Newcastle University

Research Interests

Respiratory syncytial virus pathogenesis and vaccine development

Development of monoclonal antibodies based virus diagnostics

Current projects of Dr. Toms’ group include

1) The recovery of hepatitis C virus from human liver and blood and the biophysical and biochemical characterization of the virus and of virus proteins. The development of cell culture systems for the study of HCV replication.

2) The role of antigenic variation among isolates of respiratory syncytial virus in the susceptibility of infants to lower respiratory tract infection.

3) Antigenic analysis of human metapeumovirus

40. The production and exploitation of viral diagnostics.

Postgraduate Supervision

Yes

• Nielsen SU, Bassendine MF, Burt AD, Martin C, Pumeechockchai W, Toms GL. Association between hepatitis C virus and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)/LDL analyzed in iodixanol density gradients. Journal of Virology 2006, 80(5), 2418-2428.
• Nielsen SU, Bassendine MF, Burt AD, Bevitt DJ, Toms GL. Characterization of the genome and structural proteins of hepatitis C virus resolved from infected human liver. Journal of General Virology 2004, 85(6), 1497-1507.
• McGill, A., Marsh, R., Craft, A. W., Toms, G. L. Analysis of the binding of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the glycoproteins of antigenic variants of human respiratory syncytial virus by surface plasmon resonance. Journal of Immunological Methods 2005, 297(1-2), 143-152.
• McGill, A., Greensill, J., Marsh, R., Craft, A. W., Toms, G. L. Detection of human respiratory syncytial virus genotype specific antibody responses in infants. Journal of Medical Virology 2004, 74(3), 492-498.
• Ingram RE, Fenwick F, McGuckin M, Tefari A, Taylor C, Toms GL. Detection of human metapneumovirus in respiratory secretions by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, indirect immunofluorescence, and virus isolation in human bronchial epithelial cells. Journal of Medical Virology 2006, 78(9), 1223-1231.
• Marsh R, Connor A, Gias E, Toms GL. Increased susceptibility of human respiratory syncytial virus to neutralization by anti-fusion protein antibodies on adaptation to replication in cell culture. Journal of Medical Virology 2007, 79(6), 829-837.
• Fenwick F, Young B, McGuckin R, Robinson MJ, Taha Y, Taylor CE, Toms GL. Diagnosis of human metapneumovirus by immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibodies in the North-East of England. Journal of Clinical Virology 2007, 40(3), 193-196.
• Gias E, Nielsen SU, Morgan LAF, Toms GL. Purification of human respiratory syncytial virus by ultracentrifugation in iodixanol density gradient. Journal of Virological Methods 2008, 147(2), 328-332.
• Price DA, Bassendine MF, Norris SM, Golding C, Toms GL, Schmid ML, Morris CM, Burt AD, Donaldson PT. Apolipoprotein ε3 allele is associated with persistent hepatitis C virus infection. Gut 2006, 55(5), 715-718.
• Mekseepralard C, Toms GL, Routledge EG. Protection of mice against Human respiratory syncytial virus by wild-type and aglycosyl mouse-human chimaeric lgG antibodies to subgroup-conserved epitopes on the G glycoprotein. Journal of General Virology 2006, 87(5), 1267-1273.
• Richards A, Ng Kam Chuen J, Taylor C, Jackson R, Toms G, Kavanagh D. Acute respiratory infection in a renal transplant recipient. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2005, 20(12), 2848-2850.
• Fenwick F, Bassendine MF, Agarwal K, Bevitt D, Pumeechockchai W, Burt AD, Toms GL. Immunohistochemical assessment of hepatitis C virus antigen in cholestatic hepatitis after liver transplantation. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2006, 59(2), 174-178.
• McGill, A., Greensill, J., Craft, A. W., Fenwick, F., Toms, G. L. Measurement of antibody against contemporary virus lineages of human respiratory syncytial virus sub-group A in infants and their mothers. Journal of Clinical Virology 2004, 30(1), 73-80.
