Layla Mahdi

Research Interests

Antimicrobial Resistance Bacteriology Clinical Microbiology Infectious Diseases Medical Bacteriology Medical Microbiology Microbiology

Dr Layla Mahdi

Senior Lecturer, Clinical Microbiology

School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Layla Mahdi is a Senior Lecture in Clinical Microbiology in the School of Pharmacy and Medical Science. She has dual degrees in Molecular Microbiology and Tertiary Teaching and learning Practices. She is passionate about the quality of teaching and research to achieve the impact that will make a visible difference. Her research is focused on molecular analysis of bacterial pathogenesis, vaccine development for human and animal pathogens, and undertaking antimicrobial resistance surveillance and testing new classes of antibiotics.

Date Position Institution name
2019 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of South Australia
2018 - 2019 Research Fellow University of Adelaide
2015 - 2018 Research Fellow University of Southern Queensland
2006 - 2015 Senior Research Fellow University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2022 Teaching Award UniSA Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning University of South Australia Australia -

Year Citation
2025 Costabile, M., Caruso, C., Della Vedova, C., Bailey, S., & Mahdi, L. (2025). Leveraging computer-based simulations and immersive software technologies for enhanced student learning in laboratory medicine. ADVANCES IN PHYSIOLOGY EDUCATION, 49(2), 338-351.
DOI Scopus2
2025 Mahdi, W. K., Obaid, S. M. H., Al-Naymi, H. A. S., Al-Khafaji, Y. F., Jarad, A. J., Mahdi, L. K., . . . Saleh, M. M. (2025). SARS-CoV-2 history, diagnosis, genetic diversity, and treatment: a comprehensive review. Journal of University of Anbar for Pure Science, 19(1), 58-78.
DOI
2023 Courtice, J. M., Ahmad, T. B., Wei, C., Mahdi, L. K., Palmieri, C., Juma, S., . . . Kotiw, M. (2023). Detection, characterization, and persistence of Campylobacter hepaticus, the cause of Spotty Liver Disease in layer hens. Poultry Science, 102(7, article no. 102462), 1-7.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2022 Mahdi, L., Denyer, G., Caruso, C., & Costabile, M. (2022). Introducing First-Year Undergraduate Students the Fundamentals of Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing through a Combined Computer Simulation and Face-to-Face Laboratory Session. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 23(2), 10 pages.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC5
2022 Alhamami, T., Chowdhury, P. R., Gomes, N., Carr, M., Veltman, T., Khazandi, M., . . . Trott, D. J. (2022). Correction: Alhamami et al. First Emergence of Resistance to Macrolides and Tetracycline Identified in Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida Isolates from Beef Feedlots in Australia. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1322. Microorganisms, 10(4), 825.
DOI Scopus2 Europe PMC1
2022 Blaskovich, M. A. T., Hansford, K. A., Butler, M. S., Ramu, S., Kavanagh, A. M., Jarrad, A. M., . . . Cooper, M. A. (2022). A lipoglycopeptide antibiotic for Gram-positive biofilm-related infections. Science Translational Medicine, 14(662), 1-16.
DOI Scopus10 WoS12 Europe PMC7
2021 Alhamami, T., Chowdhury, P. R., Gomes, N., Carr, M., Veltman, T., Khazandi, M., . . . Trott, D. J. (2021). First emergence of resistance to macrolides and tetracycline identified in mannheimia haemolytica and pasteurella multocida isolates from beef feedlots in Australia. Microorganisms, 9(6), 1322.
DOI Scopus22 WoS23 Europe PMC18
2018 Courtice, J. M., Mahdi, L. K., Groves, P. J., & Kotiw, M. (2018). Spotty Liver Disease: A review of an ongoing challenge in commercial free-range egg production. Veterinary Microbiology, 227, 112-118.
DOI Scopus33 WoS32 Europe PMC24
2017 Mahdi, L., Higgins, M., Day, C., Tiralongo, J., Hartley-Tassell, L., Jennings, M., . . . Ogunniyi, A. (2017). The pneumococcal alpha-glycerophosphate oxidase enhances nasopharyngeal colonization through binding to host glycoconjugates. EBioMedicine, 18, 236-243.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2017 Ahmad, T., Rudd, D., Benkendorff, K., Mahdi, L., Pratt, K., Dooley, L., . . . Kotiw, M. (2017). Brominated indoles from a marine mollusc inhibit inflammation in a murine model of acute lung injury. PLoS ONE, 12(10), 1-18.
