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Phone:: (023) 8059 4726
Email:: C.W.Keevil@soton.ac.uk

Professor Bill Keevil BSc PhD CBiol FRSB FRSPH FAAM

Professor of Environmental Healthcare, Principal Investigator (Microbiology & Environmental Health), Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit, Chair of the University Genetic Modification & Bio-Safety Committee, Chair of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

Professor Bill Keevil is Professor of Environmental Healthcare within School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton.

Career History

2003-present: Head of the Microbiology Group. University of Southampton, UK.
2000-present: Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit. University of Southampton, UK.
2003-2005: Scientific Advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science & Technology, London, UK.
2000-2004: Visiting Professor of Microbiology. University of Exeter, UK.
1997-2000: Scientific Leader. Microbial Research Authority, CAMR Porton Down, UK.
1994-1997: Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Head of the Microbial Technology Department. Microbial Research Authority, CAMR Porton Down, UK.
1990-1994: Clinical Scientist Grade C (Merit) and Head of Physiology & Biofilms Section. Public Health Laboratory Service, CAMR Porton Down, UK.
1985: Winner of the Colgate Prize
1984-1990: Principal Grade Microbiologist, Public Health Laboratory Service, CAMR Porton Down, UK
1983: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Manitoba, Canada.
1979-1984: Senior Grade Microbiologist, Public Health Laboratory Service, CAMR Porton Down, UK.
1978-1979: Head of Small Scale Polysaccharide Research, Tate & Lyle Ltd, University of Reading, UK.
1976-1978: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Southampton, UK.

Academic Qualifications

2019: FRSPH, Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health
2011: FRSM, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
1998: FAAM, Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
1998: FIBiol, Fellow of the Institute of Biology (now Royal Society of Biology)
1998: CBiol, Chartered Biologist
1976: PhD. Biochemistry, University of Birmingham, UK.
1973: BSc. Biochemistry, University of Birmingham, UK.

Research

Publications

Teaching

Contributions

Contact

Research interests

Physiology and adaptive mechanisms for survival of pathogens, in vivo and in vitro e.g. Legionella, Helicobacter, E. coli O157, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, MRSA.
Biofilms in the environment, the built environment and clinical practice.
Surface contamination, including prions; fouling and corrosion.
Survival of sublethally damaged pathogens in water and human and animal wastes recycled to agricultural land affecting food security and safety, e.g. E. coli O157, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, Cryptosporidium

PhD supervision

Callum Highmore: Vitacress Salads ltd & BBSRC Industrial CASE student / Decontamination of biofilm and VBNC zoonotic pathogens on the salad leaf phylloplane for enhanced food security and safety

Nany Malissa Rahimi: Commonwealth Scholar / Development, persistence and control of biofilms on urinary catheters utilising advanced imaging and molecular techniques

Chris Winnard: IfLS student / Biofilm formation in neonatal naso-gastric tubes

Thomas Mabey: DSTL student / Biosynthesis of nanomaterials with spectrally selective solar absorptance

Fergus Watson: Royal Commission for Exhibition of 1851 & Bioquell UK Ltd Fellow / Prevalence and relevance of hospital biofilms and their inactivation by hydrogen peroxide vapour technology

Christian Cox: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare & BBSRC Industrial CASE student / Ultrasonic Intervention to Effectively Control Dental Plaque Biofilms

Weng Yee Chong: Vitacress Salads ltd student / Invention to improve food safety: Ultrasonic Salad Cleaning

Maryam Malakoutikhah: EPSRC & Ultrawave student / Bubble Management in an Ultrasonic System to Clean using a Water Stream

Daniel Noel: NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre/JVS Products student / Understanding and modulating mechanisms of biocide resistance in clinically important bacteria

Research group

Microbiology

Affiliate research groups

Institute for Life Sciences (IfLS), Network for Anti-Microbial Resistance and Infection Prevention (NAMRIP)

Research project(s)

Biofouling control for in-situ lab-on-a-chip environmental sensors

Using microscopy and molecular community analysis techniques, the effects of antifouling methods will be assessed.

