Research
Disrupted endothelial cell layer and exposed extracellular matrix proteins promote capture of late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells. Stem Cells International 2016; (2016), Article ID 1406304
We work on viruses and viral vectors. We are interested in the molecular and structural biology of how RNA viruses package their genetic material and how they select their own RNA from the cell so specifically. We focus on lentiviruses like HIV, the cause of AIDS. We also use lentiviruses as vectors for gene delivery and collaborate with other Departments working towards genetic treatments for disease.
We have used vectors to gene transduce cardiovascular tissue including heart muscle and endothelium. Recently we have approached the issue of endothelial damage in ischaemia reperfusion injury using native and gene modified endothelial progenitor cells. The long term aim is to prevent or ameliorate chronic organ rejection in transplantation.
Publications
Zhao J, Mirtofan C-B, Appleby SL, Morrell NW, Lever AML Disrupted endothelial cell layer and exposed extracellular matrix proteins promote capture of late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells. Stem Cells International 2016; (2016), Article ID 1406304
Zhao J, Bolton EM, Randle L, Bradley JA, Lever AM. Functional characterization of late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells in patients with end-stage renal failure. Transpl Int. 2014 May;27(5):437-51. doi: 10.1111
Bell NM, L’Hernault A, Murat P, Richards JE, Lever AM, Balasubramanian S. Targeting RNA-protein interactions within the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 lifecycle Biochemistry. 2013 Dec 23;52(51):9269-74. doi: 10.1021
Kenyon JC, Prestwood LJ, Le Grice SF, Lever AM. In-gel probing of individual RNA conformers within a mixed population reveals a dimerization structural switch in the HIV-1 leader.Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Oct;41(18):e174. doi: 10.1093
Stephenson JD, Li H, Kenyon JC, Symmons M, Klenerman D, Lever AM. Three-dimensional RNA structure of the major HIV-1 packaging signal region. Structure. 2013 Jun 4;21(6):951-62. doi: 10.1016
Kenyon JC, Tanner SJ, Legiewicz M, Phillip PS, Rizvi TA, Le Grice SFJ, Lever AM. SHAPE Analysis of the FIV Leader RNA reveals a structural switch potentially controlling Viral Packaging and Genome Dimerization Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 39(15):6692-704
Zhao J, Sinclair J, Houghton J, Bolton E, Bradley A, Lever A. Cytomegalovirus beta2.7 RNA transcript protects endothelial cells against apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion injury. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2010; 29:342-5
