All Outputs (29)

Enhanced Activity and Stability of an Acetyl Xylan Esterase in Hydrophilic Alcohols through Site-Directed Mutagenesis (2023)
Journal Article
Madubuike, H., & Ferry, N. (in press). Enhanced Activity and Stability of an Acetyl Xylan Esterase in Hydrophilic Alcohols through Site-Directed Mutagenesis. Molecules, 28(21), 7393. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28217393

Current demands for the development of suitable biocatalysts showing high process performance is stimulated by the need to replace current chemical synthesis with cleaner alternatives. A drawback to the use of biocatalysts for unique applications is... Read More about Enhanced Activity and Stability of an Acetyl Xylan Esterase in Hydrophilic Alcohols through Site-Directed Mutagenesis.

Characterisation of a Novel Acetyl Xylan Esterase (BaAXE) Screened from the Gut Microbiota of the Common Black Slug (Arion ater) (2022)
Journal Article
Madubuike, H., & Ferry, N. (2022). Characterisation of a Novel Acetyl Xylan Esterase (BaAXE) Screened from the Gut Microbiota of the Common Black Slug (Arion ater). Molecules, 27(9), 2999. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27092999

Acetyl xylan esterases (AXEs) are enzymes capable of hydrolysing the acetyl bonds in acetylated xylan, allowing for enhanced activity of backbone-depolymerizing enzymes. Bioprospecting novel AXE is essential in designing enzyme cocktails with desired... Read More about Characterisation of a Novel Acetyl Xylan Esterase (BaAXE) Screened from the Gut Microbiota of the Common Black Slug (Arion ater).

Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome (2021)
Journal Article
Harrison, X., McDevitt, A., Dunn, J., Grifftihs, S., Benvenuto, C., Birtles, R., …Antwis, R. (2021). Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1957), 20210552. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.0552

Interactions between hosts and their resident microbial communities are a fundamental component of fitness for both agents. Though recent research has highlighted the importance of interactions between animals and their bacterial communities, compara... Read More about Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome.

Characterization of sialic acid affinity of the binding domain of mistletoe lectin isoform one (2021)
Journal Article
Mohammed, S., & Ferry, N. (2021). Characterization of sialic acid affinity of the binding domain of mistletoe lectin isoform one. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(15), e8284. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22158284

Sialic acid (Sia) is considered as one of the most important biomolecules of life since its derivatives and terminal orientations on cell membranes and macromolecules play a major role in many biological and pathological processes. To date, there is... Read More about Characterization of sialic acid affinity of the binding domain of mistletoe lectin isoform one.

Circular and linear : a tale of aptamer selection for the activation of SIRT1 to induce death in cancer cells (2020)
Journal Article
Al-Sudani, B., Ragazzon-Smith, A., Aziz, A., Alansari, R., Ferry, N., Krstic- Demonacos, M., & Ragazzon, P. (2020). Circular and linear : a tale of aptamer selection for the activation of SIRT1 to induce death in cancer cells. RSC Advances, 10(73), 45008-45018. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA07857C

It is a challenge to select the right target to treat conditions without affecting non-diseased cells. Cancer belongs to the top 10 causes of death in the world and it remains difficult to treat. Amongst cancer emerging targets, silent information re... Read More about Circular and linear : a tale of aptamer selection for the activation of SIRT1 to induce death in cancer cells.

Metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiome of the common black slug Arion ater in search of novel lignocellulose degrading enzymes (2017)
Journal Article
Joynson, R., Pritchard, L., Ekenakema, O., & Ferry, N. (2017). Metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiome of the common black slug Arion ater in search of novel lignocellulose degrading enzymes. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 2181. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02181

Some eukaryotes are able to gain access to well-protected carbon sources in plant biomass by exploiting microorganisms in the environment or harbored in their digestive system. One is the land pulmonate Arion ater, which takes advantage of a gut micr... Read More about Metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiome of the common black slug Arion ater in search of novel lignocellulose degrading enzymes.

Proteomic analysis shows that stress response proteins are significantly up-regulated in resistant diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum) in response to attack by the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) (2015)
Journal Article
Guan, W., Ferry, N., Edwards, M., Bell, H., Othman, H., Gatehouse, J., & Gatehouse, A. (2015). Proteomic analysis shows that stress response proteins are significantly up-regulated in resistant diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum) in response to attack by the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae). Molecular Breeding, 35(2), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-015-0220-x

The grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F.) is a major pest of wheat, acting as a virus vector as well as causing direct plant damage. Commonly grown wheat varieties in the UK have only limited resistance to this pest. The present study was carried out to i... Read More about Proteomic analysis shows that stress response proteins are significantly up-regulated in resistant diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum) in response to attack by the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae).

