Microbial ecology, the interaction of microorganisms with their environment, is an essential component in understanding the functioning of the global ecosystem. Tom Fenchel, a leading Danish microbial ecologist, defined the aim of microbial ecology as "...to find principles that explain the structure and function of microbial communities." Only when these principles are understood will the full impact of microbial activity on the global ecosystem be apparent.
Dr Purdy's research focuses on seeking principles that explain microbial ecology in two main areas:
- Understanding fundamental ideas in microbial ecology, particularly to do with the relationship between microbial community structure and function
- Studying communities involved in global biogeochemical cycling
PhD University of Essex, 1996
BA(Hons) Biochemistry, Oxford University, 1990
Member, Society for General Microbiology
Associate Editor, Microbiology
Associate Editor, FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Member,Evaluator Panels for Marie Curie Fellowships 2010 & 2011
On the organising committee for the Swiss International Conference on Industrial Microbiology:MicrosCon, 2012
- Carlotta-Jones, Daniel Indiana, Purdy, Kevin J., Kirwan, Kerry, Stratford, James P., Coles, Stuart R., 2020. Improved hydrogen gas production in microbial electrolysis cells using inexpensive recycled carbon fibre fabrics. Bioresource Technology, 304
- Prosser, Naomi S., Monaghan, Emma M., Green, Laura E., Purdy, Kevin J., 2020. Serogroups of Dichelobacter nodosus, the cause of footrot in sheep, are randomly distributed across England. Scientific Reports, 10 (1)
- Giebel, Katharina, Green, Laura E., Purdy, Kevin J., 2020. A pilot study to investigate the feasibility of a multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis to understand the epidemiology of Dichelobacter nodosus in ovine footrot. Frontiers In Veterinary Science, 7
- Zhu, Yizhu, Purdy, Kevin J., Eyice, Özge, Shen, Lidong, Harpenslager, Sarah F., Yvon-Durocher, Gabriel, Dumbrell, Alex, Trimmer, Mark, 2020. Disproportionate increase in freshwater methane emissions induced by experimental warming. Nature Climate Change, 10 (7), pp. 685-690
- Jameson, Eleanor, Stephenson, Jason, Jones, Helen J., Millard, Andrew D., Kaster, K., Purdy, Kevin J., Airs, R., Murrell, J. C. (J. Colin), Chen, Yin, 2019. Deltaproteobacteria (Pelobacter) and Methanococcoides are responsible for choline-dependent methanogenesis in a coastal saltmarsh sediment. ISME Journal, 13 (2), pp. 277-289
- Shaw, Sophie, Purdy, Kevin J., 2019. Sex bias in tuberculosis in the developing world. American Journal of Undergraduate Research, 15 (4), pp. 61-70
- Zanardini, Elisabetta, May, Eric, Purdy, Kevin J., Murrell, J. Colin, 2019. Nutrient cycling potential within microbial communities on culturally important stoneworks. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 11 (2), pp. 147-154
- Prosser, Naomi, Purdy, Kevin J., Green, Laura E., 2019. Increase in the flock prevalence of lameness in ewes is associated with a reduction in farmers using evidence-based management of prompt treatment : a longitudinal observational study of 154 English sheep flocks 2013?2015. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 173
- Cetecioglu, Zeynep, Dolfing, Jan, Taylor, Jessica, Purdy, Kevin J., Eyice, Özge, 2019. COD/sulfate ratio does not affect the methane yield and microbial diversity in anaerobic digesters. Water Research, 155, pp. 444-454
- Jones, Helen J., Kröber, Eileen, Stephenson, Jason, Mausz, Michaela A., Jameson, Eleanor, Millard, Andrew D., Purdy, Kevin J., Chen, Yin, 2019. A new family of uncultivated bacteria involved in methanogenesis from the ubiquitous osmolyte glycine betaine in coastal saltmarsh sediments. Microbiome, 7
- Clifton, Rachel, Giebel, Katharina, Liu, Nicola, Purdy, Kevin J., Green, Laura E., 2019. Sites of persistence of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus: a paradigm shift in understanding the epidemiology of footrot in sheep. Scientific Reports, 9 (1)
- Clifton, Rachel, Green, Laura E., Purdy, Kevin J., 2018. Development and validation of a multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) scheme for Fusobacterium necrophorum. Veterinary Microbiology, 213, pp. 108-113
- Alves, Patrícia M., Al-Badi, Eide, Withycombe, Cathryn, Jones, Paul M, Purdy, Kevin J., Maddocks, Sarah E., 2018. Interaction between Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is beneficial for colonisation and pathogenicity in a mixed-biofilm. Pathogens and disease, 76 (1)