• Roca A, Quinto L, Abacassamo F, Loscertales MP, Gomez-Olive FX, Fenwick F, Cane PA, Saiz JC, Toms G, Alonso PL. Antibody response after RSV infection in children younger than 1 year of age living in a rural area of Mozambique. Journal of Medical Virology 2003,69 4 579-587.
• Pumeechockchai W, Bevitt D, Agarwal K, Petropoulou T, Langer BCA, Belohradsky B, Bassendine MF, Toms GL. Hepatitis C virus particles of different density in the blood of chronically infected immunocompetent and immunodeficient patients: Implications for virus clearance by antibody. Journal of Medical Virology 2002,68 3 335-342.
• Connor AL, Bevitt DJ, Toms GL. Comparison of human respiratory syncytial virus A2 and 8/60 fusion glycoprotein gene sequences and mapping of sub-group specific antibody epitopes. Journal of Medical Virology 2001, 63(2), 168-177.
• Jackson M, Smith B, Bevitt DJ, Steward M, Toms GL, Bassendine MF, Diamond AG. Comparison of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to hepatitis C virus core protein in uninfected and infected individuals. Journal of Medical Virology 1999, 58(3), 239-246.
• F. Fenwick, D. Bevitt, A. D. Burt, W. Pumeechockchai, M. F. Bassendine and G. L. Toms. Detection of hepatitis C virus structural and non-structural proteins by immunohistochemistry. Hepatology 1999, 30, 192.
• Toms, GL. Respiratory syncytial virus and other pediatric virus infections. In: Stephenson, JR and Warnes, A., ed. Diagnostic Virology Protocols. Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press, 1998, pp. 213-222.
• C. Wright, K. C. Oliver, F. I. Fenwick, N. M. Smith and G. L. Toms. A monoclonal antibody pool for routine immunohistochemical detection of human respiratory syncytial virus antigens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Journal of Pathology 1997, 182, 238-244.
• F. Zappala, D. J. Bevitt, B. C. Smith, G. L. Toms and M. F. Bassendine. IgG anti HCV core recombinant protein titre correlates with biochemical activity, viraemia and fibrosis score in chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 1997, 112, A1423-A1423.
• Bevitt D, Milton I, Piggot N, Henry L, Carter M, Toms G, Lennard TWJ, Westley B, Angus B, Horne C. New monoclonal antibodies to oestrogen and progesterone receptors effective for paraffin section immunohistochemistry. Journal of Pathology 1997, 183(2), 228-232.
• B. C. Smith, C. E. Chapman, A. D. Burt, G. L. Toms and M. F. Bassendine. Outcome of post-transfusion hepatitis C: disease severity in blood-component recipients and their implicated donors. Qjm-Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians 1997, 90, 587-592.
• B. C. Smith, C. E. Chapman, A. D. Burt, G. L. Toms and M. F. Bassendine. Post-transfusion hepatitis C: Variable outcome in a cohort of donor-recipient pairs. Gut 1997, 41, A129-A129.
• B. C. Smith, J. P. Watson, G. L. Toms and M. F. Bassendine. Quantitative assessment of hepatitis C RNA density heterogeneity by bDNA assay - Correlation with disease duration, severity and immune competence. Hepatology 1997, 26, 679.
• B. C. Smith, J. W. Robinson, G. L. Toms and M. F. Bassendine. Antibodies to HCV envelope protein synthetic peptides do not correlate with severity of liver disease in hepatitis C. Hepatology 1996, 24, 1017-1017.
• Watson JP, Bevitt DJ, Spickett GP, Toms GL, Bassendine MF. Hepatitis C virus density heterogeneity and viral titre in acute and chronic infection: A comparison of immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients. Journal of Hepatology 1996, 25(5), 599-607.
• J. P. Watson, D. J. Bevitt, G. L. Toms and M. F. Bassendine. Hepatitis C virus E1 glycoprotein: Is a humoral immune response protective?. Hepatology 1996, 23, T73.
• G. L. Toms, R. Quinn and J. H. Robinson. Undetectable IgE responses after respiratory syncytial virus infection. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1996, 74, 126-130.
• G. L. Toms,R. Quinn,J. W. Robinson. Undetectable IgE responses after respiratory syncytial virus infection. Arch Dis Child 1996, 74(2), 126-30.
• H. Bright,T. Turnbull,G. L. Toms,R. Scott. Comparison of the T helper cell response induced by respiratory syncytial virus and its fusion protein in BALB/c mice. Vaccine 1995, 13(10), 915-22.
