Professor Watt, Rory Munro

General Information

Title

Director, Central Research Laboratories
Associate Professor in Oral Biosciences

Division

Applied Oral Sciences & Community Dental Care

E-mail

rmwatt@hku.hk

Phone Number

2859 0482

Research profile

Research Theme

Microbiome Innovation

Areas of Research Expertise

Oral Microbiome
Treponeme Bacteria (oral spirochetes)
Periodontal Disease Etiology
Bacterial Polyphosphate Metabolism
Bacterial genomics (esp. oral treponemes)
Stringent response and (pp)pGpp metabolism
Bacterial Protein Biochemistry and Structural Biology

Category

Advanced Sorting

Publications

Article

Beikler T, Bunte K, Chan Y, Weiher B, Selbach S, Peters U, Klocke A, Watt RM, Flemmig TF. Oral Microbiota Transplant in Dogs with Naturally Occurring Periodontitis, Journal of Dental Research 2021; 100(7): 764-770 doi:10.1177/0022034521995423
Zeng H, Chan Y, Gao W, Leung WK, Watt RM. Diversity of Treponema denticola and Other Oral Treponeme Lineages in Subjects with Periodontitis and Gingivitis, Microbiology Spectrum 2021; 9(2): article no. e00701-21 doi:10.1128/Spectrum.00701-21
Selbach S, Klocke A, Peters U, Beckert S, Watt RM, Tong WM, Flemmig TF, Hensel A, Beikler T. Microbiological and Clinical Effects of a Proanthocyanidin-enriched Extract from Rumex acetosa in Periodontally Healthy Carriers of Porphyromonas gingivalis: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, Planta Medica 2021; doi:10.1055/a-1728-2249
Chan Y, Huo YB, YU X, ZENG H, Leung WK, Watt RM. Complete Genome Sequence of Human Oral Phylogroup 1 Treponema sp. Strain OMZ 804 (ATCC 700766), Originally Isolated from Periodontitis Dental Plaque, Microbiology Resource Announcements 2020; 9(22): article no. e00532-20 doi:10.1128/MRA.00532-20
Yu XL, Chan Y, Zhuang LF, Lai HC, Lang NP, Leung WK, Watt RM. Intra‐oral single site comparisons of periodontal and peri‐implant microbiota in health and disease, Clinical Oral Implants Research 2019; 30(8): 760-776 doi:10.1111/clr.13459
Acharya A, Chen T, Chan Y, Watt RM, Jin L, Mattheos N. Species-Level Salivary Microbial Indicators of Well-Resolved Periodontitis: A Preliminary Investigation, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 2019; 9: article no. 347-article no. 347 doi:10.3389/fcimb.2019.00347
Menon RK, Gomez A, Brandt BW, Leung YY, Gopinath D, Watt RM, Crielaard W, Nelson KE, Botelho MG. Long-term impact of oral surgery with or without amoxicillin on the oral microbiome-A prospective cohort study, Scientific Reports 2019; 9(1): article no. 18761-article no. 18761 doi:10.1038/s41598-019-55056-3
Yang N, Xie S, Tang NY, Choi MY, Wang Y, Watt RM. The Ps and Qs of alarmone synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus, PLoS One 2019; 14(10): article no. e0213630-article no. e0213630 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0213630
Huo YB, Chan YK, Lacap-Bugler DC, Mo S, Woo PCY, Leung WK, Watt RM. Multilocus sequence analysis of phylogroup 1 and 2 oral treponeme strains, Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2017; 83(3): e02499-16 doi:10.1128/AEM.02499-16
You M, Chan YK, Lacap-Bugler DC, Huo YB, Gao W, Leung WK, Watt RM. Oral Treponeme Major Surface Protein: Sequence Diversity and Distributions within Periodontal Niches, Molecular Oral Microbiology 2017; 32(6): 455-474 doi:10.1111/omi.12185
ACHARYA A, Chan YK, Kheur S, Kheur M, Gopalakrishnan D, Watt RM, Mattheos N. Salivary microbiome of an urban Indian cohort and patterns linked to subclinical inflammation, Oral Diseases 2017; 23(7): 926-940 doi:10.1111/odi.12676
ACHARYA A, Chan YK, Kheur S, Jin L, Watt RM, Mattheos N. Salivary microbiome in non-oral disease: A summary of evidence and commentary, Archives of Oral Biology 2017; 83: 169-173 doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2017.07.019
Xiong L, Yang Y, Ye YN, Teng LL, Chan E, Watt RM, Guo FB, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Laribacter hongkongensis anaerobic adaptation mediated by arginine metabolism is controlled by the cooperation of FNR and ArgR, Environmental Microbiology 2017; 19: 1266-1280 doi:10.1111/1462-2920.13657
Botelho MG, Lam OLT, Watt RM, Leung DYP, Kember D. Evaluation of peer-generated MCQs to assess and support learning in a problem-based learning programme, European Journal of Dental Education 2017; doi:10.1111/eje.12304
ZHUANG L, Watt RM, Mattheos N, Si MS, Lai HC, Lang NP. Periodontal and peri-implant microbiota in patients with healthy and inflamed periodontal and peri-implant tissues, Clinical Oral Implants Research 2016; 27(1): 13-21 doi:10.1111/clr.12508
Zhang A, Guo E, Qian L, Tang NY, Watt RM, Bartlam M. Purification, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis of a putative exopolyphosphatase from Zymomonas mobilis, Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications Online 2016; 72(3): 172-178 doi:10.1107/S2053230X16000753
ACHARYA A, Koh ML, Kheur S, Watt RM, Jin L, Mattheos N. Salivary IL-1β and red complex bacteria as predictors of the inflammatory status in sub-peri-implant niches of subjects with peri-implant mucositis, Clinical Oral Implants Research 2016; 27: 662-667 doi:10.1111/clr.12713
Xiong L, Teng LL, Watt RM, Liu CH, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Molecular characterization of arginine deiminase pathway in Laribacter hongkongensis and unique regulation of arginine catabolism and anabolism by multiple environmental stresses, Environmental Microbiology 2015; 17(11): 4469-4483 doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12897
Yu X, Chan YK, Zhuang LF, Lai HC, Lang NP, Lacap-Bugler DC, Leung WK, Watt RM. Distributions of Synergistetes in clinically-healthy and diseased periodontal and peri-implant niches, Microbial Pathogenesis 2015; doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2015.11.029
Gao Wenling, Chan Yuki, You Meng, Lacap-Bugler Donnabella C., Leung W. Keung, Watt Rory M.. In-depth snapshot of the equine subgingival microbiome, Microbial Pathogenesis 2015; 94: 76-89 doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2015.11.002
