Dr Steven Hainsworth
PhD: MMedSc (Path); BAppSci (Pod)
Steven is a research scientist and podiatrist from Melbourne, Australia. He became interested in dermatophytes in his undergraduate days, when in 1980, the Head of the Podiatry School at the Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences (Mr Chris Hyde) appointed him to run the small mycology laboratory. His fascination with dermatophytes has been maintained throughout his working career with a special interest in onychomycosis and tinea pedis.
Steven published a paper in JAPMA in 2015, which demonstrated the presence of viable dermatophytes and many non-dermatophyte molds in human toenail dust generated by electric podiatry drills. This research was conducted at the Monash Pathology Laboratory while doing his Masters Degree with Charles Sturt University.
During 2015 Steven became a PhD researcher with RMIT University in Bundoora, Victoria. Instead of using traditional identification methods for dermatophytes, the DNA of isolates was used to accurately identify the dermatophyte strains from four regions of Eastern Australia. These studies were ground breaking and demonstrated that Australia did not have the same epidemiology as the UK, Europe or North America.
Using this method Steven was able to identify a new species of dermatophyte, namely Arthroderma melbournense. The research revealed Australia’s unique epidemiology and resistance testing showed 6.7% of Trichophyton interdigitale strains were terbinafine resistant.
It was the privilege of Dr Hainsworth to be invited to collaborate concerning dermatophytes with Vit Hubka of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Together they described the new dermatophyte Arthroderma melbournense and developed a new three gene taxonomic method for classifying the Arthrodermas. Steven also collaborated with Sybren de Hoog, a prominent mycologist, and taxonomist from Amsterdam University in the Netherlands. These collaborations involved molecular taxonomy and phylogenetics of pathogenic dermatophytes.
Dr Hainsworth presented at a dermatophyte workshop in Utrecht University, Netherlands; the Onygenales workshops in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Prague in the Czech Republic, DERMfoot in the United Sates and a Victorian Podiatry Association State Conference, Australia. He also did presentations in DERMfoot in the United States and at the Victorian Podiatry Association Conference in Australia,
In addition, he has over 35 years of experience as a clinical podiatrist and is very familiar with the struggles of the profession when treating onychomycosis.
Steven was dux in his undergraduate studies and was awarded the Chiropody/Podiatry Registration Board Prize. His PhD was graded as outstanding. Following on from this he was invited by the Sigma Xi to full membership for a significant contribution to his field of science and research. He is also a member of ISHAM, the International Society for Human and Animal Mycoses. To date he has 6 publications in prestigious journals and is a regular peer reviewer for papers submitted for publication.
