M Elisabeth Sharpe
M Elisabeth Sharpe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1916 Barnsley, Yorkshire |
| Died | 1998 (aged 81–82) |
| Other name | Becky[1][2] |
| Alma mater | University College London (BSc, 1937); University of Reading (PhD; 1951) |
| Known for | Joint editorship of the Journal of Dairy Research; development of the MRS agar |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Dairy microbiology |
| Workplaces | National Institute for Research in Dairying |
M Elisabeth Sharpe (1916 – 1998) was a British microbiologist. She is best known for her contributions to the field of dairy microbiology and the development of the MRS agar for the isolation and cultivation of Lactobacillus species.[1][2][3]
Research and career
Sharpe attended University College London where she gained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1937.[1] Between 1942 and 1946, Sharpe worked for The Boots Company, where she was involved in research into the pharmacological properties of notatin,[4] before returning to the National Institute for Research in Dairying in Shinfield where remained until her retirement from research in 1978.[2] She received a PhD from the University of Reading in 1951[1] after completing research on group D streptococci isolated from cheese and the faeces of healthy and sick infants.[5][6][7]
Sharpe's later research focussed on dairy microbiology,[1] with her research involving developing new techniques for the identification and classification of gram-positive bacteria, including species belonging to the Lactobacilli genus.[8] In 1960, Sharpe was involved in the invention of the MRS agar along with de Mann and Rogosa;[3] the agar, an adapted form of the Lactobacillus selective Rogosa agar that allows for better growth of fastidious strains, is still used today.[9]
Sharpe was also a contributor and editor of the first edition of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology.[1][10] In 1975, Sharpe become the joint editor of the Journal of Dairy Research, a role in which she remained until her retirement in 1988.[2] In 2008, the genus Sharpea was named in honour of Sharpe's contributions to the development of evolutionary microbiology.[11]
In 1973, Sharpe was awarded a DSc degree from the University of London. After fourteen years as a joint editor of the Journal of Dairy Research, Sharpe retired in 1988[2] before her death in 1999.[1]
Selected publications
- Sharpe, M E (1955). "A serological classification of lactobacilli". Journal of General Microbiology. 12 (1): 107–122. doi:10.1099/00221287-12-1-107. PMID 14354139.
- Sharpe, M (1955). "Haptene substances in culture media for lactobacilli". Journal of General Microbiology. 13 (1): 198–199. doi:10.1099/00221287-13-1-198. PMID 13252230.
- Dacre, J C; Sharpe, M E (1956). "Catalase production by Lactobacilli". Nature. 178 (700): 700. Bibcode:1956Natur.178..700D. doi:10.1038/178700a0.
- Goulden, J D; Sharpe, M E (1958). "The infra-red absorption spectra of lactobacilli". Journal of General Microbiology. 19 (1): 76–86. doi:10.1099/00221287-19-1-76. PMID 13575756.
- De Man, J C; Rogosa, M; Sharpe, M E (1960). "A medium for the culture of lactobacilli". Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 23 (1): 130–135. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.1960.tb00188.x.
- Sharpe, M E; Davison, A L; Baddiley, J (1964). "Teichoic acids and group antigens in Lactobacilli". Journal of General Microbiology. 34 (2): 333–340. doi:10.1099/00221287-34-2-333. PMID 14135540.
- Latham, M J; Sharpe, M E; Sutton, J D (1971). "The microbial flora of the rumen of cows fed hay and high cereal rations and its relationship to the rumen fermentation". Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 34 (2): 425–434. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.1971.tb02302.x. PMID 4939274.
- Latham, M J; Storry, J E; Sharpe, M E (1972). "Effect of low-roughage diets on the microflora and lipid metabolism in the rumen". Applied Microbiology. 24 (6): 871–877. doi:10.1128/am.24.6.871-877.1972. PMC 380689. PMID 16349951.
