Biography
Claire works primarily on prevalence and transport of faecal indicator organisms and pathogens (E. coli, Clostridia, Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis) in the environment, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), utilising a variety of techniques including real-time quantitative PCR, extraction of nucleic acids and zeta potential. She also utilises her substantial microbiological experience to carry out a range of phenotypic and morphological analyses. Claire’s skill set also includes stakeholder engagement and knowledge Exchange (KE). Included in this was leading a project on a National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) funded grant to produce educational materials on biofilms and AMR for schools and stakeholders.
As well as her research role, Claire is the Commercial Microbiology lead for James Hutton Limited (JHL) which involves the analysis of a range of samples including digestates, waters, waste waters and soils through techniques such as culturing, Most Probable Number (MPN) and molecular analysis techniques. She also has skills in diatom identification to genus/species level, and she has utilised these skills for work on forensics cases working with Professor Lorna Dawson.
Research
JHI-B6-1 (RESAS): ‘Flows of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens through the environment to the food chain’ 2022-2027
JHI-D2-1 (RESAS): ‘Emerging Water Futures’ 2022-2027
Past research
EU FP7 Aquavalens (Local PI) ‘Protecting the Health of Europeans by Improving Methods for the detection of pathogens in drinking water and water used in food preparation’ 2013-18
RESAS –‘Effect of maintenance and different raw water quality parameters on ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in private water supplies in Scotland’
NBIC-PEO grant – ‘Biofilms for Beginners – understanding what biofilms are, what they do in our rivers and why they are relevant to antimicrobial resistance’
RESAS/Scottish Water ‘Demonstrating the benefits of small scale combined wastewater polishing and biomass production: a case study’
RESAS WP 1.2.1 O2.2 – Tarland E. coli Experiment
Publications
The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Journals
- Vinten, A.J.A.; Artz, R.R.E.; Thomas, N.; Potts, J.M.; Avery, L.M.; Langan, S.J.; Watson, H.; Cook, Y.; Taylor, C.; Abel, C.; Reid, E.; Singh, B.K. (2011) Comparison of microbial community assays for the assessment of stream biofilm ecology., Journal of Microbiological Methods, 85, 190-198.
- Paterson, E.; Gebbing, T.; Abel, C.; Sim, A.; Telfer, G. (2007) Rhizodeposition shapes rhizosphere microbial community structure in organic soil., New Phytologist, 173, 600-610.
Technical / contract reports
- Vinten, A.J.A.; Abel, C.; Watson, H.; Taylor, A. (2009) Lunan monitored priority catchment project., Annual Report 2008.
Conference papers
- Vinten, A.J.A.; Stutter, M.I.; Potts, J.; Watson, H.; Abel, C.; Taylor, C.; Cook, Y. (2010) Assessment of catchment scale efficacy of diffuse pollution mitigation using turbidity probes: a cost-effective approach to monitoring in priority catchments?, Joint SAC/SEPA Biennial Conference 2010, Climate, Water and Soil: Science: Policy and Practice, Edinburgh, 31 March – 1 April 2010.
- Vinten, A.J.A.; Artz, R.R.E.; Singh, B.K.; Langan, S.J.; Watson, H.; Cook, Y.; Taylor, C.; Abel, C.; Thomas, N.; Reid, E. (2007) Assessing the potential of stream microbial biofilm community analysis to identify impacts of agricultural pollution on water quality., 11th International Conference on Diffuse Pollution and the 1st Joint Meeting of the IWA Diffuse Pollution and Urban Drainage Specialist Groups, Belo Horizonte-MG, 26-31 August 2007.
Conference posters / abstracts
- Vinten, A.J.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Stutter, M.I.; Watson, A.; Coull, M.C. (2009) Lunan monitored priority catchment., Knowledge Scotland KTE Event, SEPA, Stirling, 29 May 2009.