So LY, Chen W, Lacap-Bugler DC, Seemann M, Watt RM. pZMO7-Derived shuttle vectors for heterologous protein expression and proteomic applications in the ethanol-producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis, B M C Microbiology 2014; 14(1): article no. 68-article no. 68 doi:10.1186/1471-2180-14-68
Zhuang L, Watt RM, Steiner S, Lang-Hua BH, Wang R, Ramseier CA, Lang NP. Subgingival microbiota of Sri Lankan tea labourers naïve to oral hygiene measures, Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2014; 41(5): 433-441 doi:10.1111/jcpe.12230
Xiong L, Teng JLL, Watt RM, Kan BIAO, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Arginine deiminase pathway is far more important than urease for acid resistance and intracellular survival in Laribacter hongkongensis: a possible result of arc gene cassette duplication, BMC Microbiology 2014; 14 doi:10.1186/1471-2180-14-42
Chan YK, Ma PY, Lacap-Bugler DC, Huo Y, Leung WK, Leung FCC, Watt RM. Complete Genome Sequence for Treponema sp. OMZ 838 (ATCC 700772, DSM 16789), Isolated from a Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis Lesion, Genome Announcements 2014; 2: article no. e01333-14-article no. e01333-14 doi:10.1128/genomeA.01333-14
Lacap-Bugler DC, Jiang J, Huo Y, Chan YK, Leung FCC, Watt RM. Complete Genome Sequence of the Oral Spirochete Bacterium Treponema putidum Strain OMZ 758T (ATCC 700334T), Genome Announcements 2014; 2: article no. e01076-14-article no. e01076-14 doi:10.1128/genomeA.01076-14
You M, Mo S, Watt RM, Leung WK. Prevalence and diversity of Synergistetes taxa in periodontal health and disease, Journal of Periodontal Research 2013; 48(2): 159-168 doi:10.1111/j.1600-0765.2012.01516.x
Mo S, You M, Su YCF, Lacap-Bugler DC, Huo Y, Smith GJD, Leung WK, Watt RM. Multilocus sequence analysis of Treponema denticola strains of diverse origin, BMC Microbiology 2013; accepted doi:10.1186/1471-2180-13-24
Bandara HMHN, Cheung BPK, Watt RM, Jin L, Samaranayake LP. Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide inhibits Candida albicans hyphae formation and alters gene expression during biofilm development, Molecular Oral Microbiology 2013; 28: 54-69 doi:10.1111/omi.12006
You M, Mo S, Leung WK, Watt RM. Comparative analysis of oral treponemes associated with periodontal health and disease, BMC Infectious Diseases 2013; 13: 174-174 doi:10.1186/1471-2334-13-174
Bandara HMHN, Cheung BPK, Watt RM, Jin L, Samaranayake LP. Secretory products of Escherichia coli biofilm modulate Candida biofilm formation and hyphal development, Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry 2013; 4: 186-199 doi:10.1111/jicd.12048
Cheung YW, Kwok HCJ, Law WL, Watt RM, Kotaka M, Tanner JA. Structural basis for discriminatory recognition of Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase by a DNA aptamer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2013; 110(40): 15967-15972 doi:10.1073/pnas.1309538110
Curreem SOT, Watt RM, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in bacterial proteomics, Protein & Cell 2012; 3(5): 346-363 doi:10.1007/s13238-012-2034-5
Choi MY, Wang Y, Wong LLY, Lu Bt, Chen Wy, Huang JD, Tanner JA, Watt RM. The two PPX-GppA homologues from Mycobacterium tuberculosis have distinct biochemical activities, PLoS ONE 2012; 7(8) doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042561
Zheng S, Yu B, Zhang K, Chen M, Hua Y, Yuan S, Watt RM, Zheng B, Yuen KY, Huang J. Comparative immunological evaluation of recombinant Salmonella Typhimurium strains expressing model antigens as live oral vaccines, BMC Immunology 2012; 13: article no. 54-article no. 54 doi:10.1186/1471-2172-13-54
Shum KT, Lui ELH, Wong SCK, Yeung P, Sam L, Wang Y, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Aptamer-mediated inhibition of mycobacterium tuberculosis polyphosphate kinase 2, Biochemistry 2011; 50(15): 3261-3271 doi:10.1021/bi2001455
Chen WY, Ho JWS, Huang JD, Watt RM. Functional characterization of an alkaline exonuclease and single strand annealing protein from the SXT genetic element of Vibrio cholerae, BMC Molecular Biology 2011; 12, article no. 16: 16-16 doi:10.1186/1471-2199-12-16
Yang W, Chen WY, Wang H, Ho JWS, Huang JD, Woo PCY, Lau SKP, Yuen KY, Zhang Q, Zhou W, Bartlam M, Watt RM, Rao Z. Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of an alkaline exonuclease from Laribacter hongkongensis, Nucleic Acids Research 2011; 39(22): 9803-9819 doi:10.1093/nar/gkr660
Yu B, Yang M, Wong HYB, Watt RM, Song E, Zheng BJ, Yuen KY, Huang JD. A method to generate recombinant Salmonella typhi Ty21a strains expressing multiple heterologous genes using an improved recombineering strategy, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2011; 91(1): 177-188 doi:10.1007/s00253-011-3317-0
Lau SKP, Fan RYY, Ho TCC, Wong GKM, Tsang AKL, Teng JLL, Chen W, Watt RM, Curreem SOT, Tse H, Yuen KY, Woo PCY. Environmental adaptability and stress tolerance of Laribacter hongkongensis: A genome-wide analysis, Cell and Bioscience 2011; 1(1) doi:10.1186/2045-3701-1-22
Bandara HMHN, Yau JYY, Watt RM, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibits in-vitro Candida biofilm development, BMC Microbiology 2010; 10(article no. 125): 125-125 doi:10.1186/1471-2180-10-125
Bandara HMHN, Lam OLT, Watt RM, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides variably modulate in vitro biofilm formation of Candida species, Journal of Medical Microbiology 2010; 59(10): 1225-1234 doi:10.1099/jmm.0.021832-0
Jin Y, Watt RM, Danchin A, Huang JD. Use of a riboswitch-controlled conditional hypomorphic mutation to uncover a role for the essential csrA gene in bacterial autoaggregation, Journal of Biological Chemistry 2009; 284(42): 28738-28745 doi:10.1074/jbc.M109.028076
Huang JD, Sun HZ, Tanner JA, Watt RM. Determination of the functions of the putative metal-binding domain of the SCV helicase., Hong Kong medical journal 2009; 15(suppl. 6): 15-16
Zhou J, Huang JD, Poon VKM, Chen DQ, Chan CCS, Ng F, Guan XY, Watt RM, Lu L, Yuen KY, Zheng BJ. Functional dissection of an IFN-α/β receptor 1 promoter variant that confers higher risk to chronic hepatitis B virus infection, Journal of Hepatology 2009; 51(2): 322-332 doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2009.03.020
