Cheryl Jenkins

Education

Jenkins studied at the University of Queensland, where she completed a Bachelor of Science in 1994 and a Bachelor of Science with honours in 1996. She subsequently earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland. Her academic development in microbiology and molecular biology was followed by research experience in the United States and Australia, including work associated with the University of Washington and the University of Wollongong.

Career

Jenkins began her research career with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle in 2003, where her work included molecular and computational studies of bacterial biology. From 2004 to 2007 she was associated with the University of Wollongong as a research fellow, contributing to studies of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae surface molecules and their interactions with host tissues through an Australian Research Council Linkage project. In 2007 she joined the Department of Primary Industries at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in New South Wales as a research scientist. She later became a principal research scientist and leads a molecular biology laboratory within the institute's Microbiology and Parasitology section. Her research has included microbial pathogenesis, diagnostic test development, proteomics, genomics and infectious-disease epidemiology. Early work examined Mycoplasma adhesins, surface proteins, oxidative-stress resistance and biofilm formation. Later projects addressed bovine theileriosis, including the epidemiology and molecular detection of Theileria orientalis, as well as aquatic animal health, oyster mortality syndromes, Perkinsus and Vibrio genomics, Chlamydia infections and antimicrobial resistance. She has collaborated with universities and research agencies in Australia and overseas and has authored or co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed works.

Achievements

• Led research programs using molecular biology, genomics and proteomics to investigate microbial pathogenesis, disease epidemiology and diagnostic development in livestock and aquatic animals.

• Contributed to the development of molecular diagnostic approaches for bovine theileriosis and research into Theileria orientalis genotypes associated with clinical disease in Australian cattle.

• Contributed to research identifying and characterising oyster pathogens and disease-associated microbial communities in Australian aquaculture.

Works

• book chapter

  • Bovine theileriosis in Australia: A decade of disease

    (Authored a review of the emergence, distribution and agri...)

    2018

• journal article

  • Identification and characterisation of an ostreid herpesvirus-1 microvariant (OsHV-1 µ-var) in Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oysters) in Australia

    (Co-authored the identification and characterisation of an...)

    2013
  • Genes for the cytoskeletal protein tubulin in the bacterial genus Prosthecobacter

    (Co-authored research on tubulin genes in Prosthecobacter,...)

    2002
  • Genomic analysis of Citrobacter from Australian wastewater and silver gulls reveals novel sequence types carrying critically important antibiotic resistance genes

    (Co-authored genomic analysis of Citrobacter isolates and ...)

    2024
  • Detection of Theileria orientalis genotypes in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks from southern Australia

    (Co-authored research investigating possible tick vectors ...)

    2015
  • Mhp493 (P216) is a proteolytically processed cilium and heparin binding protein of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

    (Co-authored research describing a processed Mycoplasma hy...)

    2009
  • The enigmatic planctomycetes may hold a key to the origins of methanogenesis and methylotrophy

    (Co-authored a study of planctomycete biology and its impl...)

    2004
  • Extracellular DNA release from the genome-reduced pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is essential for biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces

    (Co-authored research demonstrating the role of extracellu...)

    2018
  • Emergent multisystemic Enterococcus infection threatens endangered Christmas Island reptile populations

    (Co-authored research on an emergent bacterial infection a...)

    2017
  • The Mycoplasma gallisepticum OsmC-like protein MG1142 resides on the cell surface and binds heparin

    (Co-authored research on the surface localisation and hepa...)

    2007
  • Two domains within the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae cilium adhesin bind heparin

    (Co-authored research characterising heparin-binding domai...)

    2006
  • Transplacental transmission of Theileria orientalis occurs at a low rate in field-affected cattle: infection in utero does not appear to be a major cause of abortion

    (Co-authored a study of transplacental transmission of The...)

    2017
  • Molecular characterisation of the Australian and New Zealand livestock Chlamydia pecorum strains confirms novel but clonal ST23 in association with ovine foetal loss

    (Co-authored research characterising Chlamydia pecorum str...)

    2023
  • A processed multidomain Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae adhesin binds fibronectin, plasminogen, and swine respiratory cilia

    (Co-authored research analysing the binding properties of ...)

    2010
  • Structural and functional characterization of an organic hydroperoxide resistance protein from Mycoplasma gallisepticum

    (Co-authored research on oxidative-stress resistance in My...)

    2008
  • Draft genomes of Perkinsus olseni and Perkinsus chesapeaki reveal polyploidy and regional differences in heterozygosity

    (Co-authored genomic research on Perkinsus species affecti...)

    2021

Membership

Jenkins has been associated with the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, the American Society for Microbiology, the Australian Society for Microbiology and the Golden Key National Honour Society. Her professional service has included membership of the AUSGEM Science Committee and service on the Board of Directors of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology. She has also held an adjunct fellowship with the University of Technology Sydney.

• Served on the Board of Directors and received an organizational travel award.

  International Organization Mycoplasmology , Australia

• American Society Microbiology , United States

• Australian Society Microbiology , Australia

• Golden Key National Honour Society , Australia

• Member of the science committee.

  AUSGEM Science Committee , Australia

References

• NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development staff profile Documents Jenkins's position as Principal Research Scientist, her molecular biology research, qualifications, professional associations and research interests.
• Australian Research Council Grants Data Portal Documents Jenkins's role as an Australian Postdoctoral Fellow on an ARC Linkage project concerning Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae surface molecules and host epithelial interactions.
  2004