- Atia, Jolene, Monaghan, E. M. (Emma M.), Kaler, Jasmeet, Purdy, Kevin J., Green, Laura E., Keeling, Matthew James, 2017. Mathematical modeling of ovine footrot in the UK : the effect ofDichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium necrophorum on thedisease dynamics. Epidemics, 21, pp. 13-20
- Smith, Edward M., Gilbert, Andrew, Russell, Claire L., Purdy, Kevin J., Medley, Graham, Muzafar, Mohd, Grogono-Thomas, Rosemary, Green, Laura E., 2017. Within-flock population dynamics of Dichelobacter nodosus. Frontiers In Veterinary Science, 4 (58)
- Jameson, Eleanor, Doxey, Andrew C., Airs, Ruth, Purdy, Kevin J., Murrell, J. C. (J. Colin), Chen, Yin, 2016. Metagenomic data-mining reveals contrasting microbial populations responsible for trimethylamine formation in human gut and marine ecosystems. Microbial Genomics, 2 (9)
- Withycombe, C., Purdy, Kevin J., Maddocks, S. E., 2016. Micro-management : curbing chronic wound infection. Molecular Oral Microbiology, 2041-1006
- Zanardini, E., May, Eric, Inkpen, Robert, Cappitelli, Francesca, Murrell, J. C. (J. Colin), Purdy, Kevin J., 2016. Diversity of archaeal and bacterial communities on exfoliated sandstone from Portchester Castle (UK). International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 109, pp. 78-87
- Trimmer, Mark, Chronopoulou, Panagiota-Myrsini, Maanoja, Susanna T., Upstill-Goddard, Robert C., Kitidis, Vassilis, Purdy, Kevin J., 2016. Nitrous oxide as a function of oxygen and archaeal gene abundance in the North Pacific. Nature Communications, 7
- Jameson, Eleanor, Fu, Tiantian, Brown, Ian R., Paszkiewicz, Konrad, Purdy, Kevin J., Frank, Stefanie, Chen, Yin, 2015. Anaerobic choline metabolism in microcompartments promotes growth and swarming of Proteus mirabilis. Environmental Microbiology, 18, pp. 2886-2898
- Smith, Edward M., Willis, Zoë N., Blakeley, Matthew, Lovatt, Fiona, Purdy, Kevin J., Green, Laura E., 2015. Bacterial species and their associations with acute and chronic mastitis in suckler ewes. Journal of Dairy Science, 98 (10), pp. 7025-7033
- Maddocks, Sarah Elizabeth, Johns, Benjamin, Purdy, Kevin J., Tucker, Nicholas, 2015. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of small colony variants and their role in chronic infection. Microbiology Insights, pp. 15-23
- Trimmer, Mark, Shelley, Felicity C., Purdy, Kevin J., Maanoja, Susanna T., Chronopoulou, Panagiota-Myrsini, Jonathan, Grey, 2015. Riverbed methanotrophy sustained by high carbon conversion efficiency. The ISME journal, 9, pp. 2304-2314
- Carbonero, Franck, Oakley, Brian B., Purdy, Kevin J., 2014. Metabolic flexibility as a major predictor of spatial distribution in microbial communities. PLoS One, 9 (1)
- Maddocks, Sarah Elizabeth, Jenkins, Rowena Eleri, Rowlands, Richard Samuel, Purdy, Kevin J., Cooper, Rose, 2013. Manuka honey inhibits adhesion and invasion of medically important wound bacteria in vitro. Future Microbiology, 8 (12), pp. 1523-1536
- Oakley, Brian B., Carbonero, Franck, Dowd, Scot E, Hawkins, Robert J, Purdy, Kevin J., 2012. Contrasting patterns of niche partitioning between two anaerobic terminal oxidizers of organic matter. ISME Journal, Vol.6 (No.5), pp. 905-914
- Trimmer, Mark, Purdy, Kevin J., 2012. Evidence for the direct oxidation of organic nitrogen to N2 gas in the Arabian Sea. ISME Journal, Vol.6 (No.9), pp. 1798-1800
- Carbonero, Franck, Oakley, Brian B., Hawkins, Robert J., Purdy, Kevin J., 2012. Genotypic distribution of a specialist model microorganism, methanosaeta, along an estuarine gradient : does metabolic restriction limit niche differentiation potential?. Microbial Ecology, 63 (4), pp. 856-864
- Ditchfield, A. K., Wilson, S. T., Hart, M. C., Purdy, Kevin J., Green, D. H., Hatton, A. D., 2012. Identification of putative methylotrophic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens within sedimenting material and copepod faecal pellets. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Vol.67 (No.2), pp. 151-160
- Giacomucci, L., Purdy, Kevin J., Zanardini, E., Polo, A., Cappitelli, F., 2012. A new non-degenerate primer pair for the specific detection of the nitrite reductase gene nrfA in the genus desulfovibrio. Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, 22 (6), pp. 345-351