Jin Y, Watt RM, Danchin A, Huang JD. Small noncoding RNA GcvB is a novel regulator of acid resistance in Escherichia coli, BMC Genomics 2009; 10 doi:10.1186/1471-2164-10-165
Bandara HMHN, Yau JYY, Watt RM, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Escherichia coli and its lipopolysaccharide modulate in vitro Candida biofilm formation, Journal of Medical Microbiology 2009; 58(12): 1623-1631 doi:10.1099/jmm.0.012989-0
Yang N, Tanner JA, Zheng BJ, Watt RM, He ML, Lu LY, Jiang JQ, Shum KT, Lin YP, Wong KL, Lin MCM, Kung HF, Sun H, Huang JD. Bismuth complexes inhibit the SARS coronavirus, Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2007; 46(34): 6464-6468 doi:10.1002/anie.200701021
Watt RM, Wang J, Leong M, Kung HF, Cheah KSE, Liu D, Danchin A, Huang JD. Visualizing the proteome of Escherichia coli: An efficient and versatile method for labeling chromosomal coding DNA sequences (CDSs) with fluorescent protein genes, Nucleic Acids Research 2007; 35(6) doi:10.1093/nar/gkl1158
Ge R, Sun X, Gu Q, Watt RM, Tanner JA, Wong BCY, Xia HH, Huang JD, He QY, Sun H. A proteomic approach for the identification of bismuth-binding proteins in Helicobacter pylori, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry 2007; 12(6): 831-842 doi:10.1007/s00775-007-0237-7
Alexeev D, Baxter RL, Campopiano DJ, Kerbarh O, Sawyer L, Tomczyk N, Watt R, Webster SP. Suicide inhibition of α-oxamine synthases: Structures of the covalent adducts of 8-amino-7-oxononanoate synthase with trifluoroalanine, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2006; 4(7): 1209-1212 doi:10.1039/b517922j
Ge R, Zhang Y, Sun X, Watt RM, He QY, Huang JD, Wilcox DE, Sun H. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of metal binding to the histidine-rich protein, Hpn, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2006; 128(35): 11330-11331 doi:10.1021/ja062589t
Ge R, Watt RM, Sun X, Tanner JA, He QY, Huang JD, Sun H. Expression and characterization of a histidine-rich protein, Hpn: Potential for Ni2+ storage in Helicobacter pylori, Biochemical Journal 2006; 393(1): 285-293 doi:10.1042/BJ20051160
Huen MSY, Li XT, Lu LY, Watt RM, Liu DP, Huang JD. The involvement of replication in single stranded oligonucleotide-mediated gene repair, Nucleic Acids Research 2006; 34(21): 6183-6194 doi:10.1093/nar/gkl852
Wu XS, Xin L, Yin WX, Shang XY, Lu L, Watt RM, Cheah KSE, Huang JD, Liu DP, Liang CC. Increased efficiency of oligonucleotide-mediated gene repair through slowing replication fork progression, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005; 102(7): 2508-2513 doi:10.1073/pnas.0406991102
Tanner JA, Zheng BJ, Zhou J, Watt RM, Jiang JQ, Wong KL, Lin YP, Lu LY, He ML, Kung HF, Kesel AJ, Huang JD. The adamantane-derived bananins are potent inhibitors of the helicase activities and replication of SARS coronavirus, Chemistry and Biology 2005; 12(3): 303-311 doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2005.01.006
Yin WX, Wu XS, Liu G, Li ZH, Watt RM, Huang JD, Liu DP, Liang CC. Targeted correction of a chromosomal point mutation by modified single-stranded oligonucleotides in a GFP recovery system, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2005; 334(4): 1032-1041 doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.06.193
Zheng BJ, Guan Y, He ML, Sun H, Du L, Zheng Y, Wong KL, Chen H, Chen Y, Lu L, Tanner JA, Watt RM, Niccolai N, Bernini A, Spiga O, Woo PCY, Kung HF, Yuen KY, Huang JD. Synthetic peptides outside the spike protein heptad repeat regions as potent inhibitors of SARS-associated coronavirus, Antiviral Therapy 2005; 10(3): 393-403
Kao RY, Tsui WHW, Lee TSW, Tanner JA, Watt RM, Huang JD, Hu L, Chen G, Chen Z, Zhang L, He T, Chan KH, Tse H, To APC, Ng LWY, Wong BCW, Tsoi HW, Yang D, Ho DD, Yuen KY. Identification of novel small-molecule inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus by chemical genetics, Chemistry and Biology 2004; 11(9): 1293-1299 doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2004.07.013
Tanner JA, Watt RM, Chai YB, Lu LY, Lin MC, Peiris JSM, Poon LLM, Kung HF, Huang JD. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus NTPasefhelicase belongs to a distinct class of 5′ to 3′ viral helicases, Journal of Biological Chemistry 2003; 278(41): 39578-39582 doi:10.1074/jbc.C300328200
Cane DE, Watt RM. Expression and mechanistic analysis of a germacradienol synthase from Streptomyces coelicolor implicated in geosmin biosynthesis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2003; 100(4): 1547-1551 doi:10.1073/pnas.0337625100
Breen RS, Campopiano DJ, Webster S, Brunton M, Watt R, Baxter RL. The mechanism of 7,8-diaminopelargonate synthase; the role of S-adenosylmethionine as the amino donor, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2003; 1(20): 3498-3499 doi:10.1039/b310443p
Li XT, Costantino N, Lu LY, Liu DP, Watt RM, Cheah KSE, Court DL, Huang JD. Identification of factors influencing strand bias in oligonucleotide-mediated recombination in Escherichia coli, Nucleic Acids Research 2003; 31(22): 6674-6687 doi:10.1093/nar/gkg844
Webster SP, Alexeev D, Campopiano DJ, Watt RM, Alexeeva M, Sawyer L, Baxter RL. Mechanism of 8-amino-7-oxononanoate synthase: Spectroscopic, kinetic, and crystallographic studies, Biochemistry 2000; 39(3): 516-528 doi:10.1021/bi991620j
Webster SP, Campopiano DJ, Alexeev D, Alexeeva M, Watt RM, Sawyer L, Baxter RL. Characterisation of S-amino-7-osononanoate synthase: A bacterial PLP-dependent, acyl CoA condensing enzyme, Biochemical Society Transactions 1998; 26(3): S268 doi:10.1042/bst026s268
Campopiano DJ, Alexeev D, Alexeeva M, Webster SP, Watt RM, Sawyer L, Baxter RL. Biotin biosynthesis; structure and mechanism of kara synthase from E. Coli, FASEB Journal 1997; 11(9): A891
Bennett MA, Bramley R, Watt R. Variable-temperature proton resonance spectra of trihaptocycloheptatrienylmetal complexes [5], Journal of the American Chemical Society 1969; 91(11): 3089-3091
Bennett MA, Bramley R, Watt R. Erratum: Variable-temperature proton resonance spectra of trihaptocycloheptatrienylmetal complexes (Journal of the American Chemical Society (1969) 91 (3089)), Journal of the American Chemical Society 1969; 91(20): 5697

