E. O'Brien

Conformational dynamics of the μ-opioid receptor determine ligand intrinsic efficacy

The paper uses biophysical techniques to show how ligand-induced conformational changes in the μ-opioid receptor affect its signaling efficacy.

Extensive re-modelling of the cell wall during the development of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

This study identifies TcaA as a key regulator of cell wall remodeling in Staphylococcus aureus during bacteraemia, enhancing virulence by altering wall teichoic acids and peptidoglycan crosslinking.

Negative allosteric modulation of the glucagon receptor by RAMP2

This study shows RAMP2 inhibits GCGR signaling by inducing conformational changes and disorder in the receptor's extracellular domain.

PDX models of relapsed pediatric AML preserve global gene expression patterns and reveal therapeutic targets

This study shows that PDX models of pediatric AML retain patient-like gene expression patterns and identify therapeutic targets.

Self-sensitisation of Staphylococcus aureus to the antimicrobial factors found in human blood.

This study identifies genetic factors in Staphylococcus aureus that influence serum survival, revealing how bacterial responses to blood factors affect their transition from commensal to invasive states.

Genomic and experimental evidence that alternate transcription initiation of the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) kinase domain does not predict single agent sensitivity to ALK inhibitors.

The paper reanalyzes ALKATI's role in melanoma using genomic and experimental methods, finding it does not predict single-agent ALK inhibitor sensitivity.

A small membrane protein critical to both the offensive and defensive capabilities of Staphylococcus aureus.

This study identifies and characterizes MasA, a small membrane protein in S. aureus that disrupts toxin production and immune resistance when inactivated, impairing infection in multiple models.