Rhys White
@rhystwhite.bsky.social
Scientist | Turning #Genomics into intelligence | Tracking pathogen evolution, diversity, & spread | Welsh expat in New Zealand | Formerly The University of Queensland
Highest risk: unvaccinated people, babies under 12 months, pregnant people, & those with weakened immunity. Complications can be serious 👶 🤰 🧪
November 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Highest risk: unvaccinated people, babies under 12 months, pregnant people, & those with weakened immunity. Complications can be serious 👶 🤰 🧪
Symptoms to watch: fever (≥38°C), cough, runny nose, sore red eyes, then a rash.
If symptoms start, call your GP or Healthline first.
👉Do not just turn up👈
☎️ 0800 611 116
If symptoms start, call your GP or Healthline first.
👉Do not just turn up👈
☎️ 0800 611 116
November 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Symptoms to watch: fever (≥38°C), cough, runny nose, sore red eyes, then a rash.
If symptoms start, call your GP or Healthline first.
👉Do not just turn up👈
☎️ 0800 611 116
If symptoms start, call your GP or Healthline first.
👉Do not just turn up👈
☎️ 0800 611 116
How can #measles spread?
Breathe the same air as an infectious person & you can catch it. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours 🕒
📍💉 #Measles #HealthNZ #TeWhatuOra #Immunisation #NZ
Breathe the same air as an infectious person & you can catch it. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours 🕒
📍💉 #Measles #HealthNZ #TeWhatuOra #Immunisation #NZ
November 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
How can #measles spread?
Breathe the same air as an infectious person & you can catch it. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours 🕒
📍💉 #Measles #HealthNZ #TeWhatuOra #Immunisation #NZ
Breathe the same air as an infectious person & you can catch it. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours 🕒
📍💉 #Measles #HealthNZ #TeWhatuOra #Immunisation #NZ
⚠️ What is measles (Te mate karawaka)?
A HIGHLY contagious virus that spreads through the air. People are infectious before the rash shows
Learn more 👉 info.health.nz/conditions-t...
😷💉 #Measles #MMR #VaccinesWork #Aotearoa #PublicHealth
A HIGHLY contagious virus that spreads through the air. People are infectious before the rash shows
Learn more 👉 info.health.nz/conditions-t...
😷💉 #Measles #MMR #VaccinesWork #Aotearoa #PublicHealth
November 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
⚠️ What is measles (Te mate karawaka)?
A HIGHLY contagious virus that spreads through the air. People are infectious before the rash shows
Learn more 👉 info.health.nz/conditions-t...
😷💉 #Measles #MMR #VaccinesWork #Aotearoa #PublicHealth
A HIGHLY contagious virus that spreads through the air. People are infectious before the rash shows
Learn more 👉 info.health.nz/conditions-t...
😷💉 #Measles #MMR #VaccinesWork #Aotearoa #PublicHealth
Where else is ST1 hiding?
We need to start thinking about environmental & farm worker sampling to map the spread & persistence of ST1
#AMR #Genomics #OneHealth #Staphylococcus #Biosecurity #NZ
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
We need to start thinking about environmental & farm worker sampling to map the spread & persistence of ST1
#AMR #Genomics #OneHealth #Staphylococcus #Biosecurity #NZ
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
September 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Where else is ST1 hiding?
