Dr Sutherland Maciver

Personal profile

• 2009 - Reader in Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh
• 2003 - Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh
• Director of Phytobiotics Ltd, a second independent biotech company
• Director of Amoebics Ltd, a biotech company
• 1995 - Lecturer in Biochemistry, University of Edinburgh
• Staff member - Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council, Cambridge, England
• 2nd Post–Doc. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council, Cambridge, England
• Made 'Samuel' M.D.A. fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
• 1987 - 1st Post-Doc, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore USA
• 1986 - PhD, University College London
• 1983 - BSc (Hons), University of Glasgow

Research Theme

• Genes and Development

Research

Three main areas of research are currently being investigated. The free living amoebae, the role of SAF-A in chromatin organization, and the actin cytoskeleton.

Free living amoebae and their role in human pathology

The soil amoeba Acanthamoeba is common and ubiquitous and is very important in soil fertility, nutrient cycling and the general microbiology of soils.  These amoebae also cause human disease. Acanthamoeba Keratitis is a sight threatening infection caused by amoeba especially members of the genus Acanthamoeba. We have been using SiRNA and other drugs to selectively kill the amoeba while preventing any survivors from making cysts from which fresh infection may arise. We also study pathways of programmed cell death in Acanthamoeba.

The role of SAF-A in chromatin organization

Together with Prof Nick Gilbert we are investigating the role of the ATPase SAF-A in the sol-gel transition at localized sites within the nucleus and the effects of this on transcription.

Actin cytoskeleton and actin binding proteins

We have been working on the actin cytoskeleton and actin binding proteins. In particular we are interested to learn how these systems relate to the structure cell signalling and the locomotion of cells. With Dr Yap (Singapore) we study the involvement of cofilin and gelsolin in cancer development and have discovered a new type of cell behaviour involving these proteins.

Funding

• National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Singapore
• Mexico's National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT)
• University of Edinburgh College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine PhD Studentships
• Amoebics Ltd

Team members

• Zisis Koutsogiannis (PhD student)
• Luciana Baroni (Joint PhD student)
• Dr Suk-Yul Jung (on sabbatical from Namseoul University, South Korea)

Collaborations

• Prof Nick Gilbert, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western Hospital Edinburgh
• Dr Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
• Prof Fiona Henriquez, University of West of Scotland
• Prof Celestial Yap, National University of Singapore
• Profs Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui & Naveed Khan, Sunway University, Malaysia

Publications (from 2016)

Sutherland, L., Ruhe, M., Gattegno-Ho, D., Mann, K., Greaves J., Stasiulewicz, M., Meek, S., Lu, Z., Waterfall, M., Taylor, R., Tsakiridis, A., Maciver, S.K., Joshi, A., Clinton, M., Chamberlain, L.H., Smith, A. Burdon, T. (2018). LIF-dependent survival of embryonic stem cells is regulated by a novel palmitoylated Gab1 signalling protein.  J. Cell Sci.131: jcs222257 doi: 10.1242/jcs.222257

Kang, A.-Y., Park, A.-Y., Shin, H.-J., Khan, N.A., Maciver, S.K., Jung, S.-Y. (2018) Production of a monoclonal antibody against a mannose-binding protein of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and its localization. Exp. Parasitol. 192, 19-24.

Baroni, L., Pereira, L.M., Maciver, S.K., Yatsuda, A.P. (2018) Functional characterisation of the actin-depolymerising factor from the apicomplexan Neospora caninum (NcADF). Molecular & Biochemical Parasitology 224, 26-36.

De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle, A., Maciver, S.K., (2017) Allovahlkampfia minuta nov. sp., (Heterolobosea, Excavata) a new soil amoeba at the boundary of the acrasid cellular slime moulds. Acta protozool. 56(3), 183-191

De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle, A. Lorenzo-Morales, J.  & Maciver, S.K. (2017) Leptomyxa valladaresi n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Tubulinea), from Mount Teide, Tenerife, Spain. Exp. Parasitol. 183, 85-91

Maciver, S.K., De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle, A., & Z. Koutsogiannis (2017) Vannella pentlandii n. sp., (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida) a small, cyst-forming soil amoeba. Exp. Parasitol. 183, 109-116

Nozawa, R.-S., Boteva, L., Soares, D., Naughton, C., Dun, A.R., Buckle, A., Ramsahoye, B., Bruton, P., ,Saleeb, R.S.,Arnedo-Munoz, M., Hill, B., Duncan, R.R., Maciver, S.K.  & Gilbert, N. (2017) SAF-A regulates interphase chromosome structure through oligomerisation with chromatin-associated RNAs. Cell 169(7),1214–1227

De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle, A. Lorenzo-Morales, J.  & Maciver, S.K. (2017) Leptomyxa valladaresi n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Tubulinea), from Mount Teide, Tenerife, Spain. Exp. Parasitol. 183, 85-91

Maciver, S.K., De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle, A., & Z. Koutsogiannis (2017) Vannella pentlandii n. sp., (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida) a small, cyst-forming soil amoeba. Exp. Parasitol. 183, 109-116

Martín-Navarro, C., López-Arencibia, A., Sifaoui, I., Reyes-Batlle^, M., Fouque, E., Usuna, A., Valladares, B., Piñero, J.E., Héchard, Y., Maciver, S.K., & Lorenzo-Morales, J.  (2017) Amoebicidal activity of caffeine and maslinic acid by the induction of Programmed Cell Death in Acanthamoeba.  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 61(6), e02660-16.

López-Arencibia, A., Martín-Navarro, C., Sifaoui, I., Reyes-Batlle^, M., Wagner, C., Lorenzo-Morales^, J., Maciver, S.K. & Piñero, J.E. (2017) Perifosine mechanisms of action in Leishmania spp. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.  61(4), e02127-16.

Wagner, C., María, Vethencourt Ysea, M.A. Galindo, M.V., Guzmán de Rondón, C., Nessi, A.J., Reyes-Batlle, M., López-Arencibia, A. Martín-Navarro, C.M., Sifaoui, I., Pérez de Galindo, M.V., Martínez-Carretero, E., Valladares, B., Maciver, S.K., Piñero, J.E., Lorenzo-Morales, J. (2017). Isolation of Naegleria fowleri from a domestic water tank associated with a fatal encephalitis in a 4 month-old Venezuelan child. Tropical Biomedicine 34(2), 332-337.

Maciver, S.K. (2016) Asexual amoebae escape Muller’s ratchet through polyploidy. Trends in Parasitology 32(11), 855-862.

Tochhawng, L., Shuo, D., Pugalenthi, G., Kumar, A.P., Lim, K.H., Yang, H., Hooi, S.C., Goh, Y.C., Maciver, S.K., Pervaiz, S., & Yap, C.T. (2016). Gelsolin-Cu/ZnSOD interaction alters intracellular reactive oxygen species levels to promote cancer cell invasion Oncotarget 7(33), 52832-52848.

Huang, B., Deng, S., Loo, S.Y., Datta, A., Yap, Y.L., Yan, B., Ooi, C.H., Dinh, T.D., Zhuo, J., Tochhawng, L., Gopinadhan, S., Jegadeesan, T., Tan, P., Salto-Tellez, M., Peng, W.,Yong, W.P.,  Soong, R., Yeoh, K.G., Goh,Y.C., Lobie, P.E., Yang, H., Kumar, A.P., Maciver^, S.K., So, J.B.K., & Yap, C.T. (2016). Gelsolin-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is crucial for hepatocyte growth factor-induced cell scattering in gastric carcinoma. Oncotarget 7(18), 25391-25407.