![Katherine Smith FHEA PhD (Cantab) ARCS BSc](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1223?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Katherine Smith
FHEA PhD (Cantab) ARCS BSc
Lecturer
School of Biosciences
- SmithK28@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 74303
- Sir Martin Evans Building, Room W/2.05, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a Lecturer in Biomedicine in the School of Biosciences. I am interested in the impact of pathogen-driven immune-regulation on inflammatory disorders, particularly the interaction between helminth parasite infection and cancer. My interests extend to how other risk factors for cancer, such as diet, influence host immune responses, metabolism and the gut microbiota.
My group is linked with the Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics (MMI) group within the Cardiff School of Biosciences.
I hold an Honorary Research Associate position at the University of Cape Town, South Africa
I am also a Cardiff University Education Fellow
You can also find our publication information on ResearchGate. Please, do not hesitate to follow me on Twitter.
Publication
2024
- Reed, E. K. and Smith, K. A. 2024. Using our understanding of interactions between helminth metabolism and host immunity to target worm survival. Trends in Parasitology 40(7), pp. 549-561. (10.1016/j.pt.2024.05.006)
2023
- de Lange, A. et al. 2023. Cestode larvae excite host neuronal circuits via glutamatergic signaling. eLife 2023, article number: 88174.1. (10.7554/eLife.88174.1)
2022
- Katsandegwaza, B., Horsnell, W. and Smith, K. 2022. Inflammatory bowel disease: A review of pre-clinical murine models of human disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23(16), article number: 9344. (10.3390/ijms23169344)
2021
- Chetty, A. et al. 2021. Il4ra-independent vaginal eosinophil accumulation following helminth infection exacerbates epithelial ulcerative pathology of HSV-2 infection. Cell Host and Microbe 29(4), pp. 579-593. (10.1016/j.chom.2021.02.004)
2020
- Mitre, E. et al. 2020. Taenia larvae possess distinct acetylcholinesterase profiles with implications for host cholinergic signalling. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(12), article number: e0008966. (10.1371/journal.pntd.0008966)
- Chetty, A. et al. 2020. Impact of helminth infections on female reproductive health and associated diseases. Frontiers in Immunology 11, article number: 577516. (10.3389/fimmu.2020.577516)
- Jacobs, B., Prince, S. and Smith, K. A. 2020. Gastrointestinal nematode-derived antigens alter colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through regulation of cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(21), article number: 7845. (10.3390/ijms21217845)
2019
- Darby, M. G. et al. 2019. Pre-conception maternal helminth infection transfers via nursing long-lasting cellular immunity against helminths to offspring. Science Advances 5(5), article number: eaav3058. (10.1126/sciadv.aav3058)
- Löser, S., Smith, K. A. and Maizels, R. M. 2019. Innate lymphoid cells in helminth infections-obligatory or accessory?. Frontiers in Immunology 10, pp. -., article number: 620. (10.3389/fimmu.2019.00620)
2018
- Smith, K. A., Löser, S., Varyani, F., Harcus, Y., McSorley, H. J., McKenzie, A. N. J. and Maizels, R. M. 2018. Concerted IL-25R and IL-4Rα signaling drive innate type 2 effector immunity for optimal helminth expulsion. eLife 7, article number: e38269. (10.7554/eLife.38269)
- Jacobs, B., Chetty, A., Horsnell, W. G. C., Shafer, G., Prince, S. and Smith, K. A. 2018. Hookworm exposure decreases human papillomavirus uptake and cervical cancer cell migration through systemic regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression.. Scientific Reports 8, article number: 11547. (10.1038/s41598-018-30058-9)
2017
- Godkin, A. and Smith, K. 2017. Chronic infections with viruses or parasites: breaking bad to make good. Immunology 150(4), pp. 389-396. (10.1111/imm.12703)
2016
- Smith, K. A. et al. 2016. Low-level regulatory T-cell activity is essential for functional type-2 effector immunity to expel gastrointestinal helminths. Mucosal Immunology 9(2), pp. 428-443. (10.1038/mi.2015.73)
- Thawer, S. et al. 2016. Surfactant Protein-D is essential for immunity to helminth infection. PLoS Pathogens 12(2), article number: e1005461. (10.1371/journal.ppat.1005461)
2014
