Prof Peter Brophy

PhD

Prof Peter Brophy

Professor

Contact Details

Profile

Studied biochemistry at Glasgow and Stirling Universities before obtaining a PhD from Aberystwyth University on drug metabolism in parasitic worms. After holding a Medical Research Council research post at Aberystwyth (1987-1990) completed further research training in yeast biotechnology at the BioCentre in Leicester. In 1991 was awarded a Wellcome Trust Fellowship based at Nottingham University exploring parasite defences against immune assault. A Senior Research Fellowship in the Leicester Pharmacy School (1994-97) provided opportunities in rational drug design and lead compound synthesis. Established the first proteomics laboratory dedicated to parasitic worm investigations during Readerships at the Universities of Aberystwyth and Liverpool (1998-2006). In 2007 returned to Aberystwyth as a Professor in Parasitology. During  career has been an advisor in parasite drug discovery to WHO and has completed a number of industrial consultancies. To date, has supervised 20 PhD students and published a 100 plus research papers/books/chapters on parasitology, including the first experimental proteomics study in a parasitic worm and  resolved one of the first structures of a parasitic worm drug target Has won research contracts worth over £4 million in order to address  key problems in parasite control (anthelmintic resistance, vaccine, drug  and biomarker discovery).

Teaching

Module Coordinator
Lecturer
Tutor

Research

My main research interest is to resolve using functional genomics how liver and rumen fluke parasites interact with their respective host environments. To date, new parasite proteins have been discovered to support drug and vaccine development and diagnostics . I am also interested in developing new molecular tools to measure anthelmintic resistance in liver fluke and a protein biomarker panel has been identified to measure Triclabendazole (TCBZ) failure and resistance for new laboratory and faecal based field tests.

