STAFF PROFILE
Dr Thi Thu Hao Van
Dr Van is a molecular microbiologist. She has led impactful industry related research which has been recognized internationally and nationally. Her areas of expertise include gut microbiota characterisation and manipulation, identification of bacterial pathogens and deciphering their biology, and developing intervention strategies to combat bacterial diseases, including development of probiotics, antimicrobial compounds and vaccines.
Dr Van has obtained funding for her research from various Australian and Vietnamese government and industry organisations. She is strongly engaged within RMIT and very strongly engaged externally. She has established collaborations with many external institutes and industry, with significant collaborations with staff at Institute of Biotechnology – Vietnam Academy of Science, University of Science-Vietnam National University HCM City, Iowa State University, Central Queensland University, University of Adelaide, University of New England, Scolexia Pty Ltd, and Bioproperties Pty Ltd.
Dr Van has been wholeheartedly committed to the mentorship of the next generation of scientists. She has successfully supervised numerous PhD students, Masters students, Honours and Science project students and visiting scientists from different countries.
Research
Dr Van is currently lead CI/CI in the following projects:
- Manipulating gut microbiota for healthy aging. Funded by RMIT VC Senior Fellowship Program
- Immune responses to Campylobacter hepaticus infection: impact on recovery from Spotty Liver Disease in chickens. Funded by Poultry Hub Australia
- Development of immunological assays to assist the control of Spotty Liver Disease in chickens. Funded by Poultry Hub Australia
- Reducing the health and economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine. Funded by ARC linkage program
- Next generation probiotics to enhance the gut health of chickens. Funded by Agrifutures Australia
Teaching
- Coordinate BIOL2267, BIOL2332 and BIOL2352/2431 Functional genomics and proteomics courses
- Teach into a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate programs
- BAppSc Victoria University
- PhD RMIT
- Van, T.,Phung, V.,Anwar, A.,Wilson, T.,Scott, P.,Moore, R. (2023). Campylobacter bilis, the second novel Campylobacter species isolated from chickens with Spotty Liver Disease, can cause the disease In: Veterinary Microbiology, 276, 1 - 5
- Phung, V.,Moore, R.,Van, T. (2022). Campylobacter hepaticus, the cause of Spotty Liver Disease in chickens, can enter a viable but nonculturable state In: Veterinary Microbiology, 266, 1 - 7
- Phung, V.,Scott, P.,Dekiwadia, C.,Moore, R.,Van, T. (2022). Campylobacter bilis sp. nov., isolated from chickens with spotty liver disease In: International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, 72, 1 - 9
- Yu, S.,Bajagai, Y.,Petranyi, F.,Heras-Saldana, S.,Van, T.,Stanley, D. (2022). Phytogenic Blend Improves Intestinal Health and Reduces Obesity, Diabetes, Cholesterol and Cancers: A Path toward Customised Supplementation In: Antibiotics, 11, 1 - 14
- Muralidharan, C.,Quinteros, J.,Anwar, A.,Wilson, T.,Scott, P.,Moore, R.,Van, T. (2022). The use of filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin to detect immune responses to Campylobacter hepaticus infections in layer hens In: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 1 - 12
- Quinteros, J.,Scott, P.,Wilson, T.,Anwar, A.,Scott, T.,Muralidharan, C.,Van, T.,Moore, R. (2021). Isoquinoline alkaloids induce partial protection of laying hens from the impact of Campylobacter hepaticus (spotty liver disease) challenge In: Poultry Science, 100, 1 - 12
- Chau, K.,Van, T.,Quyen, D.,Le, H.,Phan, T.,Ngo, N.,Vo, T.,Dinh, T.,Le, H.,Khanh, H. (2021). Molecular identification and characterization of probiotic bacillus species with the ability to control vibrio spp. In wild fish intestines and sponges from the vietnam sea In: Microorganisms, 9, 1 - 16
- Phung, V.,Wilson, T.,Quinteros, J.,Scott, P.,Moore, R.,Van, T. (2021). Enhancement of Campylobacter hepaticus culturing to facilitate downstream applications In: Scientific Reports, 11, 1 - 10
- Bindari, Y.,Moore, R.,Van, T.,Walkden-Brown, S.,Gerber, P. (2021). Microbial taxa in dust and excreta associated with the productive performance of commercial meat chicken flocks In: Animal Microbiome, 3, 1 - 12
- Van, T. (2021). Population-level biomarkers of gut health in commercial flocks In: AgriFutures Australia Australia
6 PhD Current Supervisions and 2 Masters by Research Current Supervisions7 PhD Completions and 1 Masters by Research Completions
- Reducing the health and economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine. Funded by: ARC Linkage Project Grants 2019 from (2021 to 2025)
- Immune responses to Campylobacter hepaticus infection: impact on recovery from Spotty Liver Disease in chickens. Funded by: Poultry Hub Australia (competitive grant) from (2021 to 2023)
- Phytobiotic potential for control of Spotty Liver Disease. Funded by: National Feed Solutions Pty Ltd - Competitive from (2019 to 2020)
- Identification of virulence factors that cause liver damage in SLD. Funded by: Australian Eggs Limited - Grant from (2019 to 2021)
- Development of immunological assays to assist the control of Spotty Liver Disease in chickens. Funded by: Poultry Hub Australia from (2019 to 2022)