- McSorley, H. J., Blair, N. F., Smith, K. A., McKenzie, A. N. J. and Maizels, R. M. 2014. Blockade of IL-33 release and suppression of type 2 innate lymphoid cell responses by helminth secreted products in airway allergy. Mucosal Immunology 7(5), pp. 1068-1078. (10.1038/mi.2013.123)
- Reynolds, L. A. et al. 2014. MyD88 signaling inhibits protective immunity to the gastrointestinal helminth parasite heligmosomoides polygyrus. The Journal of Immunology 193(6), pp. 2984-2993. (10.4049/jimmunol.1401056)
- Reynolds, L. A. et al. 2014. Commensal-pathogen interactions in the intestinal tract. Gut Microbes 5(4), pp. 522-532. (10.4161/gmic.32155)
- Filbey, K. J. et al. 2014. Innate and adaptive type 2 immune cell responses in genetically controlled resistance to intestinal helminth infection. Immunology and Cell Biology 92, pp. 436-448. (10.1038/icb.2013.109)
- Smith, K. A. and Maizels, R. M. 2014. IL-6 controls susceptibility to helminth infection by impeding Th2 responsiveness and altering the Treg phenotype in vivo. European Journal of Immunology 44(1), pp. 150-161. (10.1002/eji.201343746)
2010
- Grainger, J. R. et al. 2010. Helminth secretions induce de novo T cell Foxp3 expression and regulatory function through the TGF-β pathway. Journal of Experimental Medicine 207(11), pp. 2331-2341. (10.1084/jem.20101074)
- Phythian-Adams, A. T. et al. 2010. CD11c depletion severely disrupts Th2 induction and development in vivo. Journal of Experimental Medicine 207(10), pp. 2089-2096. (10.1084/jem.20100734)
Erthyglau
- Reed, E. K. and Smith, K. A. 2024. Using our understanding of interactions between helminth metabolism and host immunity to target worm survival. Trends in Parasitology 40(7), pp. 549-561. (10.1016/j.pt.2024.05.006)
- de Lange, A. et al. 2023. Cestode larvae excite host neuronal circuits via glutamatergic signaling. eLife 2023, article number: 88174.1. (10.7554/eLife.88174.1)
- Katsandegwaza, B., Horsnell, W. and Smith, K. 2022. Inflammatory bowel disease: A review of pre-clinical murine models of human disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23(16), article number: 9344. (10.3390/ijms23169344)
- Chetty, A. et al. 2021. Il4ra-independent vaginal eosinophil accumulation following helminth infection exacerbates epithelial ulcerative pathology of HSV-2 infection. Cell Host and Microbe 29(4), pp. 579-593. (10.1016/j.chom.2021.02.004)
- Mitre, E. et al. 2020. Taenia larvae possess distinct acetylcholinesterase profiles with implications for host cholinergic signalling. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(12), article number: e0008966. (10.1371/journal.pntd.0008966)
- Chetty, A. et al. 2020. Impact of helminth infections on female reproductive health and associated diseases. Frontiers in Immunology 11, article number: 577516. (10.3389/fimmu.2020.577516)
- Jacobs, B., Prince, S. and Smith, K. A. 2020. Gastrointestinal nematode-derived antigens alter colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through regulation of cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(21), article number: 7845. (10.3390/ijms21217845)
- Darby, M. G. et al. 2019. Pre-conception maternal helminth infection transfers via nursing long-lasting cellular immunity against helminths to offspring. Science Advances 5(5), article number: eaav3058. (10.1126/sciadv.aav3058)
- Löser, S., Smith, K. A. and Maizels, R. M. 2019. Innate lymphoid cells in helminth infections-obligatory or accessory?. Frontiers in Immunology 10, pp. -., article number: 620. (10.3389/fimmu.2019.00620)
- Smith, K. A., Löser, S., Varyani, F., Harcus, Y., McSorley, H. J., McKenzie, A. N. J. and Maizels, R. M. 2018. Concerted IL-25R and IL-4Rα signaling drive innate type 2 effector immunity for optimal helminth expulsion. eLife 7, article number: e38269. (10.7554/eLife.38269)
- Jacobs, B., Chetty, A., Horsnell, W. G. C., Shafer, G., Prince, S. and Smith, K. A. 2018. Hookworm exposure decreases human papillomavirus uptake and cervical cancer cell migration through systemic regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression.. Scientific Reports 8, article number: 11547. (10.1038/s41598-018-30058-9)
- Godkin, A. and Smith, K. 2017. Chronic infections with viruses or parasites: breaking bad to make good. Immunology 150(4), pp. 389-396. (10.1111/imm.12703)
- Smith, K. A. et al. 2016. Low-level regulatory T-cell activity is essential for functional type-2 effector immunity to expel gastrointestinal helminths. Mucosal Immunology 9(2), pp. 428-443. (10.1038/mi.2015.73)
