I am an experienced and enthusiastic molecular virologist specialising in gene expression mechanisms and RNA structure of RNA viruses, with extensive experience at biosafety levels III and IV. I also enjoy teaching and was awarded Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2019. I designed and now lead the Certificate in Infectious Diseases, equivalent to first year undergraduate studies, for the part-time branch of the University of Cambridge and have extensive experience supervising both UG and PG students.
My research vision is to elucidate at the molecular and cellular level the roles played by RNA virus accessory proteins in host cell death pathways. These processes are of major importance to the development of disease and represent an under-explored target for future therapeutic intervention. My research has applied molecular virology to a range of important pathogens causing chronic infection and disease in both humans and animals, with particular emphasis on the role of RNA structures in the virus lifecycle and transmission.
My current projects focus upon how viruses such as polio and SARS-CoV-2 expand their coding potential by using novel RNA regulatory elements hidden in their genomes (for example, ribosomal frameshifting, transcriptional slippage and leaky scanning). I also have experience in high containment fieldwork and diagnostics, as in 2014 I applied my skillset to public health as part of the West Africa Ebola virus emergency response, gaining insights into aspects of science public policy.
Selected Publications:
C Lefèvre, GM Cook, AM Dinan, S Torii, H Stewart, G Gibbons, AS Nicholson, L Echavarría-Consuegra, LW Meredith, V Lulla, JC Kenyon, I Goodfellow, JE Deane, SC Graham, A Lakatos, L Lambrechts, I Brierley, N Irigoyen. Zika viruses encode 5′ upstream open reading frames affecting infection of human brain cells. Nature Communications. 15(1), 2024.
YM Ali, GW Carnell, S Fumagalli, D Mercurio, S Seminara, NJ Lynch, P Khatri, CH Arachchilage, L Mascheroni, C Kaminski, CL George, H Stewart, M Yabuki, G Demopulos, JL Heeney, W Schwaeble. Inhibition of the Lectin Pathway of Complement Activation Reduces Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Severity in a Mouse Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 25/20, 2023.
H Stewart, R Palmulli, KH Johansen, N McGovern, OM Shehata, GW Carnell, HK Jackson, JS Lee, JC Brown, T Burgoyne, JL Heeney, K Okkenhaug], AE Firth, AA Peden, JR Edgar. Tetherin antagonism by SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a and spike protein enhances virus release. EMBO Reports. e57224, 2023.
Photo: Liv Harriman