Dr Martin Wiese

John Anderson Research Senior Lecturer

Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Personal statement

I joined the University in 2007 and I’m currently a John Anderson Research Senior Lecturer in Molecular Parasitology and Biochemistry. I mainly teach Biochemistry to undergraduate and postgraduate students. I am involving students in current research projects to provide them with state-of-the-art methods and technologies. This allows them to make an informed decision on their future careers and provides them with appropriate background knowledge to aid them in their personal development. In my research I am investigating Leishmania protein kinases as potential drug targets to cure leishmaniasis and as crucial regulators in flagellum formation and maintenance.
As the Leader of the Infection, Immunity and Microbiology Research Group from 2011-2014 I was involved in the general organisation of SIPBS.

The following topics are currently available in my group to do a PhD (subject to funding):

“Signalling pathways in Leishmania – drug targets to treat human leishmaniasis”

“Using genetic analysis to decipher flagellum formation and maintenance in Leishmania”

“Molecular genetic analysis of Leishmania to identify protein kinase drug targets”

“Kinesins and kinases – protein interaction and phenotypic analysis of genetically modified Leishmania parasites”

Expertise

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Area of Expertise

signal transduction
protein kinases
Leishmania cell biology
recombinant protein production
protein biochemistry

Publications

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Publications

Immunisation with transgenic L. tarentolae expressing gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase from pathogenic Leishmania species protected against L. major and L. donovani infection in a murine model

Topuz Ata Derya, Hussain Muattaz, Jones Michael, Best Jonathan, Wiese Martin, Carter Katharine Christine

Microorganisms Vol 11 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051322

Absence of DEATH kinesin is fatal for Leishmania mexicana amastigotes

Al Kufi Suad Gazi Jaafer, Emmerson Josiah, Rosenqvist Heidi, Garcia Catarina Mateus Moreira, Rios-Szwed Diana Onodelia, Wiese Martin

Scientific Reports Vol 12 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07412-z

Glycan–glycan interactions determine Leishmania attachment to the midgut of permissive sand fly vectors

Hall Amy R, Blakeman Jamie T, Eissa Ahmed M, Chapman Paul, Morales-García Ana L, Stennett Laura, Martin Oihane, Giraud Emilie, Dockrell David H, Cameron Neil R, Wiese Martin, Yakop Laith, Rogers Matthew E, Geoghegan Mark

Chemical Science Vol 11, pp. 10973-10983 (2020)

https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03298K

Leishmania donovani 90 kD heat shock protein - impact of phosphosites on parasite fitness, infectivity and casein kinase affinity

Hombach-Barrigah Antje, Bartsch Katharina, Smirlis Despina, Rosenqvist Heidi, MacDonald Andrea, Dingli Florent, Loew Damarys, Späth Gerald F, Rachidi Najma, Wiese Martin, Clos Joachim

Scientific Reports Vol 9 (2019)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41640-0

An arginine deprivation response pathway is induced in Leishmania during macrophage invasion

Goldman-Pinkovich Adele, Balno Caitlin, Strasser Rona, Zeituni-Molad Michal, Bendelak Keren, Rentsch Doris, Ephros Moshe, Wiese Martin, Jardim Armando, Myler Peter J, Zilberstein Dan

PLOS Pathogens Vol 12 (2016)

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1005494

Transgenic analysis of the Leishmania MAP kinase MPK10 reveals an auto-inhibitory mechanism crucial for stage-regulated activity and parasite viability

Cayla Mathieu, Rachidi Najma, Leclercq Olivier, Schmidt-Arras Dirk, Rosenqvist Heidi, Wiese Martin, Späth Gerald F

PLOS Pathogens Vol 10 (2014)

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004347

More publications

Research

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Research Interests

My research focuses on Leishmania protein kinases as potential drug targets and as important regulators for flagellum maintenance. Leishmania is a protozoan parasite that can cause death in infected humans and animals. Protein kinases have been shown to be essential for survival of this parasite in the infected host. Hence, specific inhibitors for parasite protein kinases have the potential to be ideal drugs to treat leishmaniasis. On the other hand Leishmania has a single flagellum containing structures conserved in all organisms forming cilia or flagella including humans. Understanding how flagellum formation and maintenance is regulated in Leishmania will help to understand and cure human disorders affecting the function of cilia and flagella. I am using phosphoproteomics, molecular parasitology and protein biochemistry to identify relevant protein kinases, their activators and substrates. This will allow me to develop enzyme assays to screen for inhibitors of the target protein kinases, which can be developed into useful medicines.