Publications

Inducible glutathione S-transferase (IrGST1) from the tick Ixodes ricinus is a haem-binding proteinPerner, J., Kotál, J., Hatalová , T., Urbanová , V., Bartošová-Sojková, P., Brophy, P. & Kopáček, P. 2018 In : Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Worms at the Royal Welsh ShowTyson, F., Allen, T., Pennington, C., Brophy, P., Thomas, E. & Morphew, R. 2017 In : Veterinary Record.181, 14, p. 376-377
The prevalence and development of digenean parasites within their intermediate snail host, Galba truncatula, in a geographic area where the presence of Calicophoron daubneyi has recently been confirmedJones, R., Williams, H., Dalesman, S., Sinmidele, A., Thomas, R. & Brophy, P. 2017 In : Veterinary Parasitology.240, p. 68-74
Prevalence of rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) in cattle herds, sheep flocks and in intermediate snail host, G. truncatula, on Welsh farmsJones, R., Williams, H. & Brophy, P. 2017 In : Advances in Animal Biosciences.8, 1, p. 66
Rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi on Welsh farms: Prevalence, risk factors, and observations on co-infection with Fasciola hepaticaJones, R., Brophy, P., Mitchell, E. S. & Williams, H. 2017 In : Parasitology.144, 2, p. 237-24711 p.
Exploring and Expanding the Fatty-Acid-Binding Protein Superfamily in Fasciola SpeciesMorphew, R., Wilkinson, T., MacKintosh, N., Jahndel, V., Paterson, S., McVeigh, P., Abbas Abidi, S. M., Saifullah, K., Raman, M., Ravikumar , G., LaCourse, E. J., Maule, A. G. & Brophy, P. 2016 In : Journal of Proteome Research.15, 9, p. 3308-332114 p.
Calmodulin disruption impacts growth and motility in juvenile liver flukeMcCammick, E., McVeigh, P., McCusker, P., Timson, D., Morphew, R., Brophy, P., Marks, N., Mousley, A. & Maule, A. 2016 In : Parasites & Vectors.9, 13 p., 46
Confirmation of Galba truncatula as an intermediate host snail for Calicophoron daubneyi in Great Britain, with evidence of alternative snail species hosting Fasciola hepaticaJones, R., Williams, H., Dalesman, S. & Brophy, P. 2015 In : Parasites & Vectors.8, 656, 4 p.
Identification of the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi infecting cattle in WalesHuson, K. M., Brophy, P., Morphew, R. & MacKintosh, N. 2015 In : Advances in Animal Biosciences.6, Special Issue 02, p. 1831 p.
A new enabling proteomics methodology to investigate membrane associated proteins from parasitic nematodes: Case study using ivermectin resistant and ivermectin susceptible isolates of Caenorhabditis elegans and Haemonchus contortusHart, E., Brophy, P., Prescott, M., Bartley, D. J., Wolf, B. & Hamilton, J. V. 2015 In : Veterinary Parasitology.207, 3-4, p. 266-27510 p.
Time-dependent tegumental surface changes in juvenile Fasciola gigantica in response to triclabendazole treatment in goatAhammed Shareef, P. A., Brennan, G. P., McVeigh, P., Hannan Khan, M. A., Morphew, R. M., Mousley, A., Marks, N. J., Khalid Saifullah, M. K., Brophy, P. M., Maule, A. G. & Abidi, S. M. A. 2014 In : Acta Tropica.136, p. 108-11710 p.
In vitro biomarker discovery in the parasitic flatworm Fasciola hepatica for monitoring chemotherapeutic treatmentMorphew, R. M., MacKintosh, N. D., Hart, E. H., Prescott, M., LaCourse, E. J. & Brophy, P. M. 2014 In : EuPA Open Proteomics.3, p. 85-9915 p.
RNAi dynamics in juvenile Fasciola spp. liver flukes reveals the persistence of gene silencing in vitroMcVeigh, P., McCammick, E., McCusker, P., Morphew, R. M., Mousley, A., Abidi, A., Saifullah, K. M., Muthusamy, R., Gopalakrishnan, R., Spithill, T. W., Dalton, J. P., Brophy, P. M., Marks, N. J. & Maule, A. G. 2014 In : PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.8, 9, 0003185
Cytosine methylation is a conserved epigenetic feature found throughout the phylum PlatyhelminthesGeyer, K. K., Chalmers, I. W., MacKintosh, N. D., Hirst, J. E., Geoghegan, R., Badets, M., Brophy, P. M., Brehm, K. & Hoffmann, K. F. 2013 In : BMC Genomics.14, 462
Early hepatic and peritoneal changes and immune response in goats vaccinated with a recombinant glutathione transferase sigma class and challenged with Fasciola hepatica.Zafra, R., Pérez-Écija, R. A., Buffoni, L., Pacheco, I. L., Martínez-Moreno, A., Lacourse , E. J., Perally, S., Brophy, P. M. & Pérez, J. 2013 In : Research in Veterinary Science.94, 3, p. 602-6098 p.