Development of endoscope decontamination procedures

This project will assess the cleanliness of existing endoscopes and the efficacy of current decontamination procedures, using a new highly sensitive microscopy imaging method to identify and quantify residual contamination from a range of flexible endoscopes, and new cell assays to assess potential prion infectivity.

Antimicrobial copper: Biocidal efficacy and killing mechanism of copper and copper alloy dry surfaces against bacterial and viral pathogens

Touch surfaces are an important conduit for transmission of bacteria, viruses and fungi, leading to mass outbreaks of disease in the community and healthcare acquired infections by multiple antibiotic resistant microorganisms causing great morbidity and mortality.

BioliSME II: Demonstration, validation and preliminary promotion of a commercial prototype speedy system for sampling and detecting Listeria monocytogenes

The objective of the work developed by the partner University of Southampton is to firstly optimize the formation of L. monocytogenes biofilms and then conduct experiments to calculate the detachment forces required to remove L. monocytogenes biofilms.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) for the decontamination of reusable surgical instruments

To evaluate the potential of Cold Atmospheric Plasma as a tool for the decontamination of reusable surgical instruments and endoscopes, thus significantly reducing the risk of iatrogenic infections with prions and potentially other resilient agents.

Development of anti-fouling strategies for long-term deployed in situ sensors in marine environments

Analysis of biofilms in the marine environment and of the effectiveness of antifouling strategies

Environmental Healthcare Unit Consultancy

Our Consultancy Service has dealt with a wide range of projects in collaboration with both small and large multinational companies. We offer a range of testing services using up-to-date microbiological methods and the latest techniques in specialised microscopy.

Microbial interactions in multi-species drinking water biofilm community

Using the model organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa to investigate mechanisms by which drinking water biofilms harbour important pathogenic microorganism and how these interactions within multi-species biofilms can enhance genetic adaptation and evolution of microbial pathogens.

Rapid assessment of surface contamination and decontamination efficacy

Development of rapid, sensitive, advanced EDIC/EF light microscopy based protocols to assess the efficacy of current bio-decontamination systems.

Role of hypoxia and DNA mismatch repair in tumorigenesis

Using a multicellular tumour spheroid model to investigate the role of hypoxia and DNA mismatch repair on the fundamental processes of importance in tumour development

The role of nitric oxide in the control of biofilm and zoonotic pathogen colonisation of the salad phylloplane

Investigating the use of the signalling molecule nitric oxide for microbial control at the phylloplane

SecurEau – Security and decontamination of drinking water distribution systems following a deliberate contamination event.

This work aims to design novel methodologies for the detection of low levels of contaminants, model the distribution of contaminants throughout a network and identify the point of origin, develop the use of sensors for surveillance and provide decontamination protocols for polluted networks and installations, including the neutralisation of contaminated water and residues.

Prevention and minimisation of biofilms on urinary catheters and equipment

Biofilm development on urinary catheters is a major healthcare issue, leading to infection and blockage. Here we are using advanced microscopy and viability techniques to improve our understanding of biofilm development and persistence on urinary catheters.

Occurrence and horizontal gene transfer of carbapenemase and ESBL genes in soil microbiomes

Understanding the links between lettuce leaf phenotypes and the abundance and diversity of microbes with a view to breeding for improved shelf life and safety

Bubble Management in an Ultrasonic System to Clean using a Water Stream

The StarStream device cleans using only room temperature water, ultrasound and air. This CASE award studentship, funded by EPSRC and Ultrawave Ltd., examines method of improving the StarStream by looking at the engineering associated with the water supply components of the device. This entails the design and construction of new bubble diagnostics technology.

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Articles

Book Chapters

Hervé, R., & Keevil, C. W. (2012). Quantitative analysis on the removal of proteins and prions from medical devices. In D. Riesner, J-P. Deslys, & M. Pocchiari (Eds.), Decontamination of Prions (pp. 241-249). Düsseldorf University Press.
Wilks, S., & Keevil, C. (2006). Suitability of peptide nucleic acid probes to detect Legionellae in mains drinking water supplies. In N. Cianciotto (Ed.), Legionella: state of the art 30 years after its recognition. Contributions presented at the 6th International Conference on Legionella, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 16-20 October 2005 ASM Press. https://doi.org/10.1128/9781555815660.ch105
Keevil, C. (2003). Pathogens in environmental biofilms. In G. Bitton (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology (pp. 2339-2356). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471263397.env202
Warnes, S., & Keevil, C. W. (2003). Survival of Cryptosporidium parvum in faecal wastes and salad crops. In G. Duffy (Ed.), Cryptosporidium parvum in Food and Water (pp. 15-24). Teagasc.
Marsh, P. D., & Keevil, C. W. (1986). The metabolism of oral bacteria in health and disease. In M. J. Hill (Ed.), Microbial Metabolism in the Digestive Tract (1st ed., pp. 155-182). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781351074544