- Oakley, Brian B., Dowd, Scot E., Purdy, Kevin J., 2011. ThermoPhyl : a software tool for selecting phylogenetically optimized conventional and quantitative-PCR taxon-targeted assays for use with complex samples. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol.77 (No.1), pp. 17-27
- Mori, Yumi, Purdy, Kevin J., Oakley, Brian B., Kondo, Ryuji, 2010. Comprehensive detection of phototrophic sulfur bacteria using PCR primers that target reverse dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene. Microbes and Environments, Vol.25 (No.3), pp. 190-196
- Oakley, Brian B., Carbonero, Franck, van der Gast, Christopher J., Hawkins, Robert J., Purdy, Kevin J., 2010. Evolutionary divergence and biogeography of sympatric niche-differentiated bacterial populations. ISME Journal, Vol.4 (No.4), pp. 488-497
- Carbonero, Franck, Oakley, Brian B., Purdy, Kevin J., 2010. Improving the isolation of anaerobes on solid media: the example of the fastidious Methanosaeta. Journal of Microbiological Methods, Vol.80 (No.2), pp. 203-205
- Purdy, Kevin J., Hurd, Paul J., Moya-Laraño, Jordi, Trimmer, Mark, Oakley, Brian B., Woodward, Guy, 2010. Systems biology for ecology : from molecules to ecosystems. Advances in Ecological Research, Vol.43, pp. 87-149
- Ball, Alexander D., Purdy, Kevin J., Glover, Emily A., Taylor, John D., 2009. Ctenidial structure and three bacterial symbiont morphotypes in Anodontia (Euanodontia) ovum (Reeve, 1850) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Bivalvia: Lucinidae). Journal of Mossulscan Studies, Vol.75 (Part 2), pp. 175-185
- Devaney, D., Godley, A. R., Hodson, Mark E., Purdy, Kevin J., Yamulki, S., 2008. Impact of sewage sludge applications on the biogeochemistry of soils. Water Science and Technology, Vol.57 (No.4), pp. 513-518
- Kondo, Ryuji, Purdy, Kevin J., Silva, Silvana De Queiroz, Nedwell, David B., 2007. Spatial dynamics of sulphate-reducing bacterial compositions in sediment along a salinity gradient in a UK estuary. Microbes and Environments, 22 (1), pp. 11-19
- Hawkins, Robert J., Purdy, Kevin J., 2007. Genotypic distribution of an indigenous model microorganism along an estuarine gradient. Joint Symposium of the Environmental-Microbiology-Group/British-Ecological-Society/Society-for-General-Microbiology, Univ York, York, UK, 13 Sep 2006, Published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology, pp. 187-194
- Carbonero, Franck, Oakley, Brian B., Purdy, Kevin J., 2010. Corrigendum to "Improving the isolation of anaerobes on solid media: the example of the fastidious Methanosaeta" (vol 80, pg 203, 2010). Journal of Microbiological Methods, Elsevier, pp. 112-112
- Purdy, Kevin J., 2007. The distribution and diversity of Euryarchaeota in termite guts. Advances in Applied Microbiology, Academic Press, pp. 63-80
Title | Funder | Award start | Award end |
---|---|---|---|
Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB) | BBSRC | 14 Nov 2014 | 31 May 2020 |
Impacts of global warming in sentinel systems: from genes to ecosystems | NERC | 01 Oct 2015 | 30 Sep 2019 |
Is multistrain infection by Dichelobacter nodosus important in the severity of footrot and in the management of disease? | BBSRC | 05 Feb 2015 | 03 Sep 2018 |
Understanding the persistence of Fusobacterium necrophorum in ovine footrot using novel strain-based community analysis. | Medical and Life Sciences Research Fund | 01 Jan 2017 | 30 Jun 2017 |
Determining factors and spatial scale that structure microbial communities | NERC | 01 Jan 2013 | 31 Jan 2017 |
To improve the understanding of the epidemiology of ovine footrot, with an emphasis on the role of F. necrophorum in disease pathogenesis | MSD Animal Health | 01 Jan 2015 | 31 Dec 2016 |
BBSRC ARC Full: Are microbiomes important to mammary gland health in dairy cows? | BBSRC | 01 Oct 2013 | 30 Sep 2016 |
Anaerobic quaternary amine degradation: from single bacterium to salt marsh ecosystem. | NERC | 01 Oct 2011 | 30 Sep 2014 |
Using bacterial strain typing to determine whether sheep-to-sheep infection has occurred in an outbreak of clinical ovine mastitis | Society for General Microbiology | 02 Jul 2014 | 27 Aug 2014 |
Understanding methanogenesis in sedimenting material | NERC | 01 Aug 2010 | 31 Jul 2013 |
SGM vacation studentship for Sarah Withey | Society for General Microbiology | 01 Jul 2010 | 31 Aug 2010 |
Nitrous Oxide and Nitrogen Gas production in the Arabian Sea - A Process and Community Based Study | NERC | 01 Jul 2007 | 30 Jun 2010 |
MicroEcolXT | EU | 01 Jan 2005 | 30 Jun 2008 |