• G. L. Toms. Respiratory syncytial virus--how soon will we have a vaccine?. Arch Dis Child 1995, 72(1), 1-3.
• W. H. West,G. R. Lounsbach,C. Bourgeois,J. W. Robinson,M. J. Carter,S. Crompton,N. Duhindan,Z. A. Yazici,G. L. Toms. Biological activity, binding site and affinity of monoclonal antibodies to the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus. J Gen Virol 1994, 75 ( Pt 10), 2813-9.
• G. R. Lounsbach,C. Bourgeois,W. H. West,J. W. Robinson,M. J. Carter,G. L. Toms. Binding of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to regions of the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus expressed in Escherichia coli. J Gen Virol 1993, 74 ( Pt 12), 2559-65.
• Nash, K. A., Mohammed, G., Nandapalan, N., Kernahan, J., Scott, R., Craft, A. W., Toms, G. L. T cell function in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. British Journal of Haematology 1993, 83(3), 419-427.
• Anderson JJ, Harrop JA, Peers H, Turnbull T, Toms GL, Scott R. Recognition of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus proteins by human and BALB/C CD4+ lymphocytes. Journal of Medical Virology 1991, 35(3), 165-173.
• G. L. Toms. Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus: problems and progress. FEMS Microbiol Immunol 1991, 3(5), 243-56.
• Anderson JJ, Norden J, Saunders D, Toms GL, Scott R. Analysis of the local and systemic immune responses induced in BALB/c mice by experimental respiratory syncytial virus infection. Journal of General Virology 1990, 71(part 7), 1561-1570.
• Taylor CE, Craft AW, Kernahan J, Millman R, Reid MM, Scott R, Toms GL. Local antibody production and respiratory syncytial virus infection in children with leukaemia. Journal of Medical Virology 1990, 30(4), 277-81.
• G. L. Toms. Respiratory syncytial virus: virology, diagnosis, and vaccination. Lung 1990, 168 Suppl, 388-95.
• C. E. Taylor,S. Morrow,M. Scott,B. Young,G. L. Toms. Comparative virulence of respiratory syncytial virus subgroups A and B. Lancet 1989, 1(8641), 777-8.
• G. L. Toms,M. S. Webb,P. D. Milner,A. D. Milner,E. G. Routledge,R. Scott,G. M. Stokes,A. Swarbrick,C. E. Taylor. IgG and IgM antibodies to viral glycoproteins in respiratory syncytial virus infections of graded severity. Arch Dis Child 1989, 64(12), 1661-5.
• C. E. Taylor,M. S. Webb,A. D. Milner,P. D. Milner,L. A. Morgan,R. Scott,G. M. Stokes,A. S. Swarbrick,G. L. Toms. Interferon alfa, infectious virus, and virus antigen secretion in respiratory syncytial virus infections of graded severity. Arch Dis Child 1989, 64(12), 1656-60.
• M. J. Carter,E. G. Routledge,G. L. Toms. Monoclonal antibodies to feline calicivirus. J Gen Virol 1989, 70 ( Pt 8), 2197-200.
• Anderson JJ, Serin M, Harrop J, Amin S, Toms GL, Scott R. Natural killer cell response to respiratory syncytial virus in the Balb/c mouse model. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1989, 257, 211-220.
• H. M. Ali,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. The effect of foster feeding and bottle feeding expressed breast-milk on the susceptibility of guinea-pig infants to influenza virus. Br J Exp Pathol 1989, 70(2), 183-91.
• Routledge EG, Willcocks MM, Samson ACR, Morgan L, Scott R, Anderson JJ, Toms GL. The purification of four respiratory syncytial virus proteins and their evaluation as protective agents against experimental infection in BALB/c mice. Journal of General Virology 1988, 69(part 2), 293-303.
• H. M. Ali,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. The susceptibility of breast-fed and cow's milk formula-fed infant guinea pigs to upper respiratory tract infection with influenza virus. Br J Exp Pathol 1988, 69(4), 563-75.
• E. G. Routledge,M. M. Willcocks,L. Morgan,A. C. Samson,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. Expression of the respiratory syncytial virus 22K protein on the surface of infected HeLa cells. J Gen Virol 1987, 68 ( Pt 4), 1217-22.
