Speaker Profile
Alan Beswick

Alan Beswick BSc, PhD

Immunology and Microbiology
Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

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Dr Alan Beswick is a senior environmental microbiologist currently working on projects investigating occupational infection. His previous employment at university post-doctoral level included research on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (now DSTL) and the NHS Executive. His particular expertise lies in the detection and characterisation of environmental microorganisms without the need for cultivation, in particular using techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction, gene cloning and fluorescent probe microscopy. He has developed techniques to apply such methods to the analysis of soil, sediment, water, air and clinical samples.

Alan has been involved in the investigation of machine shop worker exposure to sensitising bioaerosols, specifically non-tuberculous species of the genus Mycobacterium. He has also led a major project on the detection of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle sent for slaughter. Also completed a cross-sectional project on hospital-acquired infection, which focused on the potential for staff exposure to infectious bioaerosols during bronchoscopy. Current research includes an assessment of fumigation methods for the rapid disinfection of hospital treatment areas. Also involved in project work for several environmental studies to determine the extent of brown field site contamination with Bacillus anthracis.
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