We need to start thinking about environmental & farm worker sampling to map the spread & persistence of ST1
#AMR #Genomics #OneHealth #Staphylococcus #Biosecurity #NZ
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
We need to start thinking about environmental & farm worker sampling to map the spread & persistence of ST1
#AMR #Genomics #OneHealth #Staphylococcus #Biosecurity #NZ
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Timeline analyses show ST1 evolving differently in people & cows
To stay ahead of emerging lineages & resistance, we need a #OneHealth lens linking human, animal, & environmental data 🌍
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
To stay ahead of emerging lineages & resistance, we need a #OneHealth lens linking human, animal, & environmental data 🌍
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
September 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Timeline analyses show ST1 evolving differently in people & cows
To stay ahead of emerging lineages & resistance, we need a #OneHealth lens linking human, animal, & environmental data 🌍
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
To stay ahead of emerging lineages & resistance, we need a #OneHealth lens linking human, animal, & environmental data 🌍
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
We expected human & bovine derived ST1 to be genomically ‘similar’
Instead we found:
🔹 Human derived ST1 = more antibiotic resistance genes #AMR
🔹 Bovine derived ST1 = a unique host-specific prophage (φSabovST1) carrying bovine leukocidins
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Instead we found:
🔹 Human derived ST1 = more antibiotic resistance genes #AMR
🔹 Bovine derived ST1 = a unique host-specific prophage (φSabovST1) carrying bovine leukocidins
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
September 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
We expected human & bovine derived ST1 to be genomically ‘similar’
Instead we found:
🔹 Human derived ST1 = more antibiotic resistance genes #AMR
🔹 Bovine derived ST1 = a unique host-specific prophage (φSabovST1) carrying bovine leukocidins
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Instead we found:
🔹 Human derived ST1 = more antibiotic resistance genes #AMR
🔹 Bovine derived ST1 = a unique host-specific prophage (φSabovST1) carrying bovine leukocidins
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Globally, bovine S. aureus usually belong to ST97/ST151
But in NZ 🇳🇿, ST1 dominates in humans & cattle
This unusual overlap raises big questions about possible cross-species #transmission & #evolution
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
But in NZ 🇳🇿, ST1 dominates in humans & cattle
This unusual overlap raises big questions about possible cross-species #transmission & #evolution
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
September 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Globally, bovine S. aureus usually belong to ST97/ST151
But in NZ 🇳🇿, ST1 dominates in humans & cattle
This unusual overlap raises big questions about possible cross-species #transmission & #evolution
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
But in NZ 🇳🇿, ST1 dominates in humans & cattle
This unusual overlap raises big questions about possible cross-species #transmission & #evolution
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
#PublicHealth action worked:
🧼Hygiene issues were fixed
✅No further cases linked to the site
Genomic sequencing helped:
✔️Trace the outbreak to a single introduction
✔️Understand how it spread
#CPE isn’t just a hospital problem - it’s a community threat, but solvable
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
🧼Hygiene issues were fixed
✅No further cases linked to the site
Genomic sequencing helped:
✔️Trace the outbreak to a single introduction
✔️Understand how it spread
#CPE isn’t just a hospital problem - it’s a community threat, but solvable
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
July 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
#PublicHealth action worked:
🧼Hygiene issues were fixed
✅No further cases linked to the site
Genomic sequencing helped:
✔️Trace the outbreak to a single introduction
✔️Understand how it spread
#CPE isn’t just a hospital problem - it’s a community threat, but solvable
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
🧼Hygiene issues were fixed
✅No further cases linked to the site
Genomic sequencing helped:
✔️Trace the outbreak to a single introduction
✔️Understand how it spread
#CPE isn’t just a hospital problem - it’s a community threat, but solvable
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
A common link kept coming up: a ready-to-eat food venue, Premises A
Environmental testing found OXA-48 #Ecoli from food handlers, some had no symptoms
One had travelled to SE Asia in 2017
The strain likely entered NZ once, then spread locally
#PublicHealth #Outbreak
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Environmental testing found OXA-48 #Ecoli from food handlers, some had no symptoms
One had travelled to SE Asia in 2017
The strain likely entered NZ once, then spread locally
#PublicHealth #Outbreak
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
July 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
A common link kept coming up: a ready-to-eat food venue, Premises A
Environmental testing found OXA-48 #Ecoli from food handlers, some had no symptoms
One had travelled to SE Asia in 2017
The strain likely entered NZ once, then spread locally
#PublicHealth #Outbreak
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Environmental testing found OXA-48 #Ecoli from food handlers, some had no symptoms
One had travelled to SE Asia in 2017
The strain likely entered NZ once, then spread locally
#PublicHealth #Outbreak
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
🧵The team used #genomics to reveal community spread of #AntimicrobialResistant bacteria in New Zealand
A carbapenemase-producing E. coli was spreading
Not in hospitals, in the community
We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate & start to learn what happened
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
A carbapenemase-producing E. coli was spreading
Not in hospitals, in the community
We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate & start to learn what happened
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
July 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
🧵The team used #genomics to reveal community spread of #AntimicrobialResistant bacteria in New Zealand
A carbapenemase-producing E. coli was spreading
Not in hospitals, in the community
We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate & start to learn what happened
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
A carbapenemase-producing E. coli was spreading
Not in hospitals, in the community
We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate & start to learn what happened
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
One patient, two samples
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
May 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
One patient, two samples
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Attending #ESCMIDGlobal & curious about community-associated CPE?
