FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Edward O'Garro-Priddie
2016 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
2016 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
Synapsin immunostaining of the Hymenolepis microstoma nervous system (M Abellas-Noguerol)
Maria Abellas-Noguerol
2015 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
2015 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
Maria’s thesis involved immunostaining and confocal microscopy of Hymenolepis microstoma.
Julien Marcetteau
2014 MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Imperial College, London
2014 MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Imperial College, London
Julien is using confocal microscopy with cell-specific antibodies and other fluorescent markers to do advanced imaging of Hymenolepis microstoma.
Lauren Selby
2014 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
2014 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
Lauren is studying ageing-related genes in Hymenolepis microstoma.
Li Ying Tan
2013 MRes, Imperial College, London
2013 MRes, Imperial College, London
Li is investigating the spatial expression patterns of transcription factors up-regulated during larval metamorphosis of Hymenolepis microstoma. This occurs in the haemocoel of flour beetles and represents the transition from the oncosphere (i.e. embryo) to the cysticeroid (i.e. encysted juvenile worm). These regulators of gene expression are involved with stem cell differentiation and morphogenesis.
Li will move to Germany in September 2013 to begin PhD studies in Evo-Devo at the Max Planc Institute.
Li will move to Germany in September 2013 to begin PhD studies in Evo-Devo at the Max Planc Institute.
Azita Chellappoo
2013 MRes, UCL-NHM
2013 MRes, UCL-NHM
Azita investigated the spatial expression patterns of transcription factors up-regulated in the strobila of Hymenolepis microstoma. These regulators of gene expression are mostly associated with the reproductive organs, and are involved with stem cell differentiation, meiosis, and gametogenesis.
THESIS: Elucidating spatial gene expression in the mouse bile duct tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma
THESIS: Elucidating spatial gene expression in the mouse bile duct tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma
Shaza Zafrin
2013 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
2013 MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
Shaza is expanding the work of G. Bartl (below) on the spatial expression patterns of transcription factors up-regulated in the germinative neck region of Hymenolepis microstoma. These regulators of gene expression are involved with strobilation and stem cell differentiation.
Georgie Bartl
2013 MRes, Imperial College, London
2013 MRes, Imperial College, London
Georgie investigated the spatial expression patterns of transcription factors up-regulated in the germinative neck region of Hymenolepis microstoma. These regulators of gene expression are involved with strobilation and stem cell differentiation.
Georgie received a distinction for her thesis "Elucidating the spatial expression of segmentation-related factors in the tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma"
Georgie received a distinction for her thesis "Elucidating the spatial expression of segmentation-related factors in the tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma"
Dr Natasha N Pouchkina-Stantcheva
BBSRC Post-Doctoral Research Associate
2009-2012
BBSRC Post-Doctoral Research Associate
2009-2012
Natasha joined us in March 2009 to lead the BBSRC-sponsored project on developmental genes in cestodes. Her most recent appointments include Sussex and Cambridge universities and she brings with her a wealth of experience in research directed at understanding the genetic underpinnings of animal form and function.
RELATED INFORMATION:
N Pouchkina-Stantcheva & PD Olson
Development of RNA interference in Hymenolepis
(Presented at the Molecular & Cellular Biology of Helminths VI conference, Hydra, Greece Sept 2010)
SEE POSTER (1.8 MB)
RELATED INFORMATION:
N Pouchkina-Stantcheva & PD Olson
Development of RNA interference in Hymenolepis
(Presented at the Molecular & Cellular Biology of Helminths VI conference, Hydra, Greece Sept 2010)
SEE POSTER (1.8 MB)
PUBLICATIONS
Tsai et al. 2013. The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature 496, 57-63 PDF | PubMed
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NPS, LJ Cunningham, G Hrčkova and PD Olson. 2013. RNA-mediated gene suppression and in vitro culture in Hymenolepis microstoma. International Journal for Parasitology
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NN, LJ Cunningham and PD Olson. 2011. Spatial and temporal consistency of putative reference genes for real-time PCR in a model tapeworm. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 180, 120-122 PDF
Dr Magdalena Zarowiecki
SynTax Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Team 133
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus
Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD
UNITED KINGDOM
SynTax Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Team 133
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus
Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD
UNITED KINGDOM
Magdalena obtained her PhD in Dec 2009 from the NHM and the University of Manchester, and in January began working on the Hymenolepis genome project with Matt Berriman's group at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, outside Cambridge. She will soon begin a 9-month, SynTax-funded PDRA position to assemble and annotate the genome, characterize the Hox cluster, and begin comparative analyses with other flatworm genomes.