- Thawer, S. et al. 2016. Surfactant Protein-D is essential for immunity to helminth infection. PLoS Pathogens 12(2), article number: e1005461. (10.1371/journal.ppat.1005461)
- McSorley, H. J., Blair, N. F., Smith, K. A., McKenzie, A. N. J. and Maizels, R. M. 2014. Blockade of IL-33 release and suppression of type 2 innate lymphoid cell responses by helminth secreted products in airway allergy. Mucosal Immunology 7(5), pp. 1068-1078. (10.1038/mi.2013.123)
- Reynolds, L. A. et al. 2014. MyD88 signaling inhibits protective immunity to the gastrointestinal helminth parasite heligmosomoides polygyrus. The Journal of Immunology 193(6), pp. 2984-2993. (10.4049/jimmunol.1401056)
- Reynolds, L. A. et al. 2014. Commensal-pathogen interactions in the intestinal tract. Gut Microbes 5(4), pp. 522-532. (10.4161/gmic.32155)
- Filbey, K. J. et al. 2014. Innate and adaptive type 2 immune cell responses in genetically controlled resistance to intestinal helminth infection. Immunology and Cell Biology 92, pp. 436-448. (10.1038/icb.2013.109)
- Smith, K. A. and Maizels, R. M. 2014. IL-6 controls susceptibility to helminth infection by impeding Th2 responsiveness and altering the Treg phenotype in vivo. European Journal of Immunology 44(1), pp. 150-161. (10.1002/eji.201343746)
- Grainger, J. R. et al. 2010. Helminth secretions induce de novo T cell Foxp3 expression and regulatory function through the TGF-β pathway. Journal of Experimental Medicine 207(11), pp. 2331-2341. (10.1084/jem.20101074)
- Phythian-Adams, A. T. et al. 2010. CD11c depletion severely disrupts Th2 induction and development in vivo. Journal of Experimental Medicine 207(10), pp. 2089-2096. (10.1084/jem.20100734)
- Jacobs, B., Prince, S. and Smith, K. A. 2020. Gastrointestinal nematode-derived antigens alter colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration through regulation of cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(21), article number: 7845. (10.3390/ijms21217845)
- Darby, M. G. et al. 2019. Pre-conception maternal helminth infection transfers via nursing long-lasting cellular immunity against helminths to offspring. Science Advances 5(5), article number: eaav3058. (10.1126/sciadv.aav3058)
- Löser, S., Smith, K. A. and Maizels, R. M. 2019. Innate lymphoid cells in helminth infections-obligatory or accessory?. Frontiers in Immunology 10, pp. -., article number: 620. (10.3389/fimmu.2019.00620)
- Smith, K. A., Löser, S., Varyani, F., Harcus, Y., McSorley, H. J., McKenzie, A. N. J. and Maizels, R. M. 2018. Concerted IL-25R and IL-4Rα signaling drive innate type 2 effector immunity for optimal helminth expulsion. eLife 7, article number: e38269. (10.7554/eLife.38269)
- Jacobs, B., Chetty, A., Horsnell, W. G. C., Shafer, G., Prince, S. and Smith, K. A. 2018. Hookworm exposure decreases human papillomavirus uptake and cervical cancer cell migration through systemic regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression.. Scientific Reports 8, article number: 11547. (10.1038/s41598-018-30058-9)
- Godkin, A. and Smith, K. 2017. Chronic infections with viruses or parasites: breaking bad to make good. Immunology 150(4), pp. 389-396. (10.1111/imm.12703)
- Smith, K. A. et al. 2016. Low-level regulatory T-cell activity is essential for functional type-2 effector immunity to expel gastrointestinal helminths. Mucosal Immunology 9(2), pp. 428-443. (10.1038/mi.2015.73)
- Thawer, S. et al. 2016. Surfactant Protein-D is essential for immunity to helminth infection. PLoS Pathogens 12(2), article number: e1005461. (10.1371/journal.ppat.1005461)
- McSorley, H. J., Blair, N. F., Smith, K. A., McKenzie, A. N. J. and Maizels, R. M. 2014. Blockade of IL-33 release and suppression of type 2 innate lymphoid cell responses by helminth secreted products in airway allergy. Mucosal Immunology 7(5), pp. 1068-1078. (10.1038/mi.2013.123)
- Reynolds, L. A. et al. 2014. MyD88 signaling inhibits protective immunity to the gastrointestinal helminth parasite heligmosomoides polygyrus. The Journal of Immunology 193(6), pp. 2984-2993. (10.4049/jimmunol.1401056)
- Reynolds, L. A. et al. 2014. Commensal-pathogen interactions in the intestinal tract. Gut Microbes 5(4), pp. 522-532. (10.4161/gmic.32155)
- Filbey, K. J. et al. 2014. Innate and adaptive type 2 immune cell responses in genetically controlled resistance to intestinal helminth infection. Immunology and Cell Biology 92, pp. 436-448. (10.1038/icb.2013.109)