Craig Thornley is presenting today on a prolonged OXA-48-producing E. coli cluster in New Zealand, with genomic evidence supporting community & hospital transmission. See poster E0434 #ESCMIDGlobal2025
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Craig Thornley is presenting today on a prolonged OXA-48-producing E. coli cluster in New Zealand, with genomic evidence supporting community & hospital transmission. See poster E0434 #ESCMIDGlobal2025
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
April 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Attending #ESCMIDGlobal & curious about community-associated CPE?
Craig Thornley is presenting today on a prolonged OXA-48-producing E. coli cluster in New Zealand, with genomic evidence supporting community & hospital transmission. See poster E0434 #ESCMIDGlobal2025
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Craig Thornley is presenting today on a prolonged OXA-48-producing E. coli cluster in New Zealand, with genomic evidence supporting community & hospital transmission. See poster E0434 #ESCMIDGlobal2025
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Huge thanks to the amazing team at Awanui Labs & ESR, especially Suzanne Manning (project lead) & colleagues! We need to keep pushing the boundaries of genomics in clinical settings💪 #Genomics #Microbiology #Nanopore
March 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Huge thanks to the amazing team at Awanui Labs & ESR, especially Suzanne Manning (project lead) & colleagues! We need to keep pushing the boundaries of genomics in clinical settings💪 #Genomics #Microbiology #Nanopore
But challenges remain—integrating new tech into routine lab workflows takes time & investment. We discuss key enablers & barriers from a social systems perspective
March 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
But challenges remain—integrating new tech into routine lab workflows takes time & investment. We discuss key enablers & barriers from a social systems perspective
What we found:
✅ #Nanopore sequencing enabled faster, more precise tracking of pathogens
✅Close collaboration between Awanui Labs Wellington & ESR was key
✅Barriers included #bioinformatics expertise & data infrastructure challenges
✅ #Nanopore sequencing enabled faster, more precise tracking of pathogens
✅Close collaboration between Awanui Labs Wellington & ESR was key
✅Barriers included #bioinformatics expertise & data infrastructure challenges
March 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
What we found:
✅ #Nanopore sequencing enabled faster, more precise tracking of pathogens
✅Close collaboration between Awanui Labs Wellington & ESR was key
✅Barriers included #bioinformatics expertise & data infrastructure challenges
✅ #Nanopore sequencing enabled faster, more precise tracking of pathogens
✅Close collaboration between Awanui Labs Wellington & ESR was key
✅Barriers included #bioinformatics expertise & data infrastructure challenges
Using Solu Genomics, a cloud-based platform, we replicated analysis of two real #NICU outbreaks (#MRSA & K. variicola). Results ready in <40 min, matched 'manual' #Bioinformatics in identifying #Outbreak clusters
February 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Using Solu Genomics, a cloud-based platform, we replicated analysis of two real #NICU outbreaks (#MRSA & K. variicola). Results ready in <40 min, matched 'manual' #Bioinformatics in identifying #Outbreak clusters
Key challenge: Many hospitals can sequence bacterial genomes but lack #Bioinformatics expertise for rapid analysis. This slows #Outbreak detection as samples/#Data is sent to reference labs, delaying #InfectionControl. Faster, decentralised #Genomics solutions are needed
February 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Key challenge: Many hospitals can sequence bacterial genomes but lack #Bioinformatics expertise for rapid analysis. This slows #Outbreak detection as samples/#Data is sent to reference labs, delaying #InfectionControl. Faster, decentralised #Genomics solutions are needed
#AMR is a web connecting humans, animals, & the environment🕸️
Tackling it requires a #OneHealth approach—thinking beyond just human health to protect the planet too🌍
We are all connected, & the fight against AMR starts with all of us #WAAW2024
Tackling it requires a #OneHealth approach—thinking beyond just human health to protect the planet too🌍
We are all connected, & the fight against AMR starts with all of us #WAAW2024
November 23, 2024 at 8:39 AM
#AMR is a web connecting humans, animals, & the environment🕸️
Tackling it requires a #OneHealth approach—thinking beyond just human health to protect the planet too🌍
We are all connected, & the fight against AMR starts with all of us #WAAW2024
Tackling it requires a #OneHealth approach—thinking beyond just human health to protect the planet too🌍
We are all connected, & the fight against AMR starts with all of us #WAAW2024
What about the environment?🌊
#Wastewater is a key pathway for #AMR genes. #Antibiotics excreted by humans & animals end up in sewage, & treatment plants may not remove it all.
In NZ, ESBL-producing E. coli have even been found in urban waterways
See: doi.org/10.1128/mra....
#Wastewater is a key pathway for #AMR genes. #Antibiotics excreted by humans & animals end up in sewage, & treatment plants may not remove it all.