N.B. See Magdalena discussing publication of the tapeworm genome PRESS
RELATED INFORMATION:
M Zarowiecki, A Sanchez-Flores, N Pouchkina-Stantcheva, N Holroyd, M Berriman & PD Olson
The Hymenolepis genome and transcriptome
(Presented at the Molecular & Cellular Biology of Helminths VI conference, Hydra, Greece Sept 2010)
SEE POSTER (5.2 MB)
N.B. See Magdalena discussing publication of the tapeworm genome PRESS
RELATED INFORMATION:
M Zarowiecki, A Sanchez-Flores, N Pouchkina-Stantcheva, N Holroyd, M Berriman & PD Olson
The Hymenolepis genome and transcriptome
(Presented at the Molecular & Cellular Biology of Helminths VI conference, Hydra, Greece Sept 2010)
SEE POSTER (5.2 MB)
PUBLICATIONS
Tsai et al. 2013. The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature 496, 57-63 PDF | PubMed
Olson PD, M Zarowiecki, F Kiss and K Brehm. 2012 Invited Review: Cestode genomics - progress and prospects for understanding basic and applied aspects of flatworm biology. Parasite Immunology 34, 130-150 PDF
Tsai et al. 2013. The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature 496, 57-63 PDF | PubMed
Olson PD, M Zarowiecki, F Kiss and K Brehm. 2012 Invited Review: Cestode genomics - progress and prospects for understanding basic and applied aspects of flatworm biology. Parasite Immunology 34, 130-150 PDF
Phalloidin/Propidium iodide staining of Hymenolepis microstoma (Alex Gruhl)
Dr Alexander Gruhl
DAAD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
510 Darwin Centre I
Department of Zoology
The Natural History Museum
London SW7 5BD
UNITED KINGDOM
a.gruhl @ nhm.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)207 942 5671
Fax +44 (0)207 942
Lab +44 (0)207 942 5742
DAAD Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
510 Darwin Centre I
Department of Zoology
The Natural History Museum
London SW7 5BD
UNITED KINGDOM
a.gruhl @ nhm.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)207 942 5671
Fax +44 (0)207 942
Lab +44 (0)207 942 5742
Alex arrived in October 2009 and is working with NHM collaborator Beth Okamura and myself on developmental biology in the vermiform cnidarian (myxozoan) Buddenbrockia. Alex is self-funded through a post-doctctoral fellowship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
A primary objective of this project is to investigate the body-plan of the strange, vermiform, parasitic cnidarian, Buddenbrockia plumatellae. The affinities of this animal had long been obscure until evidence from gene sequence data and ultrastructure demonstrated it to be a member of the Myxozoa and this group as a subtaxon of Cnidaria (Okamura et al. 2002; Jiménez-Guri et al. 2007). A worm-like body plan is so far completely unknown from cnidarians, which usually occur as radially symmetrical sessile polyps or free-swimming medusae. In order to elucidate evolutionary changes that have occurred during the transition to a vermiform parasitic organism, we conducted investigations on morphological features like the musculature and nervous system. Current research is focused on the expression pattern of Hox genes, which are known to play an important role in axis specification in both cnidarians and bilaterians.
A primary objective of this project is to investigate the body-plan of the strange, vermiform, parasitic cnidarian, Buddenbrockia plumatellae. The affinities of this animal had long been obscure until evidence from gene sequence data and ultrastructure demonstrated it to be a member of the Myxozoa and this group as a subtaxon of Cnidaria (Okamura et al. 2002; Jiménez-Guri et al. 2007). A worm-like body plan is so far completely unknown from cnidarians, which usually occur as radially symmetrical sessile polyps or free-swimming medusae. In order to elucidate evolutionary changes that have occurred during the transition to a vermiform parasitic organism, we conducted investigations on morphological features like the musculature and nervous system. Current research is focused on the expression pattern of Hox genes, which are known to play an important role in axis specification in both cnidarians and bilaterians.