Conference Paper

Xie S, WANG M, TANG PNY, Watt RM. The twists and turns of alarmone synthesis in Treponema denticola, 13th European Oral Microbiology Workshop 2021;
Zeng HH, Chan YK, Yu XL, Leung WK, Watt RM. Comparative Genome Analysis of Canine Oral Treponemes, American Society For Microbiology (ASM) Microbe 2019 2019;
Chan YK, Zeng HH, Yu XL, Leung WK, Watt RM. Comparative Genomics of the Human Oral Spirochetes Treponema denticola and T. putidum, American Society For Microbiology (ASM) Microbe 2019 2019; EEB513-EEB513
Liu P, Chan YK, Gao X, Lo ECM, Watt RM, Wong MCM. Pregnant women's oral microbiome and low-birth weight infant, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2019; 98(Spec Iss A): article no. 2934-article no. 2934
Acharya A, Kheur S, Chan YK, Watt RM, Jin L, Mattheos N. Salivary microbiome of periodontitis-phenotype differs in Indian and Chinese cohorts, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2018; 97(Spec Iss B): no. 1286-no. 1286
Watt RM, Yu X, Chan YK, Gao W, Huo Y, Leung WK, Zheng H. Genetic lineages of oral treponemes associated with periodontal health and disease, International Conference on Oral Mucosal Immunity and Microbiome 2018;
Chan YK, Huo Y, Watt RM. Complete genome sequencing of Oral Spirochete Treponema sp. OMZ 305, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2018; 97(Spec Iss B): abstract no. 3392-abstract no. 3392
Zeng H, Wang H, Chan YK, Watt RM. Functional analysis of two serine peptidases from Treponema putidum, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2018; 97(Spec Iss B): abstract no. 3390-abstract no. 3390
Zeng H, Chan YK, Flemmig TF, Beikler T, Watt RM. Canine Subgingival Microbiota: With Focus On Treponeme Populations, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2018; 97(Spec Iss B): abstract no. 3046-abstract no. 3046
Wang H, Xie S, Watt RM. Biochemical activities of the calpain peptidase homologue from Actinomyces israelii, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2018; 97(Spec Iss B): abstract no. 2550-abstract no. 2550
Yu X, Chan YK, Zhuang LF, Lai HC, Lang N, Leung WK, Watt RM. Oral microbiota in healthy versus diseased periodontal and peri-implant niches, Journal of Dental Research 2017; 96(Special issue A): abstract no. 2109-abstract no. 2109
Chan YK, Yu XL, Leung WK, Watt RM. Whole Genome Sequencing of ‘Treponema vincentii’ using the MinION, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2017; 96(Special issue A): abstract no. 1468-abstract no. 1468
Tang NY, Lu B, Watt RM. Functional characterization of Zymomonas mobilis exopolyphosphatase/guanosine pentaphosphate phosphohydrolase (PPX/GppA) protein, American Society for Microbiology, ASM Microbe 2017 2017;
Yang N, Xie S, Watt RM. It’s all Rel-ative. Comparative analysis of bacterial (pp)pGpp alarmone synthesizing proteins, Microbiology Society Annual Conference, 2017 2017; poster #615-poster #615
Watt RM. In-depth sequence analysis of highly-conserved pyrH gene to study distributions of oral treponemes in periodontal disease versus health, Journal of Oral Microbiology 2017; 9(Suppl. 1): abstract no. 1325210-abstract no. 1325210 doi:10.1080/20002297.2017.1325210
Chan YK, Yu XL, Leung WK, Watt RM. Intra-oral Comparison Of Peri-implant Mucositis And Gingivitis Microbiota, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2017; 96(Spec. Iss. B): S0022 (SEA Division)-S0022 (SEA Division)
Acharya A, Zhuang L, Chan YK, Watt RM, Lang NP, Mattheos N. ‘Next-Generation’ Perspectives: A Classical Cohort’s Subgingival Microbiome and Periodontal Disease, Journal of Dental Research (Spec Issue) 2017; 96(Spec Iss A)
Acharya A, Kheur S, Gopalakrishnan D, Watt RM, Jin L, Mattheos N. Salivary interleukin-1β response is associated with microbiome diversity, Journal of Dental Research 2016; 95(Spec. Iss. B)
Wen W, Liu P, Lo ECM, Gao X, Watt RM, Wong MCM. Oral health promotion for pregnant women in Hong Kong, Journal of Dental Research 2016; 95(Spec. Iss. B)
Liu P, Wen W, Gao X, Watt RM, Wong MCM. Oral health problems and oral health-related quality-of-life among pregnant women, Journal of Dental Research 2016; 95(Spec. Iss. B)
Chan YK, Yu XL, Watt RM. Whole genome sequencing of an oral spirochete, London Calling Conference 2016;
Chan YK, Yu XL, Leung WK, Watt RM. Comparative genomic analysis of phylogroup 1 oral treponeme strains, IADR/ APR General Session & Exhibition 2016 2016;
Botelho M, Lam O, Watt R, Yip VSP, Shum D, Lung M. Peer generated MCQs to assess and support for learning in a Problem Based Learning Programme, International Conference on Assessment for Learning in Higher Education 2015;
Acharya A, Koh ML, Kheur S, Watt R, Jin L, Mattheos N. Salivary IL-1 beta, 'Red Complex Bacteria' and maintenance frequency as predictors of periimplant crevicular fluid IL-1 beta response in periimplant mucositis, Journal of Dental Research Meeting Abstracts 2015; 94(Spec. Iss. A)
Li L, Khong ML, Lu B, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Long-chain inorganic polyphosphate is highly enriched in osteoblastic matrix vesicles, The FEBS Journal 2015; 282(suppl. S1): 101, abstract no. P08-102 doi:10.1111/febs.13339
Khong ML, Li L, Lu B, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Towards demystifying the implications of polyphosphate-protein binding, Hong Kong Inter-University Postgraduate Symposium on Life Science 2015;
Wen W, Wong MCM, Gao X, Lo ECM, Watt RM. Dental visit and perceived need among Hong Kong pregnant women, Journal of Dental Research 2015; 94(Spec Iss B (SEA Division))
Watt RM, Yu X, Chan YK, Leung WK. Distributions of Synergistetes Bacteria Within Diseased and Asymptomatic Periodontal Niches, Journal of Dental Research 2015; 94(Spec. Iss. B)
Yu X, Chan YK, Lacap-Bugler DC, Leung WK, Watt RM. PCR primer sets for surveying oral synergistetes diversity, Journal of Dental Research 2015; 94(Spec. Iss. A)
Huo Y, Zhang Q, Bartlam M, Watt RM. Autocatalytic processing of the TPR Thiol Protease from Porphyromonas gingivalis, Journal of Dental Research 2015; 94(Spec. Iss. A)
