Infection Medicine and Microbiology

• ​Molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases
• Staphylococcus aureus infections – bloodstream infections and orthopaedic implant-associated infections
• Next generation sequencing – whole genome sequencing, metagenomics, rapid diagnostics
• Antibiotic resistance – antibiotic-saving measures, epidemiology, mathematical modelling, resistome analyses of the gut microbiota
• Microbiome – the gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel diseases, host – microbiome crosstalk, resistome
• Human papilloma virus – National HPV Reference lab
• Clinical translational research – collaboration with clinical departments on topics where infections play an important role

Collaborators

The group collaborates with a range of regional, national and international research groups.

Members of the research group

Hege Vangstein Aamot (Group leader)

Academic degree: PhD, Cand. Scient
Research interests: Molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases, next generation sequencing, nanopore sequencing, Staphylococcus aureus infections, genotyping, orthopaedic implant-associated infections
Position: Researcher, Deptartment of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: hege.vangstein.aamot@ahus.no
Phone: +47 67 96 81 54

Truls M. Leegaard (UiO contact)

Academic degree: PhD, MD
Research interests: antibiotic resistance and use, clinical translational research, laboratory methods
Position: Consultant microbiologist, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control; Associate professor, University of Oslo
Email: Truls.Michael.Leegaard@ahus.no
Phone: +47 906 462 65

Jan Erik Berdal

Academic degree: PhD, MD
Research interests: Infection medicine
Position: Head of department, Department of Infectious Diseases, Associate professor, University of Oslo
Email: Jan.Erik.Berdal@ahus.no
Phone: +47 67 96 46 98

Anita Blomfeldt

Academic degree: PhD, MPH
Research interests: Infectious diseases epidemiology, molecular microbiology, Staphylococcus aureus infections, MRSA, antibiotic resistance, bacterial genotyping, whole-genome sequencing
Position: Researcher and Head of R&D section, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: anita.blomfeldt@ahus.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 81 49

Patricia Campbell

Academic degree: MA (Cantab) Cambridge University, MB,BS (Distinction) London University
Research interests: Gonorrhoea epidemiology. Gonorrhoea throat infection. Microbiome. Honey in wound treatment.
Position: Medical Consultant, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Medical Concultant, Nasjonal Kompetansetjeneste for Seksuelt Overførte Infeksjoner, Turning the Tide of Antibiotic resistance (TTA) Consortium, Studentship
Email: patricia.merckoll@ahus.no

Irene Kraus Christiansen

Academic degree: PhD
Research interests: HPV-related cancer diagnostics. A key focus of research is the detection and development of biomarkers for more specific cancer diagnostics.
Position: Director of the National HPV Reference Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: irene.kraus.christiansen@ahus.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 69 06

Heidi Johanne Espvik

Academic degree: MD
Research interests: Antimicrobial prescription practice and development of antimicrobial resistance. Helicobacter pylori and metronidazol susceptibility
Position: Senior consultant, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: Heidi.Johanne.Espvik@ahus.no
Phone: +47 67 96 69 04

Mona Hansen

Academic degree: BSc
Research interests: HPV-related cancer diagnostics
Position: Lab scientist, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: mona.hansen@ahus.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 46 73

Nina Handal

Academic degree: MD
Research interests: Antibiotic resistance
Position: Senior Consultant, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: nina.handal@ahus.no
Phone: +47 67 96 93 45

Karin Helmersen

Academic degree: MSc
Research interests: Participating in projects concerning molecular method development, next generation sequencing, nanopore sequencing. Genotyping of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteri
Position: Head Engineer, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: Karin.Helmersen@ahus.no
Phone:+47 995 52 473

Silje Bakken Jørgensen

Academic degree: PhD, MD
Research interests: Antimicrobial resistance in Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including molecular mechanisms, genotyping, outbreak investigation and environmental transmission. Impact of antimicrobial prescription in hospitals on fecal microbiota.
Position: Infection control consultant, Head of section, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control.
Email: silje.bakken.jorgensen@ahus.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 94 15

Hanne Kristiansen-Haugland

Academic degree: MSc
Research interests: HPV-related cancer diagnostics
Position: Biomedical lab scientist, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: hnki@ahus.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 46 73

Sonja Lagström

Academic degree: MSc 
Research interests: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer. HPV DNA testing is used in cervical cancer screening programs but the tests have low clinical specificity. The main goal for this study is to verify the concept for a more specific diagnostic HPV test using NGS sequencing technology to improve the current routines of cervical cancer management.
Position: PhD student, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: sonja.lagstrom@kreftregisteret.no

Astri Lervik Larsen

Academic degree: MD
Research interests: Diagnostics and resistance Helicobacter pylori
Position: Senior Consultant, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: astri.lervik.larsen@ahus.no
Phone: +47 482 53 183

Aina E. Fossum Moen

Academic degree: PhD, Cand. Scient
Research interests: Microbiome, Resistome, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Next Generation Sequencing
Position: Researcher, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen)
Email: aina.e.fossum.moen@ahus.no or a.e.f.moen@medisin.uio.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 44 03

Christopher Noone

Academic degree: MSc
Research interests: Rapid diagnostics via molecular microbiology, next generation sequencing, Staphylococcus aureus,  orthopedic infections
Position: PhD candidate, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
Email: cnoo@ahus.no 
Phone: +47 924 80 857

Tone Møller Tannæs

Academic degree: PhD, Cand. pharm
Research interests: Microbiome,  Inflammatory Bowel Diseases,  Resistome, Next-Generation Sequencing, Helicobacter pylori outer membrane proteins
Position: Researcher, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen)
Email: t.m.tannas@medisin.uio.no 
Phone: +47 67 96 44 03

Contact

Group leader: Hege Vangstein Aamot, hege.vangstein.aamot@ahus.no

UiO contact: Truls M. Leegard, Truls.Michael.Leegaard@ahus.no