School of Life Sciences
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I undertook both my BSc (Physics and Maths) and PhD (Protein Crystallography) at Keele University. The latter involved the development of synchrotron x-ray Laue method for use with large macromolecules such as proteins and viruses. I revisited Keele as a postdoctoral worker and was appointed as a Lecturer at Keele University in September 1999. I have been a visiting scientist at Purdue University, USA and LMB Cambridge and I have undertaken postdoctoral work in structural biology at Keele University, University of Edinburgh and Purdue University, USA.
My research interests are in structural biology and in how the structure of biological macromolecules is related to their function. My research is focused on the structure and function of key molecules of the innate immune system. The innate immune response has non-variable components which respond in a fairly general, often rapid manner to threatening microorganisms and molecules of both internal and external origin. A major focus of my research is the definition of the three-dimensional structures of pentraxins and active fragments of collectins. I am part of the Structural Biology Research Group within the Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine (ISTM).
Selected Publications
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Journal Articles
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2004. C1q and tumor necrosis factor superfamily: modularity and versatility. Trends in Immunology, vol. 25(10), 551-561. doi>
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2004. Structural and functional anatomy of the globular domain of complement protein Clq. Immunology Letters, vol. 95(2), 113-128. doi>
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2003. Comparison of different crystal forms of 3-dehydroquinase from \fISalmonella typhi\fP and its implication for the enzyme activity. Acta Crystallographica, Section D. doi>
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2002. The three-dimensional structure of calcium-depleted human C-reactive protein from perfectly twinned crystals. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr, vol. 58(Pt 6 Pt 2), 992-1001. link> doi> full text>
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2001. Topology and structure of the C1q-binding site on C-reactive protein. J Immunol, vol. 166(6), 3998-4004. link>
Other
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2003. Pentraxin-like serum proteins from common carp \fI(Cyprinus carpio)\fP. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of the European Association of Fish Pathologists.
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2001. Isolation of C-reactive protein from the common carp \fI(Cyprinius carpio)\fP. Proceedings of the International Conference of the European Association of Fish Pathologists.
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1989. Laue crystallography: application to virus crystals. Basic Life Sci (vol. 51, pp. 331-339). link>
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Structural basis of ligand and pathogen recognition by the collectins. Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography (vol. A67, p. C472).
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Structure, function and evolution of the serum pentraxins. Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography (vol. A67, p. C546).
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LSC10030 Case Studies in Medicine
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LSC20015 Molecular, Cellular & Structural Immunology (Module manager)
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LSC30007 Biology dissertation
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LSC30008 /12 Experimental Research project
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LSC30014 Biochemistry Research project (Non-experimental)
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LSC30015 Biology of Disease (Module manager)
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LSC30016 Structural Biology & Macromolecular Function
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MTE40018 Physiology and Anatomy

