Komkiew Pinpimai
Doctor of Philosophy
Study Completed: 2019
College of Sciences
Citation
Thesis Title
Klebsiella pneumoniae in New Zealand sea lions
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
Every year a large number of New Zealand sea lion pups have died from Klebsiella pneumoniae during the breeding season. In order to prevent and control this infection, Ms Pinpimai established baseline data including bacterial phenotype and genotype, geographic distribution of the pathogen, and the immune response to the pathogen. She found that the K. pneumoniae isolates from New Zealand sea lion pups have the same basic characteristics including a hypermucoviscous phenotype, serotype K2, and sequence type 86. This suggested clonality of this pathogen. The geographic distribution of the pathogen was found on Enderby Island, Dundas Island, Campbell Island, and the Otago Peninsula. The hypermucoviscosity isolates from pups were resistant to some innate immune responses. Ms Pinpimai's research has provided valuable insight into understanding the characteristics and the geographic distribution of this pathogen including baseline information to prevent and control this infection.
Supervisors
Professor Wendi Roe
Associate Professor Soto Esteban
Professor Patrick Biggs
Professor Keren Dittmer