Dr Josie Parker

Ymchwil

Molecular investigation of Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and antifungal resistance

My research is focused on Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and antifungal resistance.

Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) are haem containing enzymes. Several thousand CYP proteins have been identified belonging to hundreds of different families. Some have essential roles in metabolism (for example in the production of sterols and steroid hormones) and in the biotransformation of drugs and xenobiotics (such as those CYPs in mammalian livers). In bacteria and fungi some P450s have been found to be essential for growth on unusual carbon sources, such as camphor and alkanes. They are also involved in secondary metabolism and the production of important natural products such as antibiotics and virulence factors such as siderophores in microorganisms.

The essentiality of some CYPs in metabolic pathways has been exploited for the use of chemotherapy, including the target of azole antifungals and the target for aromatase inhibitors in cancer treatment. CYPs therefore present an attractive good ‘druggable’ targets, their interaction with inhibitors is well understood and they may be useful for targeting other diseases in the future.

Some prokaryotic species have very large numbers of CYPs and the function of many of them is not yet known or understood. Research on CYPs aids the understanding of infection/virulence, resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs and the means to produce new antimicrobial drugs. In addition, as the physiological functions of CYPs are resolved there is the possibility that they will provide new antimicrobial targets in infectious organisms.

Research in my laboratory is currently centred on two main themes:

• Understanding the molecular basis of azole resistance in fungal infections
• Investigating the physiological role of CYPs of ‘unknown function’ in microorganisms

Addysgu

• BI1001 Skills for Science
• BI1014 Biological Chemistry
• BI1051 Genetics and Evolution (Recombinant DNA Technology)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Bywgraffiad

I studied for my Genetics undergraduate degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and went on to complete a PhD on microbial cytochrome P450s in 2006. During my time as a postdoctoral researcher at Swansea University (2005-2021) I worked on a variety of projects involving the structure and function of cytochrome P450s. In particular I studied drug targets and associated enzymes - investigating the mechanisms of antifungal resistance in both medical and agricultural disease and novel antifungal compounds for the treatment of drug-resistant infections.

I moved to Cardiff University as a Lecturer in July 2022.

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

• Aelod o'r Gymdeithas Frenhinol Bioleg
• Aelod o'r Gymdeithas Biocemegol
• Aelod o'r Gymdeithas Microbioleg
• Aelod o Gymdeithas Cemotherapi Gwrthficrobaidd Prydain.
• Aelod o Gymdeithas Fycolegol Prydain

Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol

2022                        Darlithydd Biocemeg, Prifysgol Caerdydd

2018-2022               Uwch Ymchwilydd Ôl-ddoethurol, Prifysgol Abertawe -  ymwrthedd Azole yn Spp Candida.

Swyddog Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol 2015 - 2018             , Prifysgol Abertawe - prosiect ERDF - 'BEACON+'

Swyddog Ymchwilydd Ôl-ddoethurol 2010 - 2015             , Prifysgol Abertawe - prosiect ERDF - 'BEACON'

2008 - 2010 Cydymaith      Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol, Prifysgol Abertawe - BBSRC - ymwrthedd triazole       

2005 - 2008             Cydymaith Ymchwil Ôl-ddoethurol, Prifysgol Abertawe - Prosiect FP6 yr UE - 'SterolTalk'

Pwyllgorau ac adolygu

• Golygydd Adolygu, Fungal Pathogenesis;
  • Ffiniau mewn Microbioleg Cellog a Heintiedig
  • Ffiniau mewn Bioleg         Ffwngaidd

• Adolygydd ar gyfer BBSRC a Science Foundation Ireland.
• Adolygydd cymheiriaid ar gyfer gwahanol gyfnodolion. 

Meysydd goruchwyliaeth

Goruchwyliaeth gyfredol

Harry Williams

Myfyriwr ymchwil