Dr Penny Powell
| Job Title | Contact | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Lecturer |
P dot Powell at uea dot ac dot uk
Tel: +44 (0)1603 59 1238 |
Career
- PhD Biochemistry, University of London 1984
- BSc Biochemistry, University of London 1980
Research interests
Evasion of host innate immune response by viruses. Interaction of viral proteins with host signal transduction molecules. Vascular cell biology and vascular diseases, including viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Career summary
| 2006-present | Lecturer in Biomedicine, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ |
|
| 1994-2005 | Senior Scientist, Dept of Immunology, Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, Surrey. | Pirbright, Surrey |
| 1991-1994 | Research Instructor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussetts, USA | |
| 1987-1994 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets, USA | |
| 1984-1987 | Postdoctoral Fellow, St Louis University Medical School, St Louis, Missouri, USA | |
| 1984 | PhD Biochemistry, University of London | |
| 1980 | BSc Biochemistry, Imperial College, University of London. |
Key Research Interests
Using modern molecular, cellular and bioimaging techniques to understand the molecular pathogenesis of disease, with particular interests in innate imume response during infection. I am interested in the way viruses evade host innate immune responses through interaction of viral proteins with cellular signal transduction pathways. The cell’s first response to viral infection is to produce interferon and cytokines to reduce viral replication and/or eliminate the infected cell by apoptosis. The central regulators that lead to production of cytokines and interferons are transcription factors, such as NF-kB and interferon response factors (IRFs). Viruses encode proteins that block these pathways, enabling them to survive and persist in the host cell. I am investigating virus-host protein interactions using
biological assays for cytokines, protein-protein interactions by pull down co-binding assays and mass spectrometry analysis, and bioimaging to recognize intracellular interactions and rearrangements.
This research will be useful to design new anti-viral drugs and make vaccines.
Selected publications
- Doceul, V., Charleston, B., Crooke, H., Reid E., Powell P.P. and Seago, J. (2008) The Npro product of classical swine fever virus interacts with IκBα, the NF-κB inhibitor. J. Gen Virol 89: 1881-1889
- Tennant, L. M., Renard, C., Chardon P. and Powell, P. P. (2007). Regulation of porcine classical and non-classical MHC Class I expression. Immunogenetics. 59:377-389. Epub 2007 Mar 10.
- La Rocca, S. A., Herbert, R. J., Crooke H., Drew, T. W., Wileman, T. E., and Powell, P. P. (2005). Loss of interferon regulatory factor 3 in cells infected with classical swine fever virus involves the N-terminal protease Npro. J. Virol. 79: 7239-7247
- Bensaude, E., Turner, J. E, Wakeley, P. R., Sweetman, D. A., Pardieu, C., Drew, T. W,. Wileman T. E. and Powell, P. P. (2004). Classical swine fever virus activates proinflammatory cytokines and tissue factors and inhibits apoptosis and interferon synthesis during the establishment of long term infection of porcine vascular endothelial cells. J Gen Virol ; 85: 1029-1037
- Vallee, I., Tait, S. W. G., and Powell, P. P. (2001). African swine fever virus infection of porcine aortic endothelial cells leads to inhibition of inflammatory responses, activation of the thrombotic state and apoptosis. J. Virol. 75: 10372-10382
- Tait S. W. G, Reid, E. B., Greaves, D. R., Wileman, T. E. and Powell, P. P. (2000) Mechanism of inactivation of NF-kB by a viral homologue of I-kB-a: Signal induced release of I-kB-a: results in binding of the viral homologue to NF-kB. J. Biol. Chem. 275: 34656-34664
Teaching Interests
I teach on the MBBS medical degree program at the Medical School in the following:
Biochemistry theme lead (with Kevin Tyler)
Bioscience lead for Year 2.
Year 2 PBL group
SSS supervision and assessment
Laboratory-based research projects in the Biomedical Research Centre.
Article
Greatorex, JS, Page, RF, Curran, M, Digard, P, Enstone, JE, Wreghitt, T, Powell, PP, Sexton, DW, Vivancos, R and Hguyen-Van-Tam, JS (2010) Effectiveness of common household cleaning agents in reducing the viability of human Influenza A/H1N1. PLoS ONE, 5 (2). e8987.
Doceul, V, Charleston, B, Crooke, H, Reid, LR, Powell, PP and Seago, J (2008) The Npro product of Classical Swine Fever Virus interacts with IkappaB alpha, the NF-kappa B inhibitor. Journal of General Virology, 89 (8). pp. 1881-1889.
Tennant, LM, Renard, C, Chardon, P and Powell, PP (2007) Regulation of porcine classical and non classical MHC class I expression. Immunogenetics, 59 (5). pp. 377-389.
La Rocca, SA, Herbert, RJ, Crooke, H, Drew, TW, Wileman, TE and Powell, PP (2005) Loss of interferon regulatory factor 3 in cells infected with classical swine fever virus involves the N-terminal protease, Npro. Journal of Virology, 79 (11). pp. 7239-7247.
Bensaude, E, Turner, JL, Wakeley, PR, Sweetman, DA, Pardieu, C, Drew, TW, Wileman, TE and Powell, PP (2004) Classical swine fever virus induces proinflammatory cytokines and tissue factor expression and inhibits apoptosis and interferon synthesis during the establishment of long-term infection of porcine vascular endothelial cells. Journal of General Virology, 85 (4). pp. 1029-1037.
Vallee, I, Tait, S and Powell, PP (2001) African swine fever virus infection of procine aortic endothelial cells leads to inhibition of inflammatory responses, activation of the thrombotic state and apoptosis. Journal of Virology, 75 (21). pp. 10372-10382.
Key Responsibilities
MBBS Biochemistry theme lead (with Kevin Tyler) Laboratory-based research projects in the Biomedical Research Centre