• E. G. Routledge,M. M. Willcocks,L. Morgan,A. C. Samson,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. Heterogeneity of the respiratory syncytial virus 22K protein revealed by Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies. J Gen Virol 1987, 68 ( Pt 4), 1209-15.
• N. Nandapalan,C. Taylor,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. Mammary immunity in mothers of infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection. J Med Virol 1987, 22(3), 277-87.
• G. L. Toms,R. Scott. Respiratory syncytial virus and the infant immune response. Arch Dis Child 1987, 62(6), 544-6.
• L. A. Morgan,E. G. Routledge,M. M. Willcocks,A. C. Samson,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. Strain variation of respiratory syncytial virus. J Gen Virol 1987, 68 ( Pt 11), 2781-8.
• Long, D. R., Craft, A. W., Kernahan, J., Reid, M. M., McQuillin, J., Taylor, C., Toms, G. L. Virus infections in childhood malignant disease. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology 1987, 4(4), 283-292.
• A. C. Samson,M. M. Willcocks,E. G. Routledge,L. A. Morgan,G. L. Toms. A neutralizing monoclonal antibody to respiratory syncytial virus which binds to both F1 and F2 components of the fusion protein. J Gen Virol 1986, 67 ( Pt 7), 1479-83.
• Mohammed, G. S., Taylor, C. E., Dickinson, A. M., Craft, A. W., Kernahan, J., Reid, M. M., Proctor, S. J., Toms, G. L. Interferon responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal and leukaemic children. British Journal of Haematology 1986, 64(4), 789-798.
• E. G. Routledge,M. M. Willcocks,A. C. Samson,R. Scott,G. L. Toms. Respiratory syncytial virus glycoprotein expression in human and simian cell lines. J Gen Virol 1986, 67 ( Pt 9), 2059-64.
• N. Nandapalan,C. E. Taylor,J. Greenwell,M. Scott,R. Scott,E. N. Hey,G. L. Toms. Seasonal variations in maternal serum and mammary immunity to RS virus. J Med Virol 1986, 20(1), 79-87.
• R. Scott,M. Scott,G. L. Toms. Cellular reactivity to respiratory syncytial virus in human colostrum and breast milk. J Med Virol 1985, 17(1), 83-93.
• C. E. Taylor,A. W. Craft,J. Kernahan,M. M. Reid,G. L. Toms. Nasal interferon responses in leukaemia. Arch Dis Child 1985, 60(9), 829-31.
• E. G. Routledge,J. McQuillin,A. C. Samson,G. L. Toms. The development of monoclonal antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus and their use in diagnosis by indirect immunofluorescence. J Med Virol 1985, 15(3), 305-20.
• N. Nandapalan,E. Routledge,G. L. Toms. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG and IgA antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus in low dilutions of secretions of human serum and secretions. J Med Virol 1984, 14(3), 285-94.
• C. E. Taylor,G. L. Toms. Immunoglobulin concentrations in nasopharyngeal secretions. Arch Dis Child 1984, 59(1), 48-53.
• R. Scott,M. Scott,G. L. Toms. Cellular and antibody response to respiratory syncytial (RS) virus in human colostrum, maternal blood, and cord blood. J Med Virol 1981, 8(1), 55-66.
• C. R. Pullan,G. L. Toms,A. J. Martin,P. S. Gardner,J. K. Webb,D. R. Appleton. Breast-feeding and respiratory syncytial virus infection. Br Med J 1980, 281(6247), 1034-6.
• G. L. Toms,P. S. Gardner,C. R. Pullan,M. Scott,C. Taylor. Secretion of respiratory syncytial virus inhibitors and antibody in human milk throughout lactation. J Med Virol 1980, 5(4), 351-60.
• C. Sweet,R. A. Bird,D. Cavanagh,G. L. Toms,M. H. Collie,H. Smith. The local origin of the febrile response induced in ferrets during respiratory infection with a virulent influenza virus. Br J Exp Pathol 1979, 60(3), 300-8.
• G. L. Toms,C. Sweet,H. Smith. Behaviour in ferrets of swine influenza virus isolated from man. Lancet 1977, 1(8002), 68-71.
• S. Kingsman,G. L. Toms,H. Smith. The localization of influenza virus in the respiratory tract of ferrets: the different susceptibilities of fresh and maintained organ cultures. J Gen Virol 1977, 37(2), 249-58.
• S. M. Kingsman,G. L. Toms,H. Smith. The localization of influenza virus in the respiratory tract of ferrets: the importance of early replication events in determining tissue specificity. J Gen Virol 1977, 37(2), 259-70.