Catherine Seed
MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
MRes in Developmental Biology, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital, London
Catherine is enrolled in the developmental biology MSc programme at IC Hammersmith Hospital where she is co-supervised by Prof Kate Hardy. Catherine will work on identifying and characterising germline/stem cell genes in Hymenolepis microstoma.
Catherine was recently awarded a PhD position in Western Australia which she will start in Autumn 2012. In September 2012 Catherine passed her MRes with distinction.
See POSTER Germline genes in Hymenolepis
THESIS: Bioinformatic approaches to germ line characterisation in the mouse bile-duct tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) PDF
Catherine was recently awarded a PhD position in Western Australia which she will start in Autumn 2012. In September 2012 Catherine passed her MRes with distinction.
See POSTER Germline genes in Hymenolepis
THESIS: Bioinformatic approaches to germ line characterisation in the mouse bile-duct tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) PDF
Nick Riddiford
MRes, Imperial College, London
MRes, Imperial College, London
Nick spent a year in the lab as a volunteer after the completion of his MSc with Tim Barraclough at Imperial College, and led investigations of the Wnt pathway in Hymenolepis.
In August 2011 Nick left for Galway, Ireland, to take up a PhD offer in the lab of Gerhard Schlosser.
PUBLICATIONS
Tsai et al. 2013. The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature 496, 57-63 PDF | PubMed
Riddiford N and PD Olson. 2011. Wnt gene loss in flatworms. Development Genes and Evolution 221, 187-197 PDF | PubMed
In August 2011 Nick left for Galway, Ireland, to take up a PhD offer in the lab of Gerhard Schlosser.
PUBLICATIONS
Tsai et al. 2013. The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature 496, 57-63 PDF | PubMed
Riddiford N and PD Olson. 2011. Wnt gene loss in flatworms. Development Genes and Evolution 221, 187-197 PDF | PubMed
Lucas Cunningham
BSc, University of Aberyswyth, Wales
BSc, University of Aberyswyth, Wales
Lucas holds a degree in biological sciences from the Univ of Aberyswyth in Wales and joined our group as a volunteer in order to gain experience in research. Lucas is helping us in a number of areas including the setup of quantitative PCR reactions and maintenance and sample preparation of our model tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma. Lucas has recently finished a redescription of species, based on light microscopy and SEM, bringing the 150+ year old species description up-to-date, in line with release of the d. His is also working with Alex Gruhl to characterize the anatomy using confocal microscopy.
Lucas went on to do an MRes in tropical parasitology at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and is currently a PhD candidate in parasitology at the University of London Greenwich.
PUBLICATIONS
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NPS, LJ Cunningham, G Hrčkova and PD Olson. 2013. RNA-mediated gene suppression and in vitro culture in Hymenolepis microstoma. International Journal for Parasitology 43, 641-646 PDF
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NN, LJ Cunningham and PD Olson. 2011. Spatial and temporal consistency of putative reference genes for real-time PCR in a model tapeworm. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 180, 120-122 PDF
Cunningham LJ and PD Olson. 2010. Description of Hymenolepis microstoma (Nottingham strain): a classical tapeworm model for research in the genomic era. Parasites & Vectors 3, 123 PDF | PubMed
Lucas went on to do an MRes in tropical parasitology at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and is currently a PhD candidate in parasitology at the University of London Greenwich.
PUBLICATIONS
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NPS, LJ Cunningham, G Hrčkova and PD Olson. 2013. RNA-mediated gene suppression and in vitro culture in Hymenolepis microstoma. International Journal for Parasitology 43, 641-646 PDF
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NN, LJ Cunningham and PD Olson. 2011. Spatial and temporal consistency of putative reference genes for real-time PCR in a model tapeworm. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 180, 120-122 PDF
Cunningham LJ and PD Olson. 2010. Description of Hymenolepis microstoma (Nottingham strain): a classical tapeworm model for research in the genomic era. Parasites & Vectors 3, 123 PDF | PubMed
Melissa Marr
MRes, Imperial College, London
MRes, Imperial College, London
THESIS "Developmental regulatory genes in parasitic flatworms", September 2011
PDF
Melissa's thesis focused on the expression of the germline/stem-cell marker genes related to vasa, piwi and nanos, in the Hymenolepis model.
