Dr Catherine McLeod (nee Seamer)
Senior Scientist (Shellfish Food Safety)
Areas of expertise
Shellfish food safety issues
Seafood technical market access issues
Marine biotoxins
Harmful algal blooms
Human enteric viruses
Vibrio’s
Lab method development and validation standards
Countries of work experience
Australia
New Zealand
Scotland
Experience and qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Major in Cell and Molecular BioScience
Master of Science (Honors), Majors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Bachelor of Science, Double major in Biochemistry and Genetics
Professional appointments
Current. Senior Scientist Shellfish Food Safety, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Adelaide, SA.
Current. Honorary Associate, School of Agricultural Science/Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania.
2008. Science Advisor, Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
2005 – 2008. Senior Advisor, Science Group, New Zealand Food Safety Authority, New Zealand.
2000 – 2005. Advisor (Seafood), Food Assurance Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand.
Selected peer reviewed publications
McLeod, C., Hay, B., Grant, C., Greening, G. and Day, D. (2009) Localization of norovirus and poliovirus in Pacific oysters. Journal of applied microbiology. Published on internet (print version in press).
Seamer C. The biology of virus uptake and elimination by Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). PhD thesis. Victoria University of Wellington. 2007.
Hess P, Grune B, Anderson D, Aune T, Botana L, Caricato P, van Egmond H, Halder M, Hall S, Lawrence J, Moffat C, Poletti R, Richmond J, Rossini GP, Seamer C, and Serratosa J. Three Rs Approaches in Marine Biotoxin Testing. ATLA. 2005. 34. 193 – 224.
Seamer C and Busby P. Marine Biotoxin Testing in New Zealand: A New Direction. Proceedings of the ANZCCART Conference, August 2003. ANZCCART. 2004. 93-98.
Busby P and Seamer C. New Zealand Management Programme: New Approaches for the Control and Monitoring of Phycotoxins. Molluscan Shellfish Safety. Eds. Antonio Villalba, Beatriz Reguera, Jesús L. Romalde, Ricardo Beiras. Consellería de Pesca e Asuntos Marítimos da Xunta de Galicia and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Santiago de Compostela, Spain 2003. 153-158.
Truman P, Stirling DJ, Northcote P, Lake RJ, Seamer C, Hannah DJ. Determination of brevetoxins in shellfish by the neuroblastoma assay. J AOAC Int. 2002 Sep-Oct; 85(5): 1057-63.
Busby P and Seamer C. Issues in implementing new marine biotoxin management practices. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Harmful Algae Management and Mitigation. Qingdao, China. November 2001.
Seamer C. The Production of Yessotoxin by Protoceratium reticulatum. MSc thesis. Victoria University of Wellington. 2000.
Greenwood PJ, Seamer C, Tisdall DJ. Cloning, sequencing and expression of stem cell factor (c-kit ligand) cDNA of brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Reprod Fertil Dev. 1996;8(4): 789-95.
Selected non peer reviewed publications
Seamer C. Shellfish toxin testing without using animals. Biosecurity New Zealand Magazine. 2007. Issue 75. Pages 14 – 16.
Burrow R and Seamer C. A Guide to Validation and Approval of New Test Methods. Shellfish Quality Assurance Programme, MAF, Wellington, New Zealand. www.nzfsa.govt.nz. 2002.
Current Research Projects
“Market Access for Abalone”. Since March 2007 the EU market has effectively been closed for Australian abalone products. Dr Catherine McLeod is the Principal Investigator on this project that has been commissioned by the wild-caught abalone sector and the Australian Seafood CRC and aims to assist the industry in re-accessing this potentially lucrative market.
“Human Enteric Viruses in Key Australian Shellfish Production Areas”. This project involves undertaking a survey to determine levels of norovirus, a pathogen that causes acute gastroenteritis, in Australian grown oysters. The results of this survey will be used in a risk assessment, which will assist the industry to demonstrate to overseas regulatory authorities that oysters are at low risk of virus contamination and will help to prevent 'technical barriers to trade'. Dr McLeod is the principal investigator on this project, and supervises one PhD candidate (Felicity Brake) to undertake work towards the project goals.
Contact
Dr Catherine McLeod
Senior Scientist (Shellfish Food Safety)
SA Research and Development Institute
33 Flemington Street
Glenside, Adelaide
South Australia, 5065
Phone: +61 (0)8 8207 7904
Mobile: +61 (0)429814217
Fax: +61 (0)8 8207 7854