Conferences

Letters/Editorials

Patent

De Oliveira Azevedo, N. F. R. P., Da Costa Vieira, M. J. L., Almeida, C. M. F., & Keevil, C. W. (2011). Peptide nucleic acid probe, kit and method for detection and/or quantification of <i>Salmonella SPP.</i> and applications thereof IPC No. C12Q 1/ 68 A I. Peptide nucleic acid probe, kit and method for detection and/or quantification of Salmonella SPP. and applications thereof. (Patent No. WO2011121544).

Reports

Hocknell, S., Hughes, A., Roe, E., Keevil, B., Wrigley, N., & Lowe, M. (2018). Corporate food retailers, meat supply chains, and the responsibilities of tackling antimicrobial resistance: Stakeholder report 2018. Newcastle University.
Weaver, L., Keevil, C. W., Warnes, S. L., & Horizontal Hygeine (2005). Critical review on: feasibility of horizontal standard rapid method for detection of Clostridium perfringens and enterococci in sludges, soil, soil improvers, growing media and biowastes. (Horizontal Standards on Hygienic Microbiological parameters for Implementation of EU Directives on Sludge, Soil and Treated Biowastes; No. HOR-HYG WP 2/2). University of Southampton.
Warnes, S. L., Keevil, C. W., & Horizontal Hygeine (2004). Desk studies on feasibility of horizontal standard rapid methods for detection of Clostridium perfringens and enterococci in sludges, soil, soil improvers, growing media and biowastes. (Work Package 3; No. Task 4). University of Southampton.
Warnes, S. L., Keevil, C. W., & Horizontal Hygeine (2004). Desk studies on feasibility of horizontal standard rapid methods for detection of E. coli (including E. coli O157) and Salmonella. (Work Package 3; No. Task 3B). University of Southampton.

Review

Keevil, C. W. (1984). Regulation of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in facultative anaerobes: A role for cytochrome a₁. Microbiological Sciences, 1(7), 175-178.

Lecturer

BIOL1007 Macromolecules of Life
BIOL1020 Bioanalysis
BIOL2022 Immunology, Infection and Inflammation
BIOL2038 Environmental Microbiology
BIOL2044 Medical Microbiology
BIOL3017 The Molecular Structural Basis of Disease
BIOL3057 Biofilms and Microbial Communities
BIOL6047 Biofilms and Microbial Communities
BIOL6087 Topics in Evolution

Project Supervisor

BIOL3031 Literature-based Research Project
BIOL3032 Literature-based Research Project
BIOL3034 In-depth Research Project
BIOL3059 Bioscience Education
BIOL3060 Science Communication
BIOL6011 Advanced Library Project 1
BIOL6068 MRes Advanced Biological Sciences Research Project

Professional membership

Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF)
Co-founder of the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC)
Member of EPSRC National Centre for Advanced Tribology (nCATS) Management Board
Member of the Network for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention (NAMRIP) Management Board
Biological Sciences Liaison Officer with Royal Society of Biology, London
MOD Independent Scientific and Technical Advice (ISTA) Register
DEFRA Drinking Water Inspectorate Rapid Methods Committee, London
DoH Decontamination Working Group, London
IWW Rheinisch-Westfaelisches Institut für Wasser, Mulheim, External Management Board
CEN TC308 WG1 Committee, Brussels
British Standards Institute EH/5 Wastes Committee, London
British Standards Institute CH/216 Antimicrobial Hard Surfaces Committee, London

Professor Bill Keevil
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
Life Sciences Building 85
University of Southampton
Highfield Campus
Southampton
SO17 1BJ

Room Number: 85/4059

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