Alanna Sorenson
- alanna.sorenson@jcu.edu.au
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8654-3601- Senior Lecturer, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Molecular and Cell Biology
Projects
0
Publications
31
Awards
0
Contact Details
Senior Lecturer
- 0747816923
- alanna.sorenson@jcu.edu.au
-
Building 142, James Cook University,
James Cook University
Douglas QLD 4811
Biography
Alanna Sorenson is a scientist and senior lecturer within the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Biology in the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University. Alanna completed her undergraduate degree at James Cook University in 2005, followed by Honours in 2006 and PhD in 2011. Dr Sorenson has experience in a wide variety of techniques including molecular biology, cloning, protein expression and purification, PCR, enzyme immunoassays and methods for immunohistochemical staining of human and animal tissue. Her primary research focuses on the development and application of novel techniques such as differential scanning fluorimetry of GFP-tagged proteins, immuno-PCR and other protein-based biosensors. She is interested in a wide range of protein-based targets from pathogenic bacteria and viruses for the purposes of characterisation, diagnostic development and high-throughput drug discovery.
Research
Research Interests
Diagnostic test development
Identifying new antibiotics
Melioidosis/Burkholderia pseudomallei
Q fever/ Coxiella burnetii
Tuberculosis
Flaviviruses
Fluorescent proteins
Differential scanning fluorimetry
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Primary
Taught Modules
[BM1300] Genes and HealthLecturer
2024
2025
[BC3201] BioengineeringLecturer
2025
[BC5201] Advanced BioengineeringLecturer
2025
2025
[BM1110] Molecules to MicrobesCoordinator
2025
[BM2230] DNA to ProteinsLecturer
2025
Output
Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2020) High-throughput differential scanning fluorimetry of GFP-tagged proteins. New York, NY, USA: [Non-Research Book Chapter] [DOI]
Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2020) Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with GFP-tagged proteins (GFP-EMSA). New York, NY, USA: [Non-Research Book Chapter] [DOI]
Cooper, Alanna Elizabeth (2011) Identification of potential reservoirs of Q fever in Queensland, Australia. [Thesis] [DOI]
Bourquin, Rebecca A.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2025) 'High-performance hairpin-whiptail DNA target for HIV-1 integrase assay'. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 318 . [DOI]
Bourquin, Rebecca A.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2025) 'Fluorescent HIV-1 integrases for a suite of new user-friendly stability, nucleic acid binding and strand transfer activity assays'. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 309 (3). [DOI]
Sorenson, A.E.; Schaeffer, P.M. (2024) 'A self-assembling protein–DNA complex with an inbuilt DNA release system for quantitative immuno-PCR applications'. Sensors & Diagnostics, 3 :1976-1983. [DOI]
Mason, Benjamin; Hayward, David C.; Moya, Aurelie; Cooke, Ira; Sorenson, Alanna; Brunner, Ramona; Andrade Rodriguez, Natalia; Huerlimann, Roger; Bourne, David G.; Schaeffer, Patrick; Grinblat, Mila; Ravasi, Timothy; Ueda, Nobuo; Tang, Sen-Lin; Ball, Eldon E.; Miller, David J. (2024) 'Microbiome manipulation by corals and other Cnidaria via quorum quenching'. Current Biology, 34 :3226-3232. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Radford, Holly M.; Toft, Casey J.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2023) 'Inhibition of Replication Fork Formation and Progression: Targeting the Replication Initiation and Primosomal Proteins'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (10). [DOI]
Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2023) 'Real-Time Temperature Sensing Using a Ratiometric Dual Fluorescent Protein Biosensor'. Biosensors, 13 (3). [DOI]
Toft, Casey J.; Bourquin, Rebecca A.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Horwood, Paul F.; Druce, Julian; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2023) 'Analytical sensitivity of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests: A case for a robust reference standard'. Talanta, 7 . [DOI]
Toft, Casey J.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2022) 'A soft Tus-Ter interaction is hiding a fail-safe lock in the replication fork trap of Dickeya paradisiaca'. Microbiological Research, 263 . [DOI]
Toft, Casey J.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2022) 'Rise of the terminator protein tus: A versatile tool in the biotechnologist's toolbox'. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1213 . [DOI]
Toft, Casey; Moreau, Morgane J.J.; Perutka, Jiri; Mandapati, Savitri; Enyeart, Peter; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Ellington, Andrew; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2021) 'Delineation of the ancestral tus-dependent replication fork trap'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (24). [DOI]
