacteriophage cocktail preparation for nebulizer delivery. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 58 (2). pp. 118-122. ISSN 0266-8254
Siani, Harsha, Cooper, Callum and Maillard, J-Y (2011) Efficacy of “sporicidal” wipes against Clostridium difficile. American Journal of Infection Control, 39 (3). pp. 212-218. ISSN 0196-6553
Cooper, Callum, Denyer, S.P. and Maillard, J-Y (2010) Rapid and quantitative automated measurement of bacteriophage activity against cystic fibrosis isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 110 (3). pp. 631-640. ISSN 1364-5072
Yusop, Noorsuriani, Williams, Gareth J, Cooper, Callum, Burton, Rachel, Samuel, Lee and Maillard, Jean-Yves (2010) Low‐level microbial contamination of liquid in syringe hubs leads to an unacceptable risk to the end product. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 63 (2). pp. 164-168. ISSN 0022-3573
Conference or Workshop Item
Tattersall, Noah, Edwards, Connor, Karlikowska, Magdalena and Cooper, Callum (2023) Rapid Enumeration of Bacteria in Simulated Urine. In: Innovations Against AMR - World Antimicrobial Awareness Week Conference '23, 24 Nov 2023, University of Warwick, UK. (Unpublished)
Video
Cooper, Callum (2023) How to make practical labs less daunting for first-year students | LearnSci Webcasts | S1E3. [Video]
Cooper, Callum (2022) Building student confidence in practical science | LearnSci Webcasts | S1E1. [Video]
- Phage Biology and therapy
Editorial Boards
Journal of Applied Microbiology
Letters in Applied Microbiology
Professional Memberships
Society for Applied Microbiology (Sfam)
Microbiology Society