Khong ML, Li L, Lu B, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Determining proteins that specifically bind to polyphosphate in osteoblasts, Biochemical Society 2015 Meeting: Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) physiology 2015;
Botelho MG, Lam OLT, Watt RM, Leung DYP. Evaluation of peer-generated MCQs to assess and support learning in a problem-based learning programme, HKU Faculty of Dentistry Annual Scientific Meeting 2015;
Lacap-Bugler DC, Watt RM, Leung WK. Snapshot of the three domains of life in the oral niche, Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting & Trade Exhibition, ASMicro 2014 2014;
Acharya A, Mattheos N, Watt RM, Kheur S, Gopalakrishnan D, Jin L. Salivary P. gingivalis and PISF IL-1β in periodontally susceptible/non-susceptible individuals, Journal of Dental Research 2014; 93(Special issue B: abstract no. 382)
Gao W, You M, Tanner JA, Leung WK, Watt RM. Development of DNA aptamers against Treponema denticola, Journal of Dental Research 2014; 93(Spec. Iss. B)
Watt RM, Lacap-Bugler DC, You M, Gao W, Leung WK. Opening the door to a stable subgingival microbiota, 11th European Oral Microbiology Workshop, EOMW 2014 2014;
Chen W, Cheng T, Huang J, Watt RM. Dissection of biophysical properties and biological activities of Bet/RecT family DNA recombination proteins, Annual Conference of the Society for General Microbiology 2014; 126, abstract no. LI14/08-126, abstract no. LI14/08
Lu B, Kotaka M, Watt R. Functional characterization of Zymomonas mobilis polyphosphate kinase 2 (PPK2); implications for polyphosphate and nucleotide metabolism, The FEBS Journal 2014; 281(suppl. s1): 659, abstract WED-130-659, abstract WED-130 doi:10.1111/febs.12919
Khong ML, Li L, Szeto SC, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Cloning, expression, purification and characterisation of escherichia coli polyphosphate binding domain as a new tool to understanding polyphosphate synthesis and function, Research Postgraduate Symposium, RPS 2014 2014;
Zhuang LF, Lang NP, Mattheos N, Lai HC, Watt RM. Subgingival/Submucosal microbiota in subjects with healthy and inflamed peri-implant tissues, Journal of Dental Research 2014; 93(Spec. Iss. B)
Yang N, Watt RM, Lu B. Comparative functional analysis of bacterial small alarmone synthase proteins, Journal of Dental Research 2014; 93(Spec. Iss. C)
Watt RM, You M, Leung WK. Treponeme major surface protein (msp) genotypes associated with periodontitis, 2013;
Ao KL, Wong S, Shum KT, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Dissecting the mechanism of how mycobacterium tuberculosis polyphosphate kinase 2 binds to polyphosphate, Annual Meeting of the European Molecular Biology Organisation, EMBO 2013 2013;
Zhuang L, Watt RM, Wang R, Lang-Hua BH, Ramseier CA, Lang NP. Subgingival microbiota related to pocket probing depth in Sri-Lankan tea-laborers, 2013 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition 2013;
Bridges SM, Yiu CKY, Botelho MG, Lo ECM, Tsang PCS, Watt RM, Yang Y, Wong JW. PBL2.0.: Infusing Educational Technologies For Synchronous Blended Inquiry, European Journal of Dental Education 2013; 18(2): e4-e4 doi:10.1111/eje.12106
XIE S, Chen W, Watt RM. Functional characterization of YqaJ exonuclease and cognate RecT DNA recombination proteins from Kingella oralis, The 5th EMBO Meeting 2013;
Lu B, Watt RM. Comparative biochemical dissection of exopolyphosphatase proteins involved in bacterial polyphosphate metabolism, 2013;
Xie S, Chen W, Watt RM. Biochemical and biological activities of a phage-derived DNA exonuclease and partnering single strand annealing protein (SSAP) from an oral Neisseraiceae, 2013;
Zhuang L, Lang NP, Mattheos N, Si M, Lai HC, Watt RM. Periodontal and peri-implant microbiota in patients with both healthy and inflamed peri-implant tissues, 2013;
Tanner JA, Cheung YW, Kwok JHC, Law WL, Albano DRB, Fung YS, Watt RM, Kotaka M. Towards aptamer-mediated malaria diagnostics: structural insight into discriminatory molecular recognition by a DNA aptamer, Workshop on Aptamers in Medicine & Perspectives, APTAMER 2013 2013;
Tanner J, Cheung YW, Watt RM, Kotaka M. Loops, hairpins and flipped bases: a DNA aptamer that discriminates Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase from the blind watchmaker, Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society, OTS 2013 2013; 187-187
Xiong L, Teng JLL, Watt RM, Kan B, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Arginine deiminase pathway is far more important than urease for acid resistance and intracellular survival in Laribacter hongkongensis: a possible result of arc gene cassette duplication, European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, ECCMID 2013 2013;
So LY, Watt RM. Development of versatile expression vectors for biological and biotechnological applications in the ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis, Society for General Microbiology Spring Conference 2012; GM/37
Leung WK, You M, Mo S, Watt RM. Oral treponeme phylotypes associated with periodontal health and diseas, 26th IADR-SEA Annual Scientific Meeting & 23rd SEAADE Annual Meeting 2012;
Mo S, You M, Gao W, Leung WK, Watt RM. Phylogenetic relationships between Treponema putidum and Treponema denticola isolates, IADR/PER Finland 2012 2012;
Zhuang L, Watt RM, Wang R, Lang-Hua BH, Steiner S, Ramseier CA, Lang NP. Microbiological characteristics of Sri Lankan tea-laborers without oral hygiene performance, Journal of Dental Research 2012; 91(Special Issue C)
Gao W, You M, Lang NP, Leung WK, Watt RM. Diversity of Treponema and Synergistetes phylotypes in equine subgingival plaque, Journal of Dental Research 2012; 91(Special Issue C)
Bandara HMHN, Cheung BPK, Watt RM, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide modifies Candida albicans biofilm development at transcriptional level, General Session and Exhibition of IADR/AADR/CADR, 2011 2011;