Melissa's thesis focused on the expression of the germline/stem-cell marker genes related to vasa, piwi and nanos, in the Hymenolepis model.
Jan 'Honza' Brabec
PhD, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Republic
PhD, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Republic
Honza did an MSc with Tomas Scholz in which he used molecular phylogenetics to try and resolve the early diversification pattern of the cestodes through greater taxonomic sampling. He has continued with Tomas for his PhD and has continued to develop this question. He is now exploring the utility of spliced leader genes in flatworms to overcome the limitations of ribosomal data. This work is being directed by Klaus Brehm and myself, and Honza has made a number of visits to Klaus' lab in order to acquire new techniques.
PUBLICATIONS
Brabec J, T Scholz, I Kral'ova-Hromadova, E Brazsalovicsova and PD Olson. 2012. Substitution saturation and nuclear paralogs of commonly employed phylogenetic markers in an unusual group of tapeworms. International Journal for Parasitology 42, 259-267 PDF | PubMed
PUBLICATIONS
Brabec J, T Scholz, I Kral'ova-Hromadova, E Brazsalovicsova and PD Olson. 2012. Substitution saturation and nuclear paralogs of commonly employed phylogenetic markers in an unusual group of tapeworms. International Journal for Parasitology 42, 259-267 PDF | PubMed
Rebecca Pearson
MSc, Imperial College, London
MSc, Imperial College, London
Becky's work addresses the interrelationships of the unusual tapeworm order Spathebothriidea, a small and disparate group of tapeworms that lack somatic segmentation while showing repetition of the reproductive organs. A main component of the project is the generation of DNA sequence data from formalin-preserved specimens, as certain taxa appear to be under threat, if not already extinct (in this case due to overfishing of sturgeon). This work is being done in collaboration with Roman Kuchta of the Univ South Bohemia, Czech Republic.
Becky has left the NHM for a lab technician position at Imperial College (Paddington) and is working on neurobiology.
PUBLICATIONS
Kuchta R, R Pearson, T Scholz, O Ditrich and PD Olson. 2014 Spathebothriidea: survey of species, scolex and egg morphology, and interrelationships of a non-segmented, relictual tapeworm group (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). Folia Parasitologica 61:331-346 PDF | PubMed
Becky has left the NHM for a lab technician position at Imperial College (Paddington) and is working on neurobiology.
PUBLICATIONS
Kuchta R, R Pearson, T Scholz, O Ditrich and PD Olson. 2014 Spathebothriidea: survey of species, scolex and egg morphology, and interrelationships of a non-segmented, relictual tapeworm group (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). Folia Parasitologica 61:331-346 PDF | PubMed
Anne O'Connor
MRes, Imperial College, London
MRes, Imperial College, London
THESIS "Molecular discrimination of the European Mesocestoides species complex", September 2009
PDF Thesis
Anne is now working on a PhD at the Univ of Bath, where she recently won an award for the poster she presented on her thesis work.
PUBLICATIONS
Hrčkova G, M Mitterpáková, A O'Connor, V Šnábel and PD Olson. 2011. Molecular and morphological circumscription of Mesocestoides tapeworms from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe. Parasitology 138, 638-647 PDF | PubMed
PDF Thesis
Anne is now working on a PhD at the Univ of Bath, where she recently won an award for the poster she presented on her thesis work.
PUBLICATIONS
Hrčkova G, M Mitterpáková, A O'Connor, V Šnábel and PD Olson. 2011. Molecular and morphological circumscription of Mesocestoides tapeworms from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe. Parasitology 138, 638-647 PDF | PubMed
Josephine Hill
MRes, Imperial College, London
MRes, Imperial College, London
THESIS: "Toward the circumscription of natural genera among ray-hosted trypanorhynch tapeworms", July 2008
Dr Isabel Blasco-Costa
PhD, University of Valencia, Spain
PhD, University of Valencia, Spain
Isabelle studied haploporid digeneans and their position within the Trematoda. She did much of the molecular work for her PhD in our lab. Isa successfully defended her PhD in the Spring, 2009 and will move on to a post-doc with Robert Poulan in New Zealand.