Characterization of cellulolytic activity in the gut of the terrestrial land slug Arion ater : Biochemical identification of targets for intensive study (2014)
Journal Article
Joynson, R., Swamy, A., Bou, P., Chapuis, A., & Ferry, N. (2014). Characterization of cellulolytic activity in the gut of the terrestrial land slug Arion ater : Biochemical identification of targets for intensive study. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 177, 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpb.2014.08.003

The level of cellulolytic activity in different areas of the gut of the terrestrial slug Arion ater was assayed at different temperatures and pH values. To do this, crude gut proteins were isolated and assayed using modified dinitrosalicylic acid red... Read More about Characterization of cellulolytic activity in the gut of the terrestrial land slug Arion ater : Biochemical identification of targets for intensive study.

Characterization of four midgut aminopeptidase N isozymes from Ostrinia furnacalis strains with different susceptibilities to Bacillus thuringiensis (2013)
Journal Article
Xu, L., Wang, Z., Zhang, J., Ferry, N., Edwards, M., Gatehouse, A., & He, K. (2014). Characterization of four midgut aminopeptidase N isozymes from Ostrinia furnacalis strains with different susceptibilities to Bacillus thuringiensis. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 115, 95-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2013.11.001

The full-length cDNA of four Ofapn aminopeptidases were cloned and sequenced from susceptible and resistant Ostrinia furnacalis strains. Four sequences were identified as APN because they shared the common structural features with APN from Lepidopter... Read More about Characterization of four midgut aminopeptidase N isozymes from Ostrinia furnacalis strains with different susceptibilities to Bacillus thuringiensis.

A proteomic approach to study the mechanism of tolerance to Bt toxins in Ostrinia furnacalis larvae selected for resistance to Cry1Ab (2013)
Journal Article
Xu, L., Ferry, N., Wang, Z., Zhang, J., Edwards, M. G., Gatehouse, A. M., & He, K. A proteomic approach to study the mechanism of tolerance to Bt toxins in Ostrinia furnacalis larvae selected for resistance to Cry1Ab. Transgenic Research, 22, 1155–1166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-013-9718-3

A Cry1Ab-resistant population of Asian corn borer (ACB-AbR) exhibiting approximately 100 times greater resistance to activated Cry1Ab than a susceptible population (Ostrinia furnacalis; ACB-BtS), was previously shown to exhibit high levels of cross-r... Read More about A proteomic approach to study the mechanism of tolerance to Bt toxins in Ostrinia furnacalis larvae selected for resistance to Cry1Ab.

Molecular interactions between wheat and the insect herbivore sitobion avenae (cereal aphid); analysis of changes to the wheat proteome (2011)
Journal Article
Ferry, N., Stavroulakis, S., Guan, W., Davison, G., Bell, H., Weaver, R., …Gatehouse, A. (2011). Molecular interactions between wheat and the insect herbivore sitobion avenae (cereal aphid); analysis of changes to the wheat proteome. Proteomics, 11(10), 1985-2002. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.200900801

Aphids are major insect pests of cereal crops, acting as virus vectors as well as causing direct damage. The responses of wheat to infestation by cereal aphid (Sitobion avenae) were investigated in a proteomic analysis. Approximately, 500 protein spo... Read More about Molecular interactions between wheat and the insect herbivore sitobion avenae (cereal aphid); analysis of changes to the wheat proteome.

Insect-resistant biotech crops and their impacts on beneficial arthropods (2011)
Journal Article
Gatehouse, A., Ferry, N., Edwards, M., & Bell, H. (2011). Insect-resistant biotech crops and their impacts on beneficial arthropods. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 366(1569), 1438-52. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0330

With a projected population of 10 billion by 2050, an immediate priority for agriculture is to achieve increased crop yields in a sustainable and cost-effective way. The concept of using a transgenic approach was realized in the mid-1990s with the co... Read More about Insect-resistant biotech crops and their impacts on beneficial arthropods.

Cross-resistance of Cry1Ab-selected Asian corn borer to other Cry toxins (2010)
Journal Article
Xu, L., Wang, Z., Zhang, J., Ferry, N., & Gatehouse, A. (2010). Cross-resistance of Cry1Ab-selected Asian corn borer to other Cry toxins. Journal of Applied Entomology, 134(5), 429-438. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2010.01517.x

The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guene´e) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is the most important insect pest of maize in China. Despite the proven track record of biotech Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize to provide an effective means to control l... Read More about Cross-resistance of Cry1Ab-selected Asian corn borer to other Cry toxins.

Characterisation of adult green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) digestive physiology: impact of a cysteine protease inhibitor and a synthetic pyrethroid (2010)
Journal Article
Mulligan, E., Ferry, N., Jouanin, L., Romeis, J., & Gatehouse, A. (2010). Characterisation of adult green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) digestive physiology: impact of a cysteine protease inhibitor and a synthetic pyrethroid. Pest Management Science, 66(3), 325-36. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1879

This study demonstrates the potential for pest management to impact on predators, but importantly it highlights the ability of the predator to detoxify/respond to treatments with different modes of action. In this case, exposure to an insecticide car... Read More about Characterisation of adult green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) digestive physiology: impact of a cysteine protease inhibitor and a synthetic pyrethroid.

Impact of transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of insecticidal proteins on longevity and digestive enzymes of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis. (2009)
Journal Article
Konrad, R., Connor, M., Ferry, N., Gatehouse, A., & Babendreier, D. (2009). Impact of transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of insecticidal proteins on longevity and digestive enzymes of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis. Journal of Insect Physiology, 55(4), 305-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.12.007

The risk that insect-resistant transgenic plants may pose for solitary bees was assessed by determining longevity of adult Osmia bicornis (O. rufa) chronically exposed to transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) or to the purified in... Read More about Impact of transgenic oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of insecticidal proteins on longevity and digestive enzymes of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis..

Appropriate analytical methods are necessary to assess nontarget effects of insecticidal proteins in GM crops through meta-analysis (response to Andow et al. 2009) (2009)
Journal Article
Shelton, A., Naranjo, S., Romeis, J., Hellmich, R., Wolt, J., Federici, B., …Bell, H. (2009). Appropriate analytical methods are necessary to assess nontarget effects of insecticidal proteins in GM crops through meta-analysis (response to Andow et al. 2009). Environmental Entomology, 38(6), 1533-1536

As we described in our rebuttal in Transgenic Research
(Shelton et al. 2009), we think that the meta-analysis
approach used by Lo¨ vei et al. (2009) suffers from
important methodological limitations relative to risk
assessment that led them to re... Read More about Appropriate analytical methods are necessary to assess nontarget effects of insecticidal proteins in GM crops through meta-analysis (response to Andow et al. 2009).

Characterisation of midgut digestive proteases from the maize stem borer Busseola fusca (2008)
Journal Article
George, D., Ferry, N., Back, E., & Gatehouse, A. (2008). Characterisation of midgut digestive proteases from the maize stem borer Busseola fusca. Pest Management Science, 64(11), 1151-1158. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1610

BACKGROUND: Insect damage is a major constraint on maize production. Control of Busseola fusca (Fuller) in
sub-Saharan Africa is relatively ineffective; the major larval digestive enzymes were characterised with a view to
developing future control... Read More about Characterisation of midgut digestive proteases from the maize stem borer Busseola fusca.

Prey mediated effects of Bt maize on fitness and digestive physiology of the red spider mite predator Stethorus punctillum Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). (2008)
Journal Article
Alvarez-Alfageme, F., Ferry, N., Castañera, P., Ortego, F., & Gatehouse, A. (2008). Prey mediated effects of Bt maize on fitness and digestive physiology of the red spider mite predator Stethorus punctillum Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Transgenic Research, 17(5), 943-54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-008-9177-4

The present study investigated prey-mediated effects of two maize varieties expressing a truncated Cry1Ab, Compa CB (event Bt176) and DKC7565 (event MON810), on the biology of the ladybird Stethorus punctillum. Although immuno-assays demonstrated the... Read More about Prey mediated effects of Bt maize on fitness and digestive physiology of the red spider mite predator Stethorus punctillum Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)..

Potential effects of oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of purified insecticidal proteins on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis (2008)
Journal Article
Konrad, R., Ferry, N., Gatehouse, A., & Babendreier, D. (2008). Potential effects of oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of purified insecticidal proteins on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis. PLoS ONE, 3(7), e2664. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0002664

Despite their importance as pollinators in crops and wild plants, solitary bees have not previously been included in non-target testing of insect-resistant transgenic crop plants. Larvae of many solitary bees feed almost exclusively on pollen and thu... Read More about Potential effects of oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of purified insecticidal proteins on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis.

Bitrophic and tritrophic effects of Bt Cry3A transgenic potato on beneficial, non-target, beetles. (2007)
Journal Article
Ferry, N., Mulligan, E., Majerus, M., & Gatehouse, A. (2007). Bitrophic and tritrophic effects of Bt Cry3A transgenic potato on beneficial, non-target, beetles. Transgenic Research, 16(6), 795-812. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-007-9088-9

Insect-resistant transgenic plants have been suggested to have unpredictable effects on the biodiversity of the agro-ecosystem, including potential effects on insect natural enemies, beneficial in control of crop pests. Whilst carnivorous as adults,... Read More about Bitrophic and tritrophic effects of Bt Cry3A transgenic potato on beneficial, non-target, beetles..