Identification of the major proteins of an immune modulating fraction from adult Fasciola hepatica resleased by Nonident P40Morphew, R. M., Hamilton, C. M., Wright, H. A., Dowling, D. J., O'Neill, S. M. & Brophy, P. M. 2013 In : Veterinary Parasitology.191, 3-4, p. 379–385
The soluble proteome phenotypes of ivermectin resistant and ivermectin susceptible Haemonchus contortus females comparedHart, E. H., Morphew, R. M., Bartley, D. J., Millares, P., Wolf, B. T., Brophy, P. M. & Hamilton, J. V. 2012 In : Veterinary Parasitology.190, 1-2, p. 104-11310 p.
Anthelmintic metabolism in parasitic helminths: proteomic insightsBrophy, P. M., Mackintosh, N. & Morphew, R. M. 2012 In : Parasitology.139, 9, p. 1205-121713 p.
The Sigma Class glutathione transferase from the liver fluke Fasciola hepaticaLaCourse, E. J., Perally, S., Morphew, R. M., Moxon, J. V., Prescott, M. C., Dowling, D. J., O'Neill, S. M., Kipar, A., Hetzel, U., Hoey, E., Zafra, R., Buffoni, L., Arévalo, J. P. & Brophy, P. M. 2012 In : PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.6, 5, p. n/a e1666
Proteomic profiling and protein identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in unsequenced parasitic nematodes.Millares, P., LaCourse, J., Perally, S., Ward , D., Prescott, M., Hodgkinson , J., Brophy, P. M. & Rees, H. 2012 In : PLoS One.7, 3, e33590
Proteomics and in silico approaches to extend understanding of the glutathione transferase superfamily of the tropical liver fluke Fasciola giganticaMorphew, R. M., Eccleston, N., Wilkinson, T. J., McGarry, J., Perally, S., Prescott, M., Ward, D., Williams, D., Paterson, S., Raman, M., Ravikumar, G., Khalid Saifullah, M., Abbas Abidi, S. M., McVeigh, P., Maule, A. G., Brophy, P. M. & LaCourse, E. J. 2012 In : Journal of Proteome Research.11, 12, p. 5876–588914 p.
Towards delineating functions within the fasciola secreted cathepsin L protease family by integrating in vivo based sub-proteomics and phylogeneticsMorphew, R. M., Wright, H. A., LaCourse, E. J., Porter, J., Barrett, J., Woods, D. J. & Brophy, P. M. 2011 In : PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.5, 1, e-937
Early Hepatic Changes in Goats Immunized with Recombinant Glutathione S Transferase (Sigma Class) and Challenged with Fasciola hepaticaMendes, R. E., Zafra, R., Martinez-Moreno, A., Brophy, P. & Pérez, J. 2010 In : Journal of Comparative Pathology.143, 4, p. 3501 p.
Comparative proteomic analysis of Triclabendazole response in the liver fluke Fasciola hepaticaChemale, G., Perally, S., LaCourse, E. J., Prescott, M. C., Jones, L. M., Ward, D., Meany, M., Hoey, E., Brennan, G. P., Fairweather, I., Trudgett, A. & Brophy, P. M. 2010 In : Journal of Proteome Research.9, 10, p. 4940-495112 p.
Proteomic analysis of embryonic Fasciola hepatica: Characterization and antigenic potential of a developmentally regulated heat shock proteinMoxon, J. V., LaCourse, E. J., Wright, H. A., Perally, S., Prescott, M. C., Gillard, J. L., Barrett, J., Hamilton, J. V. & Brophy, P. M. 2010 In : Veterinary Parasitology.169, 1-2, p. 62-7514 p.
Proteomic analyses of Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larvae and long-lived daf-2 mutants implicates a shared detoxification system in longevity assuranceJones, L. M., Staffa, K., Perally, S., LaCourse, E. J., Brophy, P. M. & Hamilton, J. V. 2010 In : Journal of Proteome Research.9, 6, p. 2871-288111 p.
Molecular Cloning, Biochemical Characterization, and Partial Protective Immunity of the Heme-Binding Glutathione S-Transferases from the Human Hookworm Necator americanusZhan, B., Perally, S., Brophy, P. M., Xue, J., Goud, G., Liu, S., Deumic, V., de Oliveira, L., Bethony, J., Bottazzi, M. E., Jiang, D., Gillespie, P., Xiao, S., Gupta, R., Loukas, A., Ranjit, N., Lustigman, S., Hotez, P. & Oksov, Y. 2010 In : Infection and Immunity.78, 4, p. 1552-156312 p.
Immune responses directed at egg proteins during experimental infection with the liver fluke Fasciola hepaticaMoxon, J. V., Flynn, R., Golden, O., Hamilton, J. V., Mulcahy, G. & Brophy, P. M. 2010 In : Parasite Immunology.32, 2, p. 111-12414 p.