• C. Sweet,G. L. Toms,H. Smith. The pregnant ferret as a model for studying the congenital effects of influenza virus infection in utero: infection of foetal tissues in organ culture and in vivo. Br J Exp Pathol 1977, 58(2), 113-23.
• C. Sweet,M. H. Collie,G. L. Toms,H. Smith. The pregnant guinea-pig as a model for studying influenza virus infection in utero: infection of foetal tissues in organ culture and in vivo. Br J Exp Pathol 1977, 58(2), 133-9.
• G. L. Toms,J. A. Davies,C. G. Woodward,C. Sweet,H. Smith. The relation of pyrexia and nasal inflammatory response to virus levels in nasal washings of ferrets infected with influenza viruses of differing virulence. Br J Exp Pathol 1977, 58(4), 444-58.
• C. Sweet,R. A. Bird,G. L. Toms,C. G. Woodward,H. Smith. Thermal stability and interaction with ferret inflammatory exudates of two clones of influenza virus of differing virulence for both ferrets and man. Br J Exp Pathol 1977, 58(6), 635-43.
• G. L. Toms,R. A. Bird,S. M. Kingsman,C. Sweet,H. Smith. The behaviour in ferrets of two closely related clones of influenza virus of differing virulence for man. Br J Exp Pathol 1976, 57(1), 37-48.
• I. Rosztoczy,C. Sweet,G. L. Toms,H. Smith. Replication of influenza virus in organ cultures of human and simian urogenital tissues and human foetal tissues. Br J Exp Pathol 1975, 56(4), 322-8.
• G. L. Toms,I. Rosztoczy,H. Smith. The localization of influenza virus: minimal infectious dose determinations and single cycle kinetic studies on organ cultures of respiratory and other ferret tissues. Br J Exp Pathol 1974, 55(2), 116-29.
• G. L. Toms,A. Mostratos. Haemadsorption-negative assay of rubella virus in baby hamster kidney cells. Arch Gesamte Virusforsch 1973, 41(3), 199-202.
• I. Rosztoczy,G. L. Toms,H. Smith. Replication of influenza virus in organ cultures of human endometrium. Lancet 1973, 1(7798), 327.
• G. L. Toms,A. Mostratos. The use of rivanol for the removal of nonspecific inhibitors of rubella virus haemagglutinin. J Med Microbiol 1973, 6(1), 45-52.
• Gaunt ER, Jansen RR, Poovorawan Y, Templeton KE, Toms GL, Simmonds P. Molecular Epidemiology and Evolution of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus. PLoS ONE 2011, 6(3), e17427.
• Bridge SH, Sheridan DA, Felmlee DJ, Nielsen SU, Thomas HC, Taylor-Robinson SD, Neely RDG, Toms GL, Bassendine M. Insulin resistance and low-density apolipoprotein B-associated lipoviral particles in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection. Gut 2010, 60(5), 680-687.
• Bridge SH, Sheridan DA, Felmlee D, Thomas H, Taylor-Robinson SD, Neely D, Toms GL, Bassendine MF. Measurement of low-density Apolipoprotein B associated lipoviral particles in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection is more clinically relevant than total viral load. In: 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 2010, Boston, MA: Hepatology: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Felmlee D, Sheridan DA, Bridge SH, Toms GL, Neely D, Bassendine MF. The HCV life-cycle in the vascular compartment. In: 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 2010, Boston, MA: Hepatology: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Nielson SU, Burt AD, Martin C, Bassendine MF, Toms GL. Association of HCV particles with LDL/VLDL: Analysis using isotonic iodixanol gradient centrifugation & real time PCR. In: Hepatology: 54th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease. 2003, Boston, Massachusetts, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Nielsen S, Bassendine MF, Burt A, Toms GL. Characterisation of the genome and structural proteins of beta-lipoprotein associated HCV extracted from infected human liver. In: Gut: Annual Meeting of the British Association for the Study of the Liver. 2003, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: BMJ Group.
• Roca A, Abacassamo F, Loscertales M-P, Quinto L, Gomez-Olive X, Fenwick F, Saiz JC, Toms G, Alonso PL. Prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus IgG antibodies in infants living in a rural area of Mozambique. Journal of Medical Virology 2002, 67(4), 616-623.