Leung WK, Mo S, You M, Watt R. Associations between treponeme bacteria phylogroups and periodontal disease, 10th European Oral Microbiology Workshop 2011 2011;
Choi MY, Wong LY, Wang Y, Chen W, Tanner JA, Watt RM. Biochemical characterization of Gppa-ppx homologues from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, IADR-SEA 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting 2011;
Choi MY, Wong LLY, Tanner JA, Watt RM. Characterization and mutational analysis of an exopolyphosphatase from Mycobacterium smegmatis, IADR-SEA 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting 2011;
Bandara H, Watt RM, Jin L, Samaranayake L. Bacterial quorum sensors cross communicate with Candida during biofilm development, IADR/SEAADE Annual Scientific Meeting, 2011 2011;
You M, Mo S, Watt RM, Leung WK. Clinical profile of Msp genes in oral treponemes, 25th IADR-SEA Division Annual Scientific Meeting 2011 2011;
Shum KT, Lui ELH, Wang Y, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Aptamer-mediated inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis polyphosphate kinase 2, Hong Kong Inter-University Biochemistry Postgraduate Symposium 2010;
Choi MMY, Wang Y, Watt RM. Versatile enzymatic system for the production of guanosine polyphosphates, Spring Meeting of the Society for General Microbiology (SGM) 2010;
So LY, Watt RM. Sequencing and analysis of two cryptic plasmids from Zymomonas mobilis strain NCIMB 11163, International Symposium on the Genetics of Industrial Microorganisms, GIM2010 2010;
Mo S, You M, Leung WK, Watt RM. Phylogenetic relationships between diverse strains of Treponema denticola, HKU - Sun Yat Sen University Conjoint Scientific Meeting 2010 2010;
Ramli H, Leung WK, Watt RM, Corbet EF. Profile of metronidazole resistance among subgingival anaerobic bacteria, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss C): Abstract no. 104-Abstract no. 104
Bandara HMHN, Cheung BPK, Watt RM, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide enhances Candida albicans hypha specific gene expression, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss C): Abstract no. 92-Abstract no. 92
You M, Mo S, Leung WK, Watt RM. Treponeme diversity in periodontal health and disease, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss B): Abstract no.554-Abstract no.554
Mo S, You M, Leung WK, Watt RM. Systematic genetic analysis of Treponema denticola strains of diverse origin, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss B): Abstract no.556-Abstract no.556
Choi MY, Wang Y, Wong RWK, Leung WK, Watt RM. Synthesis of guanosine polyphosphate 'alarmone' molecules in staphylococcus aureus, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss B): Abstract no.1059-Abstract no.1059
Bandara HMHN, Cheung BPK, Watt RM, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Escherichia coli biofilm supernatant modifies Candida albicans biofilms and transcriptome, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss B): Abstract no.1792-Abstract no.1792
Mo S, You M, Leung WK, Watt RM. Phylogenetic relationships between diverse strains of Treponema denticola, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss C): Abstract no. 57-Abstract no. 57
You M, Mo S, Leung WK, Watt RM. Subgingival spirochete diversity among healthy and chronic periodontitis subjects, Journal of Dental Research 2010; 89(Spec Iss C): Abstract no. 58-Abstract no. 58
Lui ELH, Shum KT, Sam L, Wang Y, Watt RM, Tanner JA. Aptamers against polyphosphate kinase 2 (PPK2) from mycobacterium tuberculosis as a potential approach of novel anti-tuberculosis therapy, Croucher Foundation ASI Conference on Structure-Based Screening & Design of Ligands for Protein Targets 2009;
You M, Mo S, Leung WK, Watt RM. Diversity of oral treponemes in patients with chronic periodontitis, Journal of Dental Research 2009; 88(Spec Iss B): 377 (PAPF/APR)-377 (PAPF/APR)
Chen W, Ho WS, Wang Y, Watt RM. DNA Homologous Recombination Proteins for Genetic Manipulations in Bacteria, Journal of Dental Research 2008; 87(Sp Iss B): 2115-2115
Parahitiyawa NB, Bandara HMHN, Yau JYY, Watt RM, Leung WK, Jin LJ, Samaranayake LP. Differential response of lymphocytes to biofilm derived Streptococcus mitiscells, Journal of Dental Research 2008; 87(Sp Iss C): 120-120
Watt RM, Huang J, Ho JWS, Chen W. Engineering Bacterial Chromosomes: E. coli and Beyond, Inaugural HKU-Wuhan University conjoint Dental Scientific Meeting 2008;
Zhou J, Huang J, Poon KM, Chen D, Chan CS, Ng F, Guan XY, Watt RM, Lu L, Yuen KY, Zheng B. A mechanism underlying susceptibility to HBV infection: HBV down-regulate transferase-1 type I interferon receptor 1 via suppressing poly(ADP-ribose), International Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B Viruses 2007;
Huang J, Watt RM, Wang J, Leong MK, Liu D, Danchin ALM. Visualizing becterial proteomes, International Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2007;
Huen MSY, Li XT, Lu L, Watt RM, Liu D, Cheah KSE, Huang J. Unraveling the molecular basis of the bacteriophage lambda-encoded recombination system in E. coli, Keystone Symposia on Mechanisms of DNA Replication & Recombination 2005;
Tanner JA, Watt RM, Kao RYT, Huang J. Targeting the SARS coronavirus helicase - three approaches to inhibitor development, The FASEB Journal 2005; 19: 217.9-217.9
Huang J, Leong MK, Watt RM, Tsang ACC, Danchin ALM, Cheah KSE, Liu D. Recombinogenic tagging reveals dynamic compartmentalization of the escherichia coli proteome, International Conference on Pathways, Networks, & Systems: Theory & Experiments 2004;
Sun H, Ge R, Watt RM, He Q, Huang J. Towards the understanding of nickel trafficking in helicobacter pylori: expression and characterization of a his-rich protein, HPN, International Symposium of the Society of Chinese Bioscientistis in America, SCBA 2004 2004;
Ge R, Watt RM, He Q, Huang J, Sun H. Towards the understanding of nickel trafficking in helicobacter pylori: expression and brief characterization of a his-rich protein, International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry, ISABC-8 2004; PP10-PP10

