Associate Professor Paul Dennis

Associate Professor in Env Science

School of the Environment
Faculty of Science
p.dennis@uq.edu.au
+61 7 344 32575

Overview

Paul Dennis leads an exciting research group that applies cutting-edge technologies to understand the roles of microorganisms and their responses to environmental change.

He is also a passionate educator and public speaker who advocates for the importance of biological diversity and evidence-based environmental awareness. He has talked about his research on ABC Radio and a range of other media outlets.

His teaching covers aspects of ecology, microbiology, plant and soil science, and climatology. He considers these topics to be of fundamental importance for the development of more sustainable societies and takes pride in helping others to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to build a better future.

Paul's research has taken him to Antarctica, the Amazon Rainforest, high mountains and oceans. The approaches used in his lab draw on a wide range of expertise in molecular biology, ecology, statistics, computer science, advanced imaging and soil science. He applies these skills to a wide-range of topics and systems including plant-microbe interactions, Antarctic marine and terrestrial ecology, biogeography, pollution and human health.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University College London
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Wales

Publications

View all Publications

Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

  • Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a pH gradient from Rothamsted, UK. Soil pH strongly influences microbial diversity. The relationship between diversity and other attributes of community structure, however, are poorly understood. In this project we will investigate the effect of species loss on community structure. This work has ramifications for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity.

  • Plants release up to 50% of photosynthetically derived carbon from their roots as a complex mixture of organic compounds known as root exudates. These compounds fuel diverse root-associated microbial communities that consist of plant growth-promoting species as well as those that cause disease or compete with plants for resources. By changing the mixture of exudates released from their roots, plants are thought to exert some level of control over the selection of their microbial symbionts.

    Current evidence indicates that most root-associated microorganisms are chemotactic, i.e. they have the ability to sense substrates released by roots and direct movement towards them. This ability enables them to respond rapidly to resources as they become available and out-compete neighboring populations. At present there is no information regarding the selectivity of different exudate components for specific groups of chemotactic organisms. Here, we will use a novel chemotaxis assay in combination with high-throughput sequencing and flow cytometry to identify and enumerate microorganisms that respond to different root exudate components. This information will identify exudates that are strongly associated with the recruitment of beneficial and/or deleterious organisms and should facilitate the development of crops that select for beneficial root-microbial communities.

  • Plants exude a complex mixture of organic compounds from their roots, which alter the availability of plant nutrients and fuel diverse microbial communities that influence plant health and nutrition. Nutrient deficiencies affect large areas of agricultural land. Nutrient deficiencies are known to strongly influence root exudation but these effects are poorly understood. Changes in root exudation could reduce crop yields by negatively affecting plant nutrient uptake and plant-microbe interactions. For this reason, better understanding of the effects of nutrient deficiencies on root exudation is needed to predict future food security. In this project, plants will be grown under differ nutrient deficiencies and root exudates will be collected and analyses using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry methods.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Budden, K., Rehman, S. F., Shukla, S., Bowerman, K., Donovan, C., Gomez, H., Alemao, C., Wood, L., Dennis, P., Hugenholtz, P., Wark, P. and Hansbro, P. (2022). Association between dietary fibre, microbial metabolites and airway obstruction in COPD patients and murine models. ERS International Congress 2022, Barcelona, Spain, 4-6 September 2022. Sheffield, United Kingdom: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2022.3289

  • Budden, K., Rehman, Firdous S., Shukla, S., Bowerman, K., Donovan, C., Gomez, H., Sahu, P., Alemao, C., Holmes, A., Dennis, P., Hugenholtz, P., Wark, P. and Hansbro, P. (2020). Diet influences COPD pathogenesis by regulating microbial metabolism. TSANZSRS 2020 The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 27–31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Budden, K., Shukla, S., Rehman, Firdous S., Donvan, C., Bowerman, K., Dennis, P., Hugenholtz, P. and Hansbro, P. (2019). Dietary fibre elevates SCFAS and protects against experimental COPD. TSANZSRS 2019 The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29 March–2 April 2019. Richmond, VIC, Australia : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/resp.13492

  • Budden, Kurtis, Shukla, Shakti, Rehman, Saima Firdous, Sahu, Priyanka, Donovan, Chantal, Bowerman, Kate L., Dennis, Paul G., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hansbro, Philip M. (2019). The Role of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome in Lung Cancer Pathogenesis. 2019 Hunter Cancer Research Symposium, Newcastle, NSW Australia, 8 November 2019. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Dennis, P., Birt, H., Raghavendra, A., Waugh, G., Wang, H., Aitken, E., Gervacio, T., Orr, R., Nelson, P., Daniells, J. and Pattison, T. (2018). Identification of disease suppressive banana plant and soil microbiomes. International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP), Boston MA, United States, July 29 - August 3 2018. Saint Paul, MN, United States: American Phytopathological Society.

  • Pattison, T., McBeath, A., East, D., Birt, H. and Dennis, P. (2018). Manipulation of the soil microbial community to suppress soil-borne diseases of banana through soil management. International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP), Boston MA, United States, July 29 - August 3 2018. Saint Paul, MN, United States: American Phytopathological Society.

  • Budden, Kurtis, Gellatly, Shaan, Wood, David, Morrison, Mark, Cooper, Matthew, Dennis, Paul G., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hansbro, Philip (2017). Dietary fibre and microbial metabolites protect against cigarette smoke-induced lung pathology in mice. 22nd Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, Sydney, Australia, 23–26 November 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.