Major secretory antigens of the helminth Fasciola hepatica activate a suppressive dendritic cell phenotype that attenuates Th17 cells but fails to activate Th2 immune responsesDowling, D. J., Hamilton, C. M., Donnelly, S., La Course, J., Brophy, P. M., Dalton, J. & O'Neill, S. M. 2010 In : Infection and Immunity.78, 2, p. 793-8019 p.
The Fasciola hepatica tegumental antigen suppresses dendritic cell maturation and functionHamilton, C. M., Dowling, D. J., Loscher, C. E., Morphew, R. M., Brophy, P. M. & O'Neill, S. M. 2009 In : Infection and Immunity.77, 6, p. 2488-249811 p.
Glutathione transferase (GST) as a candidate molecular based biomarker for soil toxin exposure in the earthworm Lumbricus rubellusLaCourse, E. J., Hernandez-Viadel, M., Jefferies, J. R., Svendsen, C., Spurgeon, D. J., Barrett, J., Morgan, A. J., Kille, P. & Brophy, P. M. 2009 In : Environmental Pollution.157, 8-9, p. 2459-246911 p.
Heme transport and detoxification in nematodes: subproteomics evidence of differential role of glutathione transferasesPerally, S., LaCourse, E. J., Campbell, A. M. & Brophy, P. M. 2008 In : Journal of Proteome Research.7, 10, p. 4557-45659 p.
A Proteomics Approach To Quantify Protein Levels Following RNA Interference: Case Study with Glutathione Transferase Superfamily from the Model Metazoan Caenorhabditis elegansLaCourse, E. J., Perally, S., Hernandez-Viadel, M., Wright, H. A. & Brophy, P. M. 2008 In : Journal of Proteome Research.7, 8, p. 3314-33185 p.
The Aedes aegypti glutathione transferase familySomboon, P., Severson, D. W., Lumjuan, N., Stevenson, B. J., Prapanthadara, L., Ranson, H., Brophy, P. M. & Loftus, B. J. 2007 In : Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.37, 10, p. 1026-103510 p.
Comparative proteomics of excretory-secretory proteins released by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica in sheep host bile and during in vitro culture ex hostMorphew, R. M., Wright, H. A., LaCourse, E. J., Woods, D. J. & Brophy, P. M. 2007 In : Molecular and Cellular Proteomics.6, p. 963-97210 p.
Understanding triclabendazole resistanceBrennan, G. P., Fairweather, I., Trudgett, A., Hoey, E., ., M., Mcconville, M., Meaney, M., Robinson, M., McFerran, N., Ryan, L., Lanusse, C., Mottier, L., Alvarez, L., Solana, H., Virkel, G. & Brophy, P. 2007 In : Experimental and Molecular Pathology.82, 2, p. 104-109
Proteomic analysis of glutathione transferases from the liver fluke parasite, Fasciola hepaticaChemale, G., Morphew, R. M., Moxon, J. V., Morassuti, A. L., LaCourse, E. J., Barrett, J., Johnston, D. A. & Brophy, P. M. 2006 In : Proteomics.6, 23, p. 6263-627311 p.
Plasticity demonstrated in the proteome of a parasitic nematode within the intestine of different host strainsMorgan, C. T., LaCourse, E. J., Rushbrook, B. J., Greetham, D., Hamilton, J. V., Barrett, J., Bailey, K. & Brophy, P. M. 2006 In : Proteomics.6, 16, p. 4633-464513 p.
Flatworm parasite proteomicsMorphew, R. M., Barrett, J. & Brophy, P. M. 2006 in. N, J. (ed.). CABI Publishing, p. 327-
Biochemical characterization and vaccine potential of a heme-binding glutathione transferase from the adult hookworm Ancylostoma caninumZhan, B., Liu, S., Perally, S., Xue, J., Fujiwara, R., Brophy, P. M., Xiao, S., Liu, Y., Feng, J., Williamson, A., Wang, Y., Bueno, L. L., Mendez, S., Goud, G., Bethony, J. M., Hawdon, J. M., Loukas, A., Jones, K. & Hotez, P. J. 2005 In : Infection and Immunity.73, 10, p. 6903-69119 p.
Analysing proteomic dataBarrett, J., Brophy, P. M. & Hamilton, J. V. 2005 In : International Journal for Parasitology.35, 5, p. 543-55311 p.
Echinococcus granulosus antigen B hydrophobic ligand binding propertiesChemale, G., Barrett, J., Zaha, A., Ferreira, H. B. & Brophy, P. M. 2005 In : Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics.p. 189-1946 p.
Crystal structure of a new class of glutathione transferase from the model human hookworm nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrusSchuller, D. J., Liu, Q., Kriksunov, I. A., Campbell, A. M., Barrett, J., Brophy, P. M. & Hao, Q. 2005 In : Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics.61, 4, p. 1024-10318 p.
Evidence of glutathione transferase complexing and signaling in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using a pull-down proteomic assayGreetham, D., Morgan, C. T., Campbell, A. M., van Rossum, A. J., Barrett, J. & Brophy, P. M. 2004 In : Proteomics.4, 7, p. 1989-19957 p.