PUBLICATIONS
Galaktionov KV, I Blasco-Costa and PD Olson. 2012. Life cycles, molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the "pygmaeus" microphallids (Digenea: Microphallidae): widespread parasites of marine and coastal birds in the Holarctic. Parasitology 139, 1346-1360 PDF | PubMed
Blasco-Costa I, JA Balbuena, JA Raga, A Konstadinova and PD Olson. 2010. Molecules and morphology reveal cryptic variation among digeneans infecting sympatric mullets in the Mediterranean. Parasitology 13, 282-302 PDF | PubMed
Blasco-Costa I, JA Balbuena, A Konstadinova and PD Olson. 2009. Interrelationships of the Haploporinae (Digenea: Haploporidae): a molecular test of the taxonomic framework based on morphology. Parasitology International 58, 263-269 PDF | PubMed
PUBLICATIONS
Galaktionov KV, I Blasco-Costa and PD Olson. 2012. Life cycles, molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the "pygmaeus" microphallids (Digenea: Microphallidae): widespread parasites of marine and coastal birds in the Holarctic. Parasitology 139, 1346-1360 PDF | PubMed
Blasco-Costa I, JA Balbuena, JA Raga, A Konstadinova and PD Olson. 2010. Molecules and morphology reveal cryptic variation among digeneans infecting sympatric mullets in the Mediterranean. Parasitology 13, 282-302 PDF | PubMed
Blasco-Costa I, JA Balbuena, A Konstadinova and PD Olson. 2009. Interrelationships of the Haploporinae (Digenea: Haploporidae): a molecular test of the taxonomic framework based on morphology. Parasitology International 58, 263-269 PDF | PubMed
Dr Joana Marques
PhD, University of Lisbon, Portugal
PhD, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Joana studied flatfishes and their parasites off the coast of Portugal. We worked together on studies of the unsegmented tapeworm Didymobothrium rudolphii from the sandsole, Solea lascaris. Joana was supervised in Lisbon by Henrique Cabral and in Porto by Maria Santos.
PUBLICATIONS
Marques J, MJ Santos, DI Gibson, HN Cabral and PD Olson. 2007. Cryptic species of Didymobothrium rudolphii (Cestoda: Spathebothriidea) from the sand sole, Solea lascaris, off the Portuguese coast, with an analysis of their molecules, morphology, ultrastructure and phylogeny. Parasitology 134, 1057-1072 PDF | PubMed
PUBLICATIONS
Delphine Thenet
MSc, University of London, Royal Holloway
MSc, University of London, Royal Holloway
Delphine was supervised by Ruth Kirk at Royal Holloway and by me at the NHM where she conducted the molecular component of her thesis. Delphine was awarded an MSc in 2006 and is pursuing a PhD at the same institution.
THESIS: "Validation of molecular markers and host-specificity as identification tools for species determination of Diplozoidae (Monogenea, Polyopisthocotylea) on British freshwater fish"
THESIS: "Validation of molecular markers and host-specificity as identification tools for species determination of Diplozoidae (Monogenea, Polyopisthocotylea) on British freshwater fish"
Dr Celia Augusti
PhD, University of Valencia, Spain
PhD, University of Valencia, Spain
Celia studied parasites of cetaceans, particularly the larval tetraphyllideans. In Celia's case, I acted more as a collaborator than as advisor.
PUBLICATIONS
Aznar FJ, C Agusti, DTJ Littlewood, JA Raga and PD Olson. 2007. Insight into the role of cetaceans in the life cycle or tetraphyllideans (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). International Journal for Parasitology 37, 243-255 PDF | PubMed
Agusti C, FJ Aznar, PD Olson, DTJ Littlewood and JA Raga. 2005. Morphological and molecular characterization of tetraphyllidean merocercoids of striped dolphins from the western Mediterranean. Parasitology 130, 461-474 PDF | PubMed
PUBLICATIONS
Aznar FJ, C Agusti, DTJ Littlewood, JA Raga and PD Olson. 2007. Insight into the role of cetaceans in the life cycle or tetraphyllideans (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). International Journal for Parasitology 37, 243-255 PDF | PubMed
Agusti C, FJ Aznar, PD Olson, DTJ Littlewood and JA Raga. 2005. Morphological and molecular characterization of tetraphyllidean merocercoids of striped dolphins from the western Mediterranean. Parasitology 130, 461-474 PDF | PubMed