  • Gellatly, S., Dennis, P., Jarnicki, A., Lachner, N., Wood, D., Fricker, M., Budden, K., Liu, G., Keely, S., Morrison, M., Willner, D., Cooper, M., Hugenholtz, P. and Hansbro, P. (2016). Healthy gut microbiota ameliorates experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science 2014, Perth, WA, Australia, 1–6 April 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley. doi: 10.1111/resp.12754_22

  • Lynch, J. P., Werder, R., Rogers, M., Lane, K., Loh, Z., Diener, K., Colonna, M., Forstner, C., Dennis, P., Hayball, J., Hill, G., Haque, A., Spann, K., Mazzone, S., Uphaem, J. and Phipps, S. (2016). Semaphorin 4A-Dependent Treg Cell Expansion by Plasmacytoid Dc Confers Protection Against Severe Viral Bronchiolitis and Subsequent Asthma. 4th Annual Meeting of The International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS), San Francisco, United States, 16-19 October 2016. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2016.07.021

  • Pervin, H.P., Hastie, M., Dennis, P.G., Jensen, P., Gorman, J., Tyson, G.W., Batstone, D. and Bond, P.L. (2013). Microbial community composition and function associated with enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids.. 2nd Water Research Conference, Singapore EXPO, Singapore, 20-23 January, 2013.

  • Pervin, H.P., Dennis, P.G., Lim, H.J., Tyson, G.W., Batstone, D. and Bond, P.L. (2013). Microbial community dynamics correlate to reactor parameters and performance in a pre-treatment stage of temperature–phased anaerobic digestion.. 2nd Water Research Conference, Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, 20-23 January 2013.

  • Pervin, H. P., Hastie, M., Dennis, P. G., Gorman, J., Tyson, G. W., Batstone, D. and Bond, P. L. (2012). Determining ecosystem community and function important for enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids. Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM2012), Brisbane, Australia, 1-4 July 2012.

  • Cayford, Barry I., Dennis, Paul G., Tyson, Gene W. and Bond, Philip L. (2012). Microbial communities involved in the corrosion of concrete sewer infrastructure. 14th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME14), Copenhagan, Denmark, 19-24 August 2012.

  • Cayford, B. I., Tyson, G. W., Dennis, P. G., Keller, J. and Bond, P .L. (2012). Microbial corrosion of concrete sewer pipes. Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM2012), Brisbane, Australia, 1-4 July 2012.

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a pH gradient from Rothamsted, UK. Soil pH strongly influences microbial diversity. The relationship between diversity and other attributes of community structure, however, are poorly understood. In this project we will investigate the effect of species loss on community structure. This work has ramifications for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity.

  • Plants release up to 50% of photosynthetically derived carbon from their roots as a complex mixture of organic compounds known as root exudates. These compounds fuel diverse root-associated microbial communities that consist of plant growth-promoting species as well as those that cause disease or compete with plants for resources. By changing the mixture of exudates released from their roots, plants are thought to exert some level of control over the selection of their microbial symbionts.

    Current evidence indicates that most root-associated microorganisms are chemotactic, i.e. they have the ability to sense substrates released by roots and direct movement towards them. This ability enables them to respond rapidly to resources as they become available and out-compete neighboring populations. At present there is no information regarding the selectivity of different exudate components for specific groups of chemotactic organisms. Here, we will use a novel chemotaxis assay in combination with high-throughput sequencing and flow cytometry to identify and enumerate microorganisms that respond to different root exudate components. This information will identify exudates that are strongly associated with the recruitment of beneficial and/or deleterious organisms and should facilitate the development of crops that select for beneficial root-microbial communities.

  • Plants exude a complex mixture of organic compounds from their roots, which alter the availability of plant nutrients and fuel diverse microbial communities that influence plant health and nutrition. Nutrient deficiencies affect large areas of agricultural land. Nutrient deficiencies are known to strongly influence root exudation but these effects are poorly understood. Changes in root exudation could reduce crop yields by negatively affecting plant nutrient uptake and plant-microbe interactions. For this reason, better understanding of the effects of nutrient deficiencies on root exudation is needed to predict future food security. In this project, plants will be grown under differ nutrient deficiencies and root exudates will be collected and analyses using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry methods.

  • Nutrient deficiencies and drought are major agricultural constraints. Fertilisers and irrigation help to alleviate these issues, but rely on non-renewable resources and contribute to environmental degradation. By 2050 there will be nine billion people on Earth, which places food security at the top of society’s challenges for the 21st century1. Soils harbour a wide variety of microbial taxa that significantly enhance plant nutrient acquisition and drought tolerance. These organisms could be used to more sustainably maintain, or enhance, global food security. In this project, microbes will be isolated from the roots of stressed plants and then screened for attributes that promote plant fitness under drought and nutrient stress.

  • Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a 750 km moisture gradient in South Australia. The incidence of drought is predicted to increase with climate change so better understanding of how drought influences microbially mediated ecosystems processes is key to our ability to maintain food security in the future.

  • Banana’s are one of Queensland’s main agricultural products. Microorganisms influence the health and nutrition of banana’s but the identities of microbes that live in association with banana’s are largely unknown. In his project we will apply high throughput sequencing technologies to characterise the banana microbiome and its role in plant growth promotion and disease prevention.