Book Chapter

You M, Watt RM, Leung WK. Diversity of Oral Spirochetes and Their Role as Periodontopathogens . Current Trends in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.; 2013:199-214.

Honours and Awards

2015. Watt RM, YU X, Chan YK, Leung WK. Research Award in Periodontology and Microbiology, 29th Annual Scientific Meeting (2015) of the International Association for Dental Research, South-east Asian Division: International Association for Dental Research South-east Asian Division.
2015. YU Xiaolin, Leung WK, Watt RM, Chan YK. Research Award in Periodontology and Microbiology, 29th Annual Scientific Meeting (2015) of the International Association for Dental Research, South-east Asian Division: International Association for Dental Research South-east Asian Division.
2013. Bridges SM, Yiu CKY, Botelho MG, Lo ECM, Tsang PCS, Watt RM, Yang Y, Wong JW. Outstanding Teaching Award (OTA) Team "PBL 2.0: E-learning for Problem-based Learning (PBL) at the Faculty of Dentistry": The University of Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Award Scheme(2012), 問題為本學習方法2.0：牙醫學院網上學習方案.
2013. Lo ECM, Tsang PCS, Botelho MG, Yiu CKY, Watt RM, Yang Y, Wong JW, Bridges SM. Outstanding Teaching Award (OTA) Team "PBL 2.0: E-learning for Problem-based Learning (PBL) at the Faculty of Dentistry": The University of Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Award Scheme(2012), 問題為本學習方法2.0：牙醫學院網上學習方案.
2012. Leung WK, You M, Mo S, Watt RM. Best Paper Award in Microbiology / Immunology / Periodontal Research: 26th IADR-SEA Annual Scientific Meeting.
2012. MO Sisu, Leung WK, YOU Meng, Watt RM. Best Paper Award in Microbiology / Immunology / Periodontal Research: 26th IADR-SEA Annual Scientific Meeting.
2012. Watt RM, Chen W. Faculty Research Output Prize (2012): Faculty of Dentistry.
2012. Watt RM, Chen W. Faculty Research Output Prize (2012): Faculty of Dentistry.
2010. Mo S, You M, Leung WK, Watt RM. Listerine Award in Investigative Periodontology: Conjoint Scientific Meeting and 1st Guangdong-Hong Kong Postgraduate Forum in Dental Science.
2010. Leung WK, MO Sisu, YOU Meng, Watt RM. Listerine Award in Investigative Periodontology: Conjoint Scientific Meeting and 1st Guangdong-Hong Kong Postgraduate Forum in Dental Science.
2010. Tanner JA, Watt RM. Common Core Teaching Development Grant.
2010. Tanner JA, Watt RM. Common Core Teaching Development Grant.

Editorships

2018: Review Editor of the Editorial Board of Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
2013: Editorial Board Member. Oral Biology and Dentistry.

Knowledge Exchange

03 June 2019: Bornstein Michael Marc, Flemmig Thomas Frank, Watt Rory Munro, Pelekos Georgios, McGrath Colman Patrick Joseph, Mariano Sanz, Nairn Wilson, Margaret Wilson, Sašo Ivanovski, Jennifer Go, Bo Chen, Lisa Heitz-Mayfield, Niklaus P. Lang, Ki-Tae Koo, Atsushi Saito, Samantha Li. Osteology Research Academy Hong Kong 3 – 6 June 2019.
01 June 2019: Woo Patrick Chiu Yat, Watt Rory Munro, Lau Susanna Kar Pui, Teng Lee Lee, Tsang Chi Ching, Chow Wang Ngai Franklin. Interdisciplinary KE Project Fund: KE-ID-2018/19-22: Antimicrobials and Infection Control: Emergence Of Drug Resistance & Novel Pathogens (HK$175,000) .
01 June 2019: Kok Kin Hang, Watt Rory Munro, Lau Susanna Kar Pui, Teng Lee Lee, Tsang Chi Ching, Chow Wang Ngai, Woo Patrick Chiu Yat. Interdisciplinary KE Project Fund: KE-ID-2018/19-22: Antimicrobials and Infection Control: Emergence Of Drug Resistance & Novel Pathogens (HK$175,000) .
22 June 2018: Watt Rory Munro. Bioinformatics: a short primer for smart young folks!.
22 June 2018: Watt Rory Munro. Lecture and question and answer session on Bioinformatics to support Biology IB teachning.
15 May 2018: Watt Rory Munro. School Research Project on Antibacterial Natural products.

Professional Societies

12/2023 - present: Member. Microbiology Society.
08/2012 - 08/2014: Councillor, Microbiology & Immunology Research Group. International Association for Dental Research (IADR).
05/2013 - present: International Mentor. American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
01/2008 - 12/2020: Member. International Association for Dental Research (IADR).