- Smith, K. A. and Maizels, R. M. 2014. IL-6 controls susceptibility to helminth infection by impeding Th2 responsiveness and altering the Treg phenotype in vivo. European Journal of Immunology 44(1), pp. 150-161. (10.1002/eji.201343746)
- Grainger, J. R. et al. 2010. Helminth secretions induce de novo T cell Foxp3 expression and regulatory function through the TGF-β pathway. Journal of Experimental Medicine 207(11), pp. 2331-2341. (10.1084/jem.20101074)
- Phythian-Adams, A. T. et al. 2010. CD11c depletion severely disrupts Th2 induction and development in vivo. Journal of Experimental Medicine 207(10), pp. 2089-2096. (10.1084/jem.20100734)
Research
I am interested in how intestinal pathogens, such as parasitic helminths, influence important inflammatory diseases, like cancer. The interaction between parasite infection and cancer is particularly important in low- and middle- income countries, where infectious disease is thought to result in over 1/3 of cancers, and where the incidence of all cancers is increasing exponentially. Our aim is to make use of our knowledge of host immune responses to helminth infection in order to control inflammatory disease and anti-parasite immunity.
Host Immune Response
Infection with helminth parasites is associated with the regulation of several inflammatory disorders including airway inflammation, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. In some situations, helminth-induced “immune-regulation” could be detrimental to the host by impairing vaccine efficacy, immunity to co-infections or anti-tumour responses. We are interested in understanding how helminths influence the inflammation associated with colorectal cancer (colitis), as well as cancer progression. In addition, we wish to understand how other risk factors for cancer, such as diet change, impact on disease. We are also interested in how gastrointestinal helminth infection can have a long-term and systemic impact on host immunity, including susceptibility to human papillomavirus infections and cervical cancer progression. We hope this work will help to identify new host pathways we can target, in order to reduce the incidence of cancer.
Helminth Immunity
Over 1.5 billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (24% of the world’s population). Although drug treatment exists, there are no vaccines for disease, and as long as the helminth infection remains in the soil, people in endemic areas are at risk of infection and re-infection, throughout their lifetime. Morbidity following infection is associated with a high intensity of parasites and in our hands, is determined by the immune status of the host. We aim to target host responses to parasite infection, in order to modify helminth survival and limit host morbidity.
Teaching
I am a Cardiff University Teaching Fellow.
Award of this fellowship is in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education.
I carry out a range of teaching from year 1 to integrated masters students, supervising PhD, Integrated MSc project students and Final Year project students. I am also a tutor for 1st-3rd year and PTY students and am a mentor for postgraduate students and staff.
My teaching experience includes contributions to:
- BI3351: Contemporary Topics in Disease - Assessment Lead
- BI3351: Contemporary Topics in Disease - Lectures and Exam Assessment
- BI3155: Infection Biology and Epidemiology - Lectures and Exam Assessment
- BI3155: Infection Biology and Epidemiology - Small Group Teaching and Coursework Assessment
- BI4001: Integrated Masters - Advanced Research Project
- BI4002: Integrated Masters - Advanced Research Methods
- BI4003: Integrated Masters - Frontiers in Biosciences
- BI3001: Biosciences Final Year Project
- BI1001: Skills for Science
- BI2231: Cell Biology - Lecture cover
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising MSc and PhD students in the areas of:
- Helminth immunity
- Immune-regulation
- Cancer progression
Past projects
- Determining the impact of Heligmosmoides polygyrus infection on the development of colitis. Brunette Katsandegwaza. PhD (University of Cape Town)
- Cancer Cell Behaviour Following Parasite Exposure. Brittany-Amber Jacobs. MSc Med in Clinical Science and Immunology (University of Cape Town)
Research themes
Specialisms
- Host-parasite interactions
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
- Cancer Initiation and Prevention