T. K. Smith

Exploring the activity and the essentiality of the putative Delta6-desaturase in the procyclic and bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei

This study investigates the activity and essentiality of the putative Delta6-desaturase in Trypanosoma brucei, showing its role in producing specific polyunsaturated fatty acids and influencing lipid composition and morphology during life cycle transitions.

The role of ion dissolution in metal and metal oxide surface inactivation of SARS-CoV-2

This study investigates how copper and copper oxide surfaces inactivate SARS-CoV-2, showing that copper ion dissolution and complexation with biomolecules in the carrier solution are key factors.

An interbacterial lipase toxin with an unprecedented reverse domain arrangement defines a new class of type VII secretion system effector

The paper identifies a new class of T7SS effector, TslA, with a reverse domain arrangement and describes its secretion mechanism and functional properties.

Thermoneutral housing does not accelerate metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in male or female mice fed a Western diet

This study investigates whether thermoneutral housing accelerates MAFLD in mice fed a Western diet, finding no significant acceleration in disease progression despite sex-specific metabolic effects.

Choline metabolism underpins macrophage IL-4 polarization and RELMα up-regulation in helminth infection

This study shows that choline metabolism is essential for IL-4-induced macrophage polarization and RELMα expression during helminth infection, affecting immune homeostasis and parasite clearance.

A novel lipase with dual localisation in Trypanosoma brucei

The paper identifies a novel lipase in Trypanosoma brucei with dual localization and excretion, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic tool.

Plasma non-esterified fatty acids contribute to increased coagulability in type-2 diabetes through altered plasma zinc speciation

The paper shows that elevated NEFA levels in T2DM alter plasma zinc speciation, increasing coagulability and thrombotic risk.

Myeloid deletion and therapeutic activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) do not alter atherosclerosis in male or female mice

This study shows that deleting AMPK in myeloid cells or activating it therapeutically does not affect atherosclerosis in male or female mice.

Structures of three MORN repeat proteins and a re-evaluation of the proposed lipid-binding properties of MORN repeats

This study investigates MORN repeat proteins, revealing they are protein-protein interaction modules rather than lipid-binding modules, based on structural and functional analyses of TbMORN1 and homologs.

Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus lipids by nanoelectrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (nESI-MS/MS)

This study develops a sensitive nESI-MS/MS method to characterize lipid composition in S. aureus isolates, revealing phosphatidylglycerols as dominant and identifying minor compositional differences between strains.