A5089090103- Speech Recognition and Synthesis
- Speech and dialogue systems
- Speech and Audio Processing
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Music and Audio Processing
- Social Robot Interaction and HRI
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Natural Language Processing Techniques
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Emotion and Mood Recognition
- Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Cleft Lip and Palate Research
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Voice and Speech Disorders
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
University of Exeter
2015-2024
University of St Andrews
2012-2023
St. Vincenz-Krankenhaus Limburg
2022
Texas A&M University – Texarkana
2016
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2003-2014
Indiana University School of Medicine
2013
Fife Council
2013
University of Würzburg
2009
Technical University of Munich
2008
Elektrobit (Finland)
2008
Peroxisomes (POs) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cooperate in cellular lipid metabolism form tight structural associations, which were first observed ultrastructural studies decades ago. PO-ER associations have been suggested to impact on a diverse number of physiological processes, including metabolism, phospholipid exchange, metabolite transport, signaling, PO biogenesis. Despite their fundamental importance cell mechanisms by regions ER become tethered POs are unknown, particular...
Blast disease destroys up to 30% of the rice crop annually and threatens global food security. The blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae invades plant tissue with hyphae that proliferate grow from cell cell, often through pit fields, where plasmodesmata cluster. We showed chemical genetic inhibition a single fungal mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, Pmk1, prevents M. infecting adjacent cells, leaving trapped within cell. Pmk1 regulates expression secreted effector proteins implicated in...
The dynamics of reductive genome evolution for eukaryotes living inside other eukaryotic cells are poorly understood compared to well-studied model systems involving obligate intracellular bacteria. Here we present 8.5 Mb sequence from the microsporidian Trachipleistophora hominis, isolated an HIV/AIDS patient, which is outgroup smaller compacted-genome species that primarily inform ideas evolutionary mode these enormously successful parasites. Our data provide detailed information on gene...
Abstract Even distribution of peroxisomes (POs) and lipid droplets (LDs) is critical to their role in reactive oxygen species homeostasis. How even achieved remains elusive, but diffusive motion directed motility may play a role. Here we show that the fungus Ustilago maydis ∼95% POs LDs undergo motions. These movements require ATP involve bidirectional early endosome motility, indicating microtubule-associated membrane trafficking enhances diffusion organelles. When transport abolished,...
Peroxisomes and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cooperate in cellular lipid metabolism. They form membrane contacts through interaction of peroxisomal protein ACBD5 (acyl-coenzyme A–binding domain 5) ER-resident VAPB (vesicle-associated protein–associated B). binds to major sperm via its FFAT-like (two phenylalanines [FF] an acidic tract) motif. However, molecular mechanisms, which regulate formation these contact sites, are unknown. Here, we reveal that peroxisome–ER associations ACBD5-VAPB...
This paper describes the corpus of recordings children's speech which was collected as part EU FP5 PF STAR project.The contains more than 60 hours speech, including read and imitated native-language in British English, German Swedish, non-nativelanguage English from German, Italian Swedish children, spontaneous emotional German.
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites of most animal groups including humans, but despite their significant economic and medical importance there major gaps in our understanding how they exploit infected host cells. We have investigated the evolution, cellular locations substrate specificities a family nucleotide transport (NTT) proteins from Trachipleistophora hominis, microsporidian isolated an HIV/AIDS patient. Transport critical to success because compensate for dramatic...
Abstract Microsporidians are obligate intracellular parasites that have minimized their genome content and sub-cellular structures by reductive evolution. Here, we demonstrate cristae-deficient mitochondria (mitosomes) of Trachipleistophora hominis the functional site iron–sulfur cluster (ISC) assembly, which suggest is essential task these organelles. Cell fractionation, fluorescence imaging immunoelectron microscopy mitosomes contain a complete pathway for [2Fe–2S] biosynthesis...
Candida albicans exists as a commensal of mucosal surfaces and the gastrointestinal tract without causing pathology. However, this fungus is also common cause systemic infections when antifungal immune defenses become compromised. The activation host depends on recognition fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such β-1,3-glucan. In C. albicans, most β-1,3-glucan present in inner cell wall, concealed by outer mannan layer, but some becomes exposed at surface. response to...