In NZ, ESBL-producing E. coli have even been found in urban waterways
See: doi.org/10.1128/mra....
November 23, 2024 at 8:39 AM
What about the environment?🌊
#Wastewater is a key pathway for #AMR genes. #Antibiotics excreted by humans & animals end up in sewage, & treatment plants may not remove it all.
In NZ, ESBL-producing E. coli have even been found in urban waterways
See: doi.org/10.1128/mra....
#Wastewater is a key pathway for #AMR genes. #Antibiotics excreted by humans & animals end up in sewage, & treatment plants may not remove it all.
In NZ, ESBL-producing E. coli have even been found in urban waterways
See: doi.org/10.1128/mra....
#AMR in humans in New Zealand is a big challenge
We have high #Antibiotic dispensing rates, often for illnesses that don’t need them. This drives #AMR.
While efforts are lowering antibiotic use, NZ’s rates are still higher than many countries
See: doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
We have high #Antibiotic dispensing rates, often for illnesses that don’t need them. This drives #AMR.
While efforts are lowering antibiotic use, NZ’s rates are still higher than many countries
See: doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
November 23, 2024 at 8:39 AM
#AMR in humans in New Zealand is a big challenge
We have high #Antibiotic dispensing rates, often for illnesses that don’t need them. This drives #AMR.
While efforts are lowering antibiotic use, NZ’s rates are still higher than many countries
See: doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
We have high #Antibiotic dispensing rates, often for illnesses that don’t need them. This drives #AMR.
While efforts are lowering antibiotic use, NZ’s rates are still higher than many countries
See: doi.org/10.1093/jac/...
Compared to other developed countries, New Zealand has relatively low #AMR levels in animals 🐄🐖🐓
Why? Regulations here prevent #Antibiotics from being used to promote growth in animals, & farming practices are often less intensive than factory farming elsewhere #WAAW2024
Why? Regulations here prevent #Antibiotics from being used to promote growth in animals, & farming practices are often less intensive than factory farming elsewhere #WAAW2024
November 23, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Compared to other developed countries, New Zealand has relatively low #AMR levels in animals 🐄🐖🐓
Why? Regulations here prevent #Antibiotics from being used to promote growth in animals, & farming practices are often less intensive than factory farming elsewhere #WAAW2024
Why? Regulations here prevent #Antibiotics from being used to promote growth in animals, & farming practices are often less intensive than factory farming elsewhere #WAAW2024
Day 6 of @who.int World #AntimicrobialAwarenessWeek: AMR isn't just a global crisis—it has local consequences🌏
It’s not just about humans. #AMR affects animals, the environment & everything in between.
To truly understand AMR, we need to see how these 3 are connected #OneHealth #WAAW🧵👇🧪 #WAAW2024
It’s not just about humans. #AMR affects animals, the environment & everything in between.
To truly understand AMR, we need to see how these 3 are connected #OneHealth #WAAW🧵👇🧪 #WAAW2024
November 23, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Day 6 of @who.int World #AntimicrobialAwarenessWeek: AMR isn't just a global crisis—it has local consequences🌏
It’s not just about humans. #AMR affects animals, the environment & everything in between.
To truly understand AMR, we need to see how these 3 are connected #OneHealth #WAAW🧵👇🧪 #WAAW2024
It’s not just about humans. #AMR affects animals, the environment & everything in between.
To truly understand AMR, we need to see how these 3 are connected #OneHealth #WAAW🧵👇🧪 #WAAW2024
Efflux Pumps: Efflux pumps remove antibiotics from bacterial cells. This mechanism is common in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and can reduce antibiotic effectiveness #AMR #AntibioticResistance @who.int #WAAW2024 🧪
November 22, 2024 at 3:52 AM
Efflux Pumps: Efflux pumps remove antibiotics from bacterial cells. This mechanism is common in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and can reduce antibiotic effectiveness #AMR #AntibioticResistance @who.int #WAAW2024 🧪
Bacteria can acquire an #AMR gene that changes target sites. S. aureus resists penicillin by acquiring an extra copy of PBP2a, a protein that works in the presence of the #Antibiotic. This is how #MRSA (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus) becomes resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics @who.int #WAAW2024
November 22, 2024 at 3:52 AM
Bacteria can acquire an #AMR gene that changes target sites. S. aureus resists penicillin by acquiring an extra copy of PBP2a, a protein that works in the presence of the #Antibiotic. This is how #MRSA (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus) becomes resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics @who.int #WAAW2024