DOI Scopus18 WoS12 Europe PMC13
2016 Harvey, R., Trappetti, C., Mahdi, L., Wang, H., McAllister, L., Scalvini, A., . . . Paton, J. (2016). The variable region of pneumococcal pathogenicity island 1 is responsible for unusually high virulence of a serotype 1 isolate. Infection and Immunity, 84(3), 822-832.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2015 Fruzangohar, M., Ebrahimie, E., Ogunniyi, A. D., Mahdi, L. K., Paton, J. C., & Adelson, D. L. (2015). Correction: Comparative GO: A web application for comparative gene ontology and gene ontology-based gene selection in bacteria. Plos One, 10(4), 1 page.
DOI Scopus6 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2015 Mahdi, L., Van der Hoek, M., Ebrahimie, E., Paton, J., & Ogunniyi, A. (2015). Characterization of pneumococcal genes involved in bloodstream invasion in a mouse model. PLoS One, 10(11), e0141816-1-e0141816-15.
DOI Scopus19 WoS19 Europe PMC18
2014 Mahdi, L., Deihimi, T., Zamansani, F., Fruzangohar, M., Adelson, D., Paton, J., . . . Ebrahimie, E. (2014). A functional genomics catalogue of activated transcription factors during pathogenesis of pneumococcal disease. BMC Genomics, 15(1), 769-1-769-15.
DOI Scopus17 WoS15 Europe PMC16
2013 Mahdi, L., Ebrahimie, E., Adelson, D., Paton, J., & Ogunniyi, A. (2013). A transcription factor contributes to pathogenesis and virulence in streptococcus pneumoniae. PLoS One, 8(8), 1-9.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13 Europe PMC13
2013 Fruzangohar, M., Ebrahimie, E., Ogunniyi, A., Mahdi, L., Paton, J., & Adelson, D. (2013). Comparative GO: a web application for comparative Gene Ontology and Gene Ontology-based gene selection in bacteria. PLoS One, 8(3), 1-8.
DOI Scopus59 WoS57 Europe PMC52
2012 Ogunniyi, A., Mahdi, L., Trappetti, C., Verhoeven, N., Mermans, D., Van der Hoek, M., . . . Paton, J. (2012). Identification of genes that contribute to the pathogenesis of invasive Pneumococcal Disease by in vivo transcriptomic analysis. Infection and Immunity, 80(9), 3268-3278.
DOI Scopus56 WoS51 Europe PMC48
2012 Mahdi, L., Wang, H., Van der Hoek, M., Paton, J., & Ogunniyi, A. (2012). Identification of a novel pneumococcal vaccine antigen preferentially expressed during meningitis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 122(6), 2208-2220.
DOI Scopus45 WoS42 Europe PMC44
2010 Alsamak, F., Abdulamir, A., Mahdi, L., Alnaib, K., & Bakar, F. (2010). Association of Helicobacter pylori with colorectal cancer development. Asian Biomedicine, 4(4), 609-618.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4
2010 Ogunniyi, A., Mahdi, L., Jennings, M., McEwan, A., McDevitt, C., Van der Hoek, M., . . . Paton, J. (2010). Central role of manganese in regulation of stress responses, physiology, and metabolism in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Journal of Bacteriology, 192(17), 4489-4497.
DOI Scopus89 WoS84 Europe PMC79
2009 Abdulamir, A., Hafidh, R., Mahdi, L., Al-jeboori, T., & Abubaker, F. (2009). Investigation into the controversial association of Streptococcus gallolyticus with colorectal cancer and adenoma. BMC Cancer, 9(1), 1-12.
DOI Scopus78 WoS68 Europe PMC65
2009 Ogunniyi, A., Grabowicz, M., Mahdi, L., Cook, J., Gordon, D., Sadlon, T., & Paton, J. (2009). Pneumococcal histidine triad proteins are regulated by the Zn²⁺-dependent repressor AdcR and inhibit complement deposition through the recruitment of complement factor H. FASEB Journal, 2008(3), 1-8.
DOI Scopus111 WoS102 Europe PMC95
2008 Abdulamir, A., Hafidh, R., Mahdi, L., Al-jeboori, T., Abubaker, F., & Abbas, K. (2008). The interplay between p53 and p21 tumor suppressor proteins in the transformation of colorectal adenoma to carcinoma. American Journal of Immunology, 4(1), 14-22.
DOI Scopus11