Grants

Project Title: Stressed about fat: establishing mechanisms linking nutrients with survival mechanisms for oral and gut bacteria
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF) 2023/24
Funding Year: 2023
Amount: HKD1214800
Principal Investigator: Professor Watt, Rory Munro
Project Title: Putting the POP into periodontitis
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2020
Amount: HKD1188707
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Dr Kotaka Masayo
Project Title: Novel synbiotic-fluoride synergism for restoring oral ecological homeostasis
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2020
Amount: HKD1028174
Principal Investigator: Professor Yiu, Cynthia Kar Yung
Co-investigator(s): Professor Hung Fan Ngai Ivan, Professor Chu Chun Hung, Professor Watt Rory Munro
Project Title: Good-chop, bad-chop? Defining the activities of calpain-like cysteine proteases from oral Actinomyces bacteria
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2018
Amount: HKD966838
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Ngai Sai Ming, Professor Bartlam Mark Gerrard
Project Title: Bark and Bite: a Comparative Genomics Approach to Unwind Uncertainties in Treponeme Biology, Taxonomy and Pathogenicity
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2015
Amount: HKD993349
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Dr Chan Yu Ki, Professor Leung Wai Keung
Project Title: Analysis of microbial metagenome associated with periodontal disease
Grant Type: Health and Medical Research Fund - Full Grant
Funding Year: 2015
Amount: HKD317825
Principal Investigator: Professor Leung, Wai Keung
Co-investigator(s): Dr Lacap-Bugler Donnabella, Dr Watt Rory Munro, Dr Chan Yu Ki
Project Title: Breaking the chain or making magic? Establishing the roles of polyphosphate hydrolase proteins in pathogenic bacteria
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2014
Amount: HKD884691
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Tanner Julian Alexander, Dr Lacap-Bugler Donnabella Castillo, Professor Bartlam Mark Gerrard
Project Title: DNA origami interfaced with aptamer-mediated molecular recognition for integrated modular diagnostics
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2014
Amount: HKD1026750
Principal Investigator: Professor Tanner, Julian Alexander
Co-investigator(s): Dr Heddle Jonathan, Dr Watt Rory Munro
Project Title: Supporting BDS I student learning, a multilevel approach – defining the scope of PBL learning, peer created assessment for and of learning and support workshops
Grant Type: Teaching Development Grants
Funding Year: 2014
Amount: HKD228217
Principal Investigator: Professor Botelho, Michael George
Co-investigator(s): Dr Watt Rory Munro, Dr Lam Otto Lok Tao
Project Title: Whats in your pockets? Single-site analysis of Treponema and Synergistetes populations associated with periodontal health and disease
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2013
Amount: HKD619525
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Leung Wai Keung, Dr Lacap-Bugler Donnabella Castillo
Project Title: Family-centered oral health promotion for new parents and their infants: a randomized controlled trial
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2013
Amount: HKD822731
Principal Investigator: Professor Wong, May Chun Mei
Co-investigator(s): Dr Gao Xiaoli, Professor Lo Edward Chin Man, Dr Watt Rory Munro
Project Title: Defining the Roles of the Fundamental Macromolecule Inorganic Polyphosphate in Osteoblasts
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2012
Amount: HKD1235750
Principal Investigator: Professor Tanner, Julian Alexander
Co-investigator(s): Professor Buchet Rene, Professor Magne David, Dr Watt Rory Munro
Project Title: Raising the alarmone in Staphylococcus aureus: establishing the molecular basis of the stringent response
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2012
Amount: HKD950000
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Dr Seneviratne Chaminda Jayampath, Professor Tanner Julian Alexander
Project Title: Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis modulates the functional characteristics of osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Grant Type: Health and Medical Research Fund - Full Grant
Funding Year: 2012
Amount: HKD765000
Principal Investigator: Professor Zhang, Chengfei
Co-investigator(s): Dr Seneviratne Chaminda Jayampath, Professor Li Xuechen, Professor Jin Lijian, Dr Watt Rory Munro
Project Title: Treponema denticola and periodontal disease: novel analytical approaches to probe host-pathogen relationships
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2011
Amount: HKD650000
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Tanner Julian Alexander, Professor Leung Wai Keung
Project Title: Genes get 'recT' : new and improved methods for bacterial DNA engineering
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2009
Amount: HKD908850
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Huang Jiandong, Professor Tanner Julian Alexander
Project Title: Tracking metals in cells by metallomics: insights into the metal-associated pathophysiological processes
Grant Type: NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme
Funding Year: 2009
Amount: HKD744000
Principal Investigator: Professor Sun, Hongzhe
Co-principal investigator(s): Professor Chai Zhi Fang Co-investigator(s): Dr Watt Rory Munro, Dr Gao Yu Xi, Professor Chen Chun Yin
Project Title: A Molecular toolbox for genetic, proteomic and metabolic engineering in the ethanol-producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2008
Amount: HKD343700
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Huang Jiandong, Dr Seemann Myriam
Project Title: Polyphosphate metabolic enzymes as potential targets for anti-tuberculosis and general antibiotic drug development
Grant Type: General Research Fund (GRF)
Funding Year: 2007
Amount: HKD545000
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-investigator(s): Professor Tanner Julian Alexander, Professor Huang Jiandong
Project Title: Isoprenoid biosynthesis via the methylerythritoal phosphate (MEP) pathway: proteomic analysis and identification of targets for inhibition
Grant Type:
Funding Year: 2006
Amount: HKD33000
Principal Investigator: Dr Watt, Rory Munro
Co-principal investigator(s): Dr Seemann Myriam
Project Title: Determine the functions of the putative metal-binding domain of SARS-CoV helicase
Grant Type: Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases - Full Grants
Funding Year: 2004
Amount: HKD805000
Principal Investigator: Professor Huang, Jiandong
Co-investigator(s): Professor Sun Hongzhe, Professor Tanner Julian Alexander, Dr Watt Rory Munro
Project Title: DNA recombineering mediated by single stranded oligonucleotides
Grant Type: NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme
Funding Year: 2002
Amount: HKD800000
Principal Investigator: Professor Huang, Jiandong
Co-principal investigator(s): Professor Liu Depei Co-investigator(s): Dr Watt Rory Munro, Professor Cheah Kathryn Song Eng

Invited Lectures and Keynote Speeches

01 January 2022: The twists and turns of periodontal disease: etiological insights and a novel treatment approach. International Symposium for Interface Oral Health Sciences (IOHS) 2022.
01 September 2018: Genetic lineages of oral treponemes associated with periodontal health and disease. 1st International Conference on Oral Mucosal Immunity and Microbiome,Chania, Crete, Greece..
01 June 2016: Comparative genomic analysis of phylogroup 1 oral treponeme strains. IADR/ APR General Session & Exhibition 2016; Periodontal Pathogens and Modulation of Host Immune Responses; Symposium 327B.
01 August 2013: PBL2.0: Infusing Educational Technologies for Synchronous Blended Inquiry. Selected key topic presentation., 39th ADEE Annual General Meeting.
01 March 2013: The Twists and Turns of Periodontal Microbiology. Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
01 March 2013: Oral Spirochete Bacteria and the Etiology of Periodontal Disease: an Evolving Story. Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
01 September 2012: Oral Spirochetes:?Diversity and disease. Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
01 September 2012: The Etiology of Periodontal Disease: ?Are Chinese Treponemes More Dangerous Than American Ones?. Postgraduate School of Oral Health Sciences (PeGaSOS)Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland.

HKU Committee Appointments

01 January 2018-31 December 2019: Discontinuation, Committee on. 1 member from each Faculty (Dentistry) from a panel of three in order of precedence for a period of 2 years, renewable up to a maximum of 4 consecutive years
01 January 2014-31 December 2015: Electronmicroscope Unit Committee of Management. Five Heads (or representatives) of major user departments, appointed by the Committee for two years at a time
01 July 2013-30 June 2015: Student Grievances, Committee of Enquiry into. Two other members of the Grievances Panel, appointed by the Chairman: members of the Panel
15 January 2008-14 January 2011: Faculty of Dentistry, Board of the. The teachers who are members of the Faculty and who are full-time employees of the University