Areas of interest: Wolbachia bacteria of filarial nematodes as an anti-filarial drug target for lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness).
Background
I completed my BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology in 1994 from Liverpool John Moores University.
I joined the School of Tropical Medicine in 1989 in the department of Medical Entomology as a laboratory technician maintaining the mosquito colonies. In 2001, joined Dr Steven Sinkins group and was involved in a project exploring the effect of the symbiont Wolbachia on cytoplasmic incompatibility between mosquitoes . In 2003, I joined Professor Janet Hemingway’s group to work on insecticide resistant Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes investigating known and novel mutations in the acetylcholinesterase gene . I also isolated the equivalent gene from Anopheles gambiae and studied expression patterns in different life stages . In 2006, joined the Enzyme Characterisation Group, to prepare bacterial membranes for P450 expression and also expressed and purified batches of Glutathione-S-Transferase’s. I also performed recombinant protein assays for insecticide metabolism and HPLC analysis of insecticide metabolites. In 2010, I joined the A-WOL consortium as a Research Technician, with responsibility for the running and resourcing of the Filariasis Research Laboratory. I contribute to the molecular and parasitological experimental activities including evaluation of drug screening and maintenance of parasite life cycles and vector mosquito colonies.