Researchers boosted by COVID strategy name new bug after health director Nicola Spurrier

South Australia's director of public health has joined a list of stars, including Beyonce, Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger, in having a newly discovered species named after them.

A recently discovered species of bacteria has been named after SA Chief Public Health Officer Nicola SpurrierScientists who discovered it say they appreciated his scientific approach to the COVID-19 pandemicIt can be used in fermentation

A bacterium that could be used in fermented foods and beverages will be named after Nicola Spurrier.

Scott Oliphant, PhD student at the University of Adelaide, said the lactic acid bacteria was called Nicolia spurrieriana in recognition of Professor Spurrier's work during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he appreciated as a "management strategy based on science".

"It took a lot p time," he said.

"There's a process, a bit of a committee with supervisors, to track down a possible name and brainstorm .

"And of course you have to Latinize it, so it took a Latin teacher to help us with that too, so it's actually a very involved process."< /p>

Professor Vladimir Jiranek, Director of Wine Science at the University of Adelaide, with PhD student Scott Oliphant and Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier. (Supplied: University of Adelaide)

The Bacteria Nicolia spurrieriana Erium was discovered – along with three other species – when researchers were analyzing micro -organisms on Australian stingless bees.

It may find uses in winemaking, baking and pickling.

"It is genetically very distinct from other types of lactic acid bacteria," Oliphant said.

"It has a much larger genome than its neighbors, as well as the presence of unique genes not shared by other lactic acid bacteria.

"This means it could most likely contribute unique characteristics in food fermentation processes, such as in the creation of bread or marinating various foods.

"We will also test its ability to help in winemaking. Everyone loves s unique flavors of wine, as long as they are delicious."

A group of single cells of Nicolia spurrieriana imaged by scanning electron microscopy. (Supplied: Ken Neubauer/Adelaide Microscopy)

Professor Spurrier said she was honored to have the bacterium named...