Dr Christophe Noel
Guest Member of Staff

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 243 0871
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 243 0871
  • Personal Website: Christophe.noel@geneiuslabs.com
  • Address: Geneius Laboratories Ltd,

    INEX Business Centre
    Herschel Building
    Newcastle University Campus
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU

Introduction

Head of Research and Development at Geneius Laboratories.

Development of new molecular based procedures for detection of pathogens in Food, based on BSI and UKAS accredited (listeria, Salmonella, VTEC).

Development of MLST schemes for Pathogens.





Research Interests

I worked on the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis to investigate the composition, function and morphogenesis of its microtubular cytoskeleton. I also investigated the phylogenetic relationships among parabasalid taxa based on the comparison of SSU rRNA gene sequences.
The aim of my Marie Curie post doc project was to develop a better understanding of the cell biology and molecular evolution of Trichomonas vaginalis and its pathogenic mechanisms. In particular I've investigated the mechanisms underlying the binding of Trichomonas vaginalis to host extra cellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and the morphological and ultrastructural changes which occur during the transformation of flagellated cells into the amoeba stage. As part of this project I've characterised a gene familly encoding potential surface proteins at the cellular, biochemical and functional levels. My hypothesis is that these proteins mediate interactions between Trichomonas, host cells and ECM proteins. These interactions are crucially important for the colonisation of the vagina and for the survival of the parasite in situ. Since Trichomonas is the major non-viral sexually transmitted disease, knowledge of the proteins involved in host colonisation may also provide leads for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Other Expertise

Structure and Function of the Microsporidian Mitosome.

Microsporidia like Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Trachipleistophora hominis have undergone dramatic secondary reduction at both the cellular and molecular levels and are among the simplest eukaryotic cells known. For example, published E. cuniculi genome is only 2.3 Mb, it encodes less than 2000 proteins, and is smaller than the genome of many bacteria (Katinka et al., 2001). Thus, microsporidia provide an excellent example of genomic streamlining – with the prediction that the genes retained will include those that are essential for eukaryotic cells and their organelles. However, despite their interest as highly reduced eukaryotes, the cell biology and evolution of microsporidia is still poorly understood. The present project is to investigate the structure and function of a recently discovered microsporidian organelle called a mitosome. The mitosome, which was discovered by the host lab in the microsporidian Trachipleistophora hominis, is a smallest and structurally simplest ‘mitochondrion’ yet found (Williams et al., 2002). Current genome data from E. cuniculi suggest that the mitosome may provide a simple ‘minimal’ model system to identify what are the truly essential feature(s) and function(s) of mitochondria - an apparently vital eukaryotic organelle (Embley et al., 2003). We aim to investigate key mitosome functions; including how it produces or imports ATP and how it imports the proteins it is already known to contain and that require ATP. To do this, we will integrate a variety of bioinformatics and experimental approaches to address the following questions like:
Does the mitosome make energy?
Do mitosomes import ATP via a novel mechanism?
How do mitosomes import proteins?

Funding

  • 2005-2008. Leverhulme Research Fellowship, 3 years.
  • 2003-2005. Marie Curie Fellowship from European Commission, Human Potential, Individual felowship, for 2 years.
  • 1999-2002. Ph.D Grant obtained from the Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology for three years.
  • 2001. NASA Planetary Biology Internship, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, 2 months.
  • 2001. SYS-Resource, EC-funded IHP Programme Access to Infrastructure Grant, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, 1 month.

Postgraduate Teaching

2004 : * Master recherche – Mention « BIOLOGIE-SANTE », Institut de Biologie de Lille : conférence - démonstration : Méthodes de Phylogénies Moléculaires : de la séquence jusqu’à la construction d’un arbre phylogénétique.
2000-2002 :* IUT Génie biologique, Université de Lille I : Cours magistraux de Biologie Moléculaire. (10 heures).
2000-2002 :* Certificat de Physiopathologie des Maladies Transmissibles, Faculté de Médecine Henri Warembourg. Université de Lille2. Travaux dirigés et analyse de publications. (2 heures).
1999-2000 :* Etablissement d’études supérieures et techniques FORMATION AVENIR : Cours magistraux et travaux dirigés : Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire dans le cadre de la préparation au PCEM 1 (20 heures).