- Sharpe, M E; et al. (1973). "Two new species of Lactobacillus isolated from the bovine rumen, Lactobacillus ruminis sp.nov. and Lactobacillus vitulinus sp.nov". Journal of General Microbiology. 77 (1): 37–49. doi:10.1099/00221287-77-1-37. PMID 4723944.
- Sharpe, M E; Hill, L R; Lapage, S P (1973). "Pathogenic lactobacilli". Journal of Medical Microbiology. 6 (3): 281–286. doi:10.1099/00222615-6-3-281. PMID 4199269.
- Jacques, N A; Brown, R A; Sharpe, M E; Fitzgerald, R J (1980). "Characterization of two strains of cariogenic lactobacilli". Journal of General Microbiology. 118 (1): 283–286. doi:10.1099/00221287-118-1-283. PMID 7420055.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bramley, A. J. (1999). "Dr M. Elisabeth Sharpe: Obituary". Journal of Dairy Research. 66 (3): 473. doi:10.1017/S0022029999003696. ISSN 1469-7629.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Cheeseman, G. C. (1989). "Dr. M. Elisabeth Sharpe". Journal of Dairy Research. 56 (2): 159. doi:10.1017/S0022029900026364. ISSN 1469-7629.
- 1 2 De MAN, J. C.; Rogosa, M.; Sharpe, M. Elisabeth (1960). "A Medium for the Cultivation of Lactobacilli". Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 23 (1): 130–135. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.1960.tb00188.x. ISSN 0021-8847.
- ↑ Broom, W. A.; Coulthard, C. E.; Gurd, M. R.; Sharpe, M. E. (1946). "Some pharmacological and chemotherapeutic properties of notatin". British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy. 1 (4): 225–233. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1946.tb00041.x. ISSN 0366-0826. PMC 1509745. PMID 19108091.
- ↑ Sharpe, M. Elisabeth (1952). "Occurrence of a Common Type Antigen in Streptococci of Groups D and N". Microbiology. 7 (1–2): 192–199. doi:10.1099/00221287-7-1-2-192. ISSN 1465-2080. PMID 13011271.
- ↑ Elisabeth, Sharpe M.; Frances, Shattock P. M. (1952). "The Serological Typing of Group D Streptococci associated with Outbreaks of Neonatal Diarrhoea". Microbiology. 6 (1–2): 150–165. doi:10.1099/00221287-6-1-2-150. ISSN 1465-2080.
- ↑ Sharpe, M. E. (1952). "Group D streptococci in the faeces of healthy infants and of infants with neonatal diarrhoea". The Journal of Hygiene. 50 (2): 209–228. doi:10.1017/s0022172400019550. ISSN 0022-1724. PMC 2235101. PMID 14938534.
- ↑ Sharpe, M. Elisabeth (1955). "A Serological Classification of Lactobacilli". Microbiology. 12 (1): 107–122. doi:10.1099/00221287-12-1-107. ISSN 1465-2080.
- ↑ Remel (March 23, 2011). "MRS agar" (PDF). Thermofisher.
- ↑ Mcclung, L. S. (1987-01-01). "Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Volume 2.: Edited by Peter H. A. Sneath with Nicholas S. Mair and M. Elisabeth Sharpe. The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, 1986, pp. 962-1599. ISBN 07893-3. $65.50". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 37 (1): 91. doi:10.1099/00207713-37-1-91. ISSN 0020-7713.
- ↑ Morita, Hidetoshi; Shiratori, Chiharu; Murakami, Masaru; Takami, Hideto; Toh, Hidehiro; Kato, Yukio; Nakajima, Fumihiko; Takagi, Misako; Akita, Hiroaki; Masaoka, Toshio; Hattori, Masahira (2008). "Sharpea azabuensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic bacterium isolated from the faeces of thoroughbred horses". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 58 (12): 2682–2686. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.65543-0. ISSN 1466-5034. PMID 19060040.