Binding of hematin to a new class of glutathione transferase from the blood-feeding parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus.Brophy, P. M., Jefferies, J. R., Teesdale-Spittle, P., Tait, A., van Rossum, A. J., LaCourse, E. J., Rijsewijk, F. A. M. & Barrett, J. 2004 In : Infection and Immunity.p. 2780-279011 p.
Proteomic analysis of the larval stage of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus: causative agent of cystic hydatid diseaseChemale, G., van Rossum, A. J., Jefferies, J. R., Barrett, J., Brophy, P. M., Ferreira, H. B. & Zaha, A. 2003 In : Proteomics.p. 1633-16364 p.
Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a new class of glutathione transferase from nematodesHao, Q., Schuller, D. J., Barrett, J., Brophy, P. M., Campbell, A. M. & Kriksunov, I. A. 2003 In : Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography.59, 7, p. 1262-12643 p.
The glutathione S-transferase from Plasmodium falciparumLiebau, E., Campbell, A. M., Bergmann, B., Luersen, K., Brophy, P. M., Teesdale-Spittle, P. & Walter, R. D. 2002 In : Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.p. 1-22 p.
Proteomic identification of glutathione S-transferases from the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegansTait, A., Jefferies, J. R., Barrett, J., Brophy, P. M. & van Rossum, A. J. 2001 In : Proteomics.1, 11, p. 1463-14686 p.
Gene structure of the extracellular glutathione S-transferase from Onchocerca volvulus and its overexpression and promoter analysis in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegansBrophy, P. M., Krause, S., Walter, R. D., Liebau, E., Fischer, P. & Sommer, A. 2001 In : Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.p. 145-15410 p.
Proteomic analysis of Fasciola hepatica excretory-secretory productsBarrett, J., Jefferies, J. R., Campbell, A. M., van Rossum, A. J. & Brophy, P. M. 2001 In : Proteomics.1, 9, p. 1128-11325 p.
Biochemical characterisation of a hydrophobic ligand binding protein from the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminutaBrophy, P. M., Barrett, J., Saghir, N. & Conde, P. J. 2001 In : International Journal for Parasitology.31, 7, p. 653-6608 p.
A common class of nematode gluthione S-transferase (GST) revealed by the theoretical proteome of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegansCampbell, A. M., Brophy, P. M., Barrett, J., Jefferies, J. R., Liebau, E. & Teesdale-Spittle, P. 2001 In : Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.128, 4, p. 701-7088 p.
A stress-responsive glyoxalase I from the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulusKrause, K., Brophy, P. M., Walter, R. D., Boettcher, K., Liebau, E., Sommer, A. & Fischer, P. 2001 In : Biochemical Journal.353, p. 445-4528 p.
A new diagnostic tool for neurocysticercosis is a member of a cestode specific hydrophobic ligand binding protein familySaghir, N., Conde, P. J., Brophy, P. & Barrett, J. 2000 In : FEBS Letters.487, 2, p. 181-1844 p.
Inhibition of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) from parasitic nematodes by extracts from traditional Nigerian medicinal plantsFakae, B. B., Campbell, A. M., Barrett, J., Scott, I., Teesdale-Spittle, P. H., Liebau, E. & Brophy, P. 2000 In : Phytotherapy Research.630-634, 5, p. 630-6345 p.
Investigation of Fasciola hepatica sample preparation for two-dimensional electrophoresisJefferies, J. R., Brophy, P. & Barrett, J. 2000 In : Electrophoresis.21, 17, p. 3724-3729
β-Carbonyl substituted glutathione conjugates as inhibitors of O. Volvulus GST2Brophy, P., Campbell, A. M., van Eldik, A. J., Teesdale-Spittle, P., Liebau, E. & Wang, M. F. 2000 In : Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters.10, 9, p. 979-981
Purification and characterisation of a novel cysteine conjugate β-lyase from the tapeworm Moniezia expansaAdcock, H. J., Brophy, P., Teesdale-Spittle, P. H. & Buckberry, L. D. 2000 In : International Journal for Parasitology.30, 5, p. 567-5715 p.
Ascaris Haemoglobin: New Tricks for an Old ProteinBarrett, J. & Brophy, P. 2000 In : Parasitology Today.16, 3, p. 90-912 p.