2008 Mahdi, L., Ogunniyi, A., Le Messurier, K., & Paton, J. (2008). Pneumococcal Virulence Gene Expression and Host Cytokine Profiles during Pathogenesis of Invasive Disease. Infection and Immunity, 76(2), 646-657.
DOI Scopus55 WoS53 Europe PMC53
2008 Al-Darahi, K., Mahdi, L., Al-Naib, K., & Jubreal, J. (2008). Molecular Characterization of E. coli O157:H7 Strains using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Journal of Dohuk University, 11(1), 198-205.
2006 Qaader, D., Yousif, S., & Mahdi, L. (2006). Prevalence and etiology of urinary stones in hospitalized patients in Baghdad. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 12(6), 853-861.
2006 Al-Shalchi S, Mahdi LK, Sabar M.. (2006). Preparation of C-reactive protein latex reagent of human serum. Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology. Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology, 5(1), 112-122.
2005 Mahdi HS, Mahdi LK and Saour KY. (2005). Chemical characterization and anti-bacterial activity of black tea extract components. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine, 47(2), 174-178.
2005 Mahdi, H., Al-Bashir, N., Saour, K., & Mahdi, L. (2005). In vitro antileishmanial effects of black tea extract components. Jordan Journal of Applied Science. Natural Science, 7(2), 38-50.
2004 Jubrael JM, Mahdi LK and Naji ZM. (2004). Application of RAPD-PCR to differentiate among Aeromonas spp.. Journal of Al-Nahrain University-Science, 7(2), 48-56.
2004 Shebib ZA, Abdul-Ghani Z and Mahdi LK. (2004). Preparation of local latex kit for the detection of E. coli O157:H7. Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology, 2(2), 121-132.
2003 Mahdi LK and Jubrael JM. (2003). Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) analysis for the estimation of genetic relationship among Aeromonas species. Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2(4), 342-346.
2003 Qaader DS, Mahdi LK and Yuosif SY. (2003). Nanobacterium, A novel bacterium isolated from urinary stones. ; 2003, 2(5) :11-22. Arab Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2(5), 11-22.
2003 Mahdi LK, Abdul-Ghani Z and Al-Zaag AA. (2003). Identification of enterotoxigenic bacteria by DNA colony hybridization using heat labile enterotoxin gene probe.; 2003, 2(3): 345-347.. The Iraqi Journal of Medical Sciences, 2(3), 345-347.
2003 Shebib, Z., Abdul, G., & Mahdi, L. (2003). First report of Escherichia coli O157 among Iraqi children. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 9(1-2), 159-166.
2003 Mahdi, L. K., Ibrahim, M., Dhahi, M., & Jubrael, J. (2003). RAPD-PCR patterns of genomic DNA extracted from goat’s liver and blood. Selected Research Papers, 3, 111-120.
2001 Matloob MH, Mahdi LK and Al-Zaag AA. (2001). Molecular diagnosis of Salmonella typhimurium. Journal of Biotechnology Research Centre, 3(1), 31-39.
2000 Mahdi LK, Abdul-Ghani Z and Al-Zaag AA. (2000). Antimicrobial resistance pattern of clinical Aeromonas isolates. Journal of Al-Nahrain University-Science, 4(1), 1-8.
2000 Mahdi LK, Abdul-Ghani Z and Al-Zaag AA. (2000). Incidence and virulence of Aeromonas spp. isolated from infants with diarrhea. Iraqi Journal of Science, 41B(1), 12-20.
1999 Melconian AK, Al-Ibadi MC and Mahdi LK. (1999). Detection of exfolative toxin A in local Staphylococcus aureus isolated from children. Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science, 10(2), 37-42.
1998 Mahdi, L. K., Abdul-Ghani, Z., & Al-Ruznamaji, N. (1998). Microbiological study of infantile diarrhea in Baghdad. Iraqi Journal of Microbiology. Iraqi Journal of Microbiology, 10(2), 16-27.
1998 Mahdi, L. K., Al-Ibadi, M., & Alwan, W. (1998). Effects of skin fatty acids (linolenic & linoleic) on antibacterial activity of different agents in the treatment of wounds and burns. Iraqi Journal of Microbiology, 10(1), 1-10.
1997 Mahdi, L. K., Al-Ibadi, M., & Al-Hadaria, S. (1997). Effects of Blood and serum on antibacterial activity of different agents in the treatment of wounds and burns. Iraqi Journal of Microbiology, 9(1), 11-20.
1993 Mahdi, L. K., Al-Dabbag, R., & Karhoot, J. (1993). Candida inhibitor produced by some intestinal flora. Journal of Community Medicine, 6(2), 217-227.

