Rate My Professor Simon Liggett

Simon Liggett is the Laboratory Manager at the Disease Research Laboratory (DRL), Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, where he has worked for more than two decades. His career has focused on supporting research into infectious diseases of economic importance to New Zealand's pastoral farming sector, particularly Johne's disease (Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection) and bovine tuberculosis in deer and cattle. Liggett manages laboratory operations and contributes to the development of diagnostic tools, including serum ELISA tests, fecal PCR assays, and composite testing protocols for ante-mortem diagnosis. He collaborates closely with senior researchers such as Emeritus Professor Frank Griffin and Dr. Rory O'Brien on studies examining pathogenesis, immune responses, genetic resistance, and control measures.

Liggett is a co-author on over 16 peer-reviewed publications, which have received more than 330 citations. Key contributions include: "Estimation of the sensitivity and specificity of four serum ELISA and one fecal PCR for diagnosis of paratuberculosis in adult dairy cattle in New Zealand using Bayesian latent class analysis" (Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 2020); "Control of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection on a New Zealand pastoral dairy farm" (Irish Veterinary Journal, 2019); "The effect of sub-clinical infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis on milk production in a New Zealand dairy herd" (BMC Veterinary Research, 2018); "Composite testing for ante-mortem diagnosis of Johne's disease in farmed New Zealand deer: Correlations between bacteriological culture, histopathology, serological reactivity and faecal shedding as determined by quantitative PCR" (BMC Veterinary Research, 2013); "Innate immune markers that distinguish red deer (Cervus elaphus) selected for resistant or susceptible genotypes for Johne's disease" (Veterinary Research, 2013); and "Longitudinal Pathogenesis Study of Young Red Deer after Experimental Challenge with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP)" (Veterinary Medicine International, 2012). His work has practical impact on disease management in the deer industry, including exhibitions at agricultural field days like Mystery Creek Fieldays and Southern Field Days.