The plastic monomer bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest production volume chemicals in world and frequently detected wildlife humans, particularly children. BPA has been associated with numerous adverse health outcomes relating to its estrogenic other hormonal properties, but direct causal links are unclear humans animal models. Here we simulated measured (1×) predicted worst-case (10× ) maximum fetal exposures for BPA, or equivalent concentrations metabolite MBP, using fluorescent...
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites with extremely reduced genomes and a dependence on host-derived ATP. The microsporidium Encephalitozoon cuniculi proliferates within membranous vacuole we investigated how the ATP supply is optimized at vacuole-host interface. Using spatial EM quantification (stereology), found single layer of mitochondria coating substantial proportions parasitophorous vacuole. Mitochondrial binding occurred preferentially over vegetative 'meront' stages...
Nanoplastics (NPs; <1 μm) have greater availability to marine organisms than microplastics (1-5000 μm). Understanding NP uptake and depuration in intended for human consumption is imperative food safety, but until now it has been limited due analytical constraints. Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were exposed polystyrene NPs doped with palladium (Pd), allowing the measurements of their into tissues by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) combined electron microscopy. 6 days (d)...
Over the last few years, two guideline articles have been published with recommendations for assessing autophagy. These contained advice on quantification of autophagy by electron microscopy and proposed using thin slices quantifying autophagic structures. Here, we expand what can cannot be quantified single 2D give some suggestions efficient minimally biased approaches this fascinating important process. We recommend that journal Autophagy follow other journals in demanding stringent random...
Mechanosensitive channel proteins are important safety valves against osmotic shock in bacteria, and involved sensing touch sound waves higher organisms. The mechanosensitive of small conductance (MscS) has been extensively studied. Pulsed electron-electron double resonance (PELDOR or DEER) detergent-solubilized protein confirms that as seen the crystal structure, outer ring transmembrane helices do not pack pore-forming helices, creating an apparent void. relevance this void to functional...
Peroxisome membrane dynamics and division are essential to adapt the peroxisomal compartment cellular needs. The protein PEX11β (also known as PEX11B) tail-anchored adaptor proteins FIS1 (mitochondrial fission 1) MFF factor), which recruit GTPase DRP1 (dynamin-related 1, also DNML1) both peroxisomes mitochondria, key factors of division. current model suggests that is for peroxisome division, whereas role unclear. Here, we reveal can promote in absence a DRP1- FIS1-dependent manner. We...
The fluorescence response of the Thioflavin-T (ThT) dye and derivatives has become standard tool for detecting β-amyloid aggregates (Aβ) in solution. However, it is accepted that ThT-based methods suffer from important drawbacks. Some these are due to cationic structure ThT, which limits its application at slightly acidic conditions; whereas some limitations related general use an extrinsic-dye sensing strategy intrinsic requirement formation a sensor-binding site during aggregation process....
Synthetic and naturally occurring lipid-rich nanoparticles are of wide ranging importance in biomedicine. They include liposomes, bicelles, nanodiscs, exosomes virus particles. The quantitative study these particles requires methods for high-resolution visualization the whole population. One powerful imaging method is cryo-EM vitrified samples, but this technically demanding, specialized equipment, provides low contrast does not reveal all present a Another approach classical negative...
Peroxisomes are highly dynamic subcellular compartments with important functions in lipid and ROS metabolism. Impaired peroxisomal function can lead to severe metabolic disorders developmental defects neurological abnormalities. Recently, a new group of has been identified, characterised by the membrane dynamics division peroxisomes rather than loss functions. However, contribution impaired peroxisome plasticity pathophysiology those is not well understood. Mitochondrial fission factor (MFF)...
Young speakers are not represented adequately in current speech recognizers. In this paper we focus on the problem to adapt acoustic frontend of a recognizer which has been trained adults’ achieve better performance from children. We introduce and evaluate method perform non-linear VTLN by an unconstrained data-driven optimization filterbank. A second approach normalizes speaking rate young with PSOLA algorithm. Significant reductions word error have achieved.