Biography
My laboratory employs yeast models to study prions and amyloids. Prions were initially identified as proteins in an unusual conformation that cause infectious neurodegenerative diseases, such as "mad cow" disease, kuru or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Infection depends on the prion's ability to convert a non-prion protein, encoded by the same host maintenance gene, into the prion conformation. Prions form ordered cross-beta fibrous aggregates, termed amyloids. A variety of human diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, are associated with amyloids and possess at least some prion properties. Some amyloids have positive biological functions. Many proteins can form amyloids in specific conditions. It is thought that amyloid represents one of the ancient types of the protein fold. Some yeast non-Mendelian heritable elements are based on a prion mechanism. This shows that heritable information can be coded in protein structures, in addition to information coded in DNA sequence. Therefore, prions provide a basis for the protein-based inheritance in yeast (and possibly in other organisms). Major topics of research in my lab include cellular control of prion formation and propagation (with a specific emphasis on the role of chaperone proteins), and development of the yeast models for studying mammalian and human amyloids, involved in diseases. Our research has demonstrated that prions can be induced by transient protein overproduction and discovered the crucial role of chaperones in prion propagation, shown evolutionary conservation of prion-forming properties, established a yeast system for studying species-specificity of prion transmission, and uncovered links between prions, cytoskeletal networks and protein quality control pathways.
Research Interest
Yeast genetics and molecular biology, chaperones and protein misfolding, amyloid and prion diseases, epigenetics and protein-based inheritance.
Biography
Education/Training Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of California at Berkeley, USA, 1996 - 2000 Doctor of Philosophy, McGill University, Canada, 1996 Master of Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 1986 Bachelor of Science, Liaoning University, China, 1983 Professional Experience Professor, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 7/2013 – present Director, Environmental Sciences Program, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 7/2013 - present Associate Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 7/2007 – 6/2013 Director, Environmental Sciences Program, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 7/2007-6/2010 Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 8/2002 – 7/2007 Postgraduate Researcher, University of California at Berkeley, 5/2001 – 7/2002 Assistant Research Scientist, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 8/1988 – 1/1990 Research Associate, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 8/1986 – 7/1988
Research Interest
My research interests cover the following aspects: 1) developing phytoremediation technology for the cleanup of trace element contaminated water and soil, including the use of phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, and constructed wetland treatment systems; 2) understanding the control of major environmental factors over the biogeochemical cycles of contaminants in the air-water-soil-plant system, particularly with respect to transport, fate, and chemical transformation of pollutants in ecosystems; 3) characterizing ecosystem responses to phytoremediation processes and other anthropogenic perturbations, such as agricultural or industrial pollution and waste management. My research program is conducted in an interdisciplinary approach, combining laboratory, field, and theoretical approaches, and at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Biography
Brian McNeil B.Sc. (1st Class Hons in Applied Microbiology, Strathclyde 1980), Ph.D. funded by Carnegie Trust in Fermentation Technology 1984. Lecturer in Department of Bioscience 1989-1997, Senior Lecturer 1997-2003, Reader 2003, Professor of Microbiology 2005-date, Assistant Head of Institute 2009-2012.
Research Interest
My main research interests lie in trying to understand the relationship between the environment of microbial animal cells in industrial bioprocesses (the fermenter or bioreactor) and the behaviour of the cells. This has led to two research themes in broad terms. The first of these is real time monitoring of fermentation and cell cultures systems, especially using spectroscopic techniques, such as Near Infrared spectroscopy. This area has been supported substantially by BBSRC, EPSRC, TSB and major biotechnology and biopharma companies (including Eli Lilly, GSK, DSM, Roche) and equipment suppliers such as Foss NIRSystems and Applikon. The second theme relates to how cells respond to stress within fermenters, especially oxidative stress. A particular interest within this theme is the functioning and role of the alternative respiratory pathway in fungi. I was a BBSRC Expert Pool Member in Industrial Biotechnology 2008-2010, and am currently a member of the Scottish Enterprise Industrial Biotechnology Growth Team.
