Nick Heng

Biography

 Dr Heng's primary research expertise is in the field of molecular microbiology specialising in bacterial genetics and gene expression networks/pathways. His current research activities include the sequencing and analysis of oral bacterial genomes, and the characterisation of oral microbial diversity in relation to health and disease. Both areas of research utilise next- generation DNA sequencing technologies, namely the Roche GS-FLX Titanium and GS Junior 454-based pyrosequencers, and the Life Technologies Ion Torrent-based PGM system. Within the Faculty of Dentistry, Dr Heng has ongoing collaborations with Professor G.J. Seymour and Associate Professor M.P. Cullinan (Discipline of Periodontics), and Professor B.K. Drummond (Discipline of Paediatric Dentistry) in relation to the metagenomic projects. In addition, he collaborates with Professor J.R.Tagg, Dr J.D.F. Hale and Dr P.A.Wescombe (all from BLIS Technologies Ltd) in the field of bacterially-produced antimicrobial proteins (bacteriocins), mainly focusing on genomic data-mining. Among the aims of the genome sequencing projects are: (a) uncover new antimicrobial proteins produced by S. salivarius which could be useful in the development of new oral probiotic preparations and (b) determine if there are any virulence factors encoded by the genomes in order to verify the 'safety' of the species for use as probiotics. In 2012, an international collaboration was set up with Dr A. Malik (Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia), which will result in genome analyses of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria isolated from Indonesian foods.

Research Interest

 The scope of research conducted by Dr Heng's group during 2011-2012 included: (1) Characterising the genomes of (a) antimicrobial-producing strain of the oral bacterium Streptococcus salivarius, and (b) Streptococcus trichosurus CB1, a strain of a new streptococcal species isolated from the oral cavity of a New Zealand-adapted brushtail possum. (2) Analysing the microbial (bacterial) diversity of the human oral cavity in health and disease (periodontal disease and dental caries) using the GS-FLX Titanium high- throughput DNA Research and Collaboration