Year Citation
2019 Mahdi, L. K., Courtice, J., Ahmad, T., Groves, P., Hancock, K., Korolik, V., . . . Kotiw, M. (2019). Progress in pathobiology and genetic epidemiology of Campylobacter hepaticus the aetiological agent of Spotty Liver Disease. In Proceeding of AVPA (Australian Veterinary Poultry Association) Conference. Sydney.
2018 Mahdi, L. K., Courtice, J., Groves, P., & Kotiw, M. (2018). Spotty liver disease: A review of an ongoing challenge in commercial free-range egg production. In Spotty liver disease: A review of an ongoing challenge in commercial free-range egg production. Gold Coast, QLD Australia.
2018 Mahdi, L. K., Kotiw, M., Courtice, J., Wei, C., & Ahmad, T. (2018). Spotty liver disease a south east Queensland perspective. In Spotty liver disease a south east Queensland perspective. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
2004 Al-Zaag AA, Al-Amin BK and Mahdi LK. (2004). Genetic analysis and cloning of aerolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila. , 2004.. In Proceedings of Zarka University Conference, Jordan. Amman, Jordan.

Year Citation
2013 Paton, J., Mahdi, L., & Ogunniyi, A. (2013). WO2013040648, Pneumococcal GLPO immunogen.

  • Enhancing Laboratory Medicine Education: A Digital Approach to teaching Quality Control in Clinical Diagnostics, Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists - Education and Leadership/Management Grant, 01/10/2025 - 01/10/2026

Courses I teach

  • HLTH 1025 Health and Society (2025)
  • MEDI 3003 Infectious Diseases (2025)
  • MEDI 4006 Specialised Microbiology (2025)
  • BIOL 2014 Biochemistry (2024)
  • BIOL 2051 Microbiology (2024)
  • MEDI 3003 Infectious Diseases (2024)
  • MEDI 4006 Specialised Microbiology (2024)

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2022 - ongoing Member Australasian Academic Integrity Network University of South Australia Australia
2019 - ongoing Member UniSA Institutional Biosafety Committee University of South Australia Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2010 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Microbiology -

Date Title Type Institution Country
2022 - ongoing Master Thesis Review Flinders University Australia
2022 - ongoing PHD Thesis Review University of Adelaide Australia
2019 - ongoing Different Journals Peer Review Frontiers in microbiology , MDPI, Communicable Diseases Intelligence, BMC Microbiology, Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, Pathogens -
2019 - ongoing Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Grant Assessment Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Australia
2017 - ongoing National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Grant Assessment National Health and Medical Research Council Australia

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