Sorenson, A.E.; Schaeffer, P.M. (2020) 'A new bivalent fluorescent fusion protein for differential Cu(II) and Zn(II) ion detection in aqueous solution'. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1101 :120-128. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Sikder, Suchandan; Williams, Natasha L.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Alim, Md A.; Vidgen, Miranda E.; Moreland, Nicole J.; Rush, Catherine M.; Simpson, Robert S.; Govan, Brenda L.; Norton, Robert E.; Cunningham, Madeleine W.; McMillan, David J.; Sriprakash, Kadaba S.; Ketheesan, Natkunam (2018) 'Group G streptococcus induces an autoimmune carditis mediated by interleukin 17A and interferon γ in the Lewis rat model of rheumatic heart disease'. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218 (2):324-335. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Askin, Samuel; Bond, Thomas E.H.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Moreau, Morgane J.J.; Antony, Helma; Davis, Rohan A.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2018) 'Selective protein unfolding: a universal mechanism of action for the development of irreversible inhibitors'. Chemical Communications, 54 (14):1738-1741. [DOI]
Bond, Thomas E.H.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2017) 'A green fluorescent protein-based assay for high-throughput ligand-binding studies of a mycobacterial biotin protein ligase'. Microbiological Research, 205 :35-39. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Bond, Thomas E.H.; Sorenson, Alanna E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2017) 'Functional characterisation of Burkholderia pseudomallei biotin protein ligase: a toolkit for anti-melioidosis drug development'. Microbiological Research, 199 :40-48. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Sorenson, Alanna; Owens, Leigh; Caltabiano, Marie; Cadet-James, Yvonne; Hall, Roy; Govan, Brenda; Clancy, Paula (2016) 'The impact of prior flavivirus infections on the development of Type 2 Diabetes among the Indigenous Australians'. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 95 (2):265-268. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Sorenson, Alanna E.; Askin, Samuel P.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2015) 'In-gel detection of biotin–protein conjugates with a green fluorescent streptavidin probe'. Analytical Methods, 7 :2087-2092. [DOI]
Robertson, Gemma; Sorenson, Alanna; Govan, Brenda; Ketheesan, Natkunam; Houghton, Raymond; Chen, Hongjing; AuCoin, David; Dillon, Michael; Norton, Robert (2015) 'Rapid diagnostics for melioidosis: a comparative study of a novel lateral flow antigen detection assay'. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 64 (8):845-848. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Sorenson, Alanna E.; Williams, Natasha L.; Morris, Jodie L.; Ketheesan, Natkunam; Norton, Robert E.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2013) 'Improved diagnosis of melioidosis using a 2-dimensional immunoarray'. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 77 (3):209-215. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, Alanna; Williams, Natasha L.; Morris, Jodie L.; Norton, Robert E.; Ketheesan, Natkunam; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2013) 'ELISA and immuno–polymerase chain reaction assays for the sensitive detection of melioidosis'. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 75 (2):135-138. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, A.; Stephens, J.; Ketheesan, N.; Govan, B. (2013) 'Detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA in wildlife and ticks in Northern Queensland, Australia'. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 13 (1):12-16. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Moreau, Morgane J.J.; Morin, Isabelle; Askin, Samuel P.; Cooper, Alanna; Moreland, Nicole J.; Vasudevan, Subhash G.; Schaeffer, Patrick M. (2012) 'Rapid determination of protein stability and ligand binding by differential scanning fluorimetry of GFP-tagged proteins'. RSC Advances, 2 (31):11892-11900. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Impact of herbicide Ametryn on microbial communities in mixed liquor of a membrane bioreactor (MBR)
2012
Navaratna, Dimuth; Elliman, Jennifer; Cooper, Alanna; Shu, Li; Baskaran, Kanagaratnam; Jegatheesan, Veeriah (2012) 'Impact of herbicide Ametryn on microbial communities in mixed liquor of a membrane bioreactor (MBR)'. Bioresource Technology, 113 :181-190. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, A.; Goullet, M.; Mitchell, J.; Ketheesan, N.; Govan, B. (2012) 'Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii exposure in native marsupials and introduced animals in Queensland, Australia'. Epidemiology and Infection, 140 (7):1304-1308. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, Alanna; Barnes, Tasmin; Potter, Abbey; Ketheesan, Natkunam; Govan, Brenda (2012) 'Determination of Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in macropods in Australia'. Veterinary Microbiology, 155 (2-4):317-323. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, A.; Hedlefs, R.; Ketheesan, N.; Govan, B. (2011) 'Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in dogs in a regional centre'. Australian Veterinary Journal, 89 (10):385-387. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, A.; Hedlefs, R.; McGowan, M.; Ketheesan, N.; Govan, B. (2011) 'Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in beef cattle in Queensland'. Australian Veterinary Journal, 89 (7):260-264. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Cooper, A.; Layton, R.; Owens, L.; Ketheesan, N.; Govan, B. (2007) 'Evidence for the classification of a crayfish pathogen as a member of the genus Coxiella'. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 45 (5):558-563. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU