Professor Russ Wallis

I'm a biochemist interested in understanding the molecular changes that occur during initiation of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation. These reaction cascades are directly responsible for neutralisation of pathogens and clearance of apoptotic cells. They also play key roles in stimulating and directing fundamental immunological processes including phagocytosis cell adhesion modulation of immune cell function and maintenance of immune tolerance as well as providing important bridges between innate and adaptive immunity. Specific interests include characterising the interactions between components that trigger complement activation establishing the molecular basis of immunodeficiencies caused by mutations in key complement proteins and understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms that prevent complement from destroying host cells.

Specific research interests include characterising the interactions between components that trigger complement activation establishing the molecular basis of immunodeficiencies caused by mutations in key complement proteins and understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms that prevent complement from destroying host cells.

(0) Bhattacharyya N, Nkumama IN, Newland-Smith Z, Lin LY, Yin W, Cullen RE, Griffiths JS, Jarvis AR, Price MJ, Chong PY, Wallis R, O'Hare HM (2018) An Aspartate-Specific Solute-Binding Protein Regulates Protein Kinase G Activity To Control Glutamate Metabolism in Mycobacteria. MBio: 9:e00931-18

Almitairi OM , Venkatraman Girija U, Furze CM, Simpson-Gray X, Badakshi F, Marshall JE, Schwaeble WJ, Mitchell DA, Moody PCE & Wallis R (2018) Structure of the C1r-C1s interaction of the C1 complex of complement activation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA). in press DOI:10.1073/pnas.1718709115

Venkatraman Girija, U, Furze, C.M. Gingras, A.R., Yoshizaki, T., Ohtani, K., Marshall, J.E., Wallis, A.K., Schwaeble, W.J., El-Mezgueldi, M., Mitchell, D.A., Moody, P.C.E., Wakamiya, N. and Wallis, R. (2015) Molecular basis of sugar recognition by collectin-K1 and the effects of mutations associated with 3MC syndrome. BMC Biology; 13:27.

Molecular Immunology Protein structure/function Protein Biochemistry

BS2093 MB3001

Molecular Immunology Protein structure/function Protein Biochemistry