Staff Profile

Qualifications

Senior Fellowship of the HEA (2016)

Professional Certificate in University Teaching (Stages 1/2). University of Edinburgh (2003)

Ph.D. (Immunogenetics); MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow. Middx. 1993
Grad. I. Biol. (Biochemistry); North East Surrey College of Technology, Ewell. Surrey. 1987

Previous Positions

2003-2005
Wellcome Trust Teaching Fellow.
Institute for Immunology and Infection Research (IIIR), School of Biological Sciences, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

1999-2003
Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow
Institute for Immunology and Infection Research (IIIR), School of Biological Sciences, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

1994–1999
Senior Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, Medical Sciences Institute, University of Dundee, Dundee

1988-1993
Scientific Officer (part-time Ph.D. student) Transplantation Biology Section, Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, Middlesex

1986
Junior Research Technician, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haddow Laboratories, Sutton, Surrey

Memberships

British Society For Immunology (BSI)

Previous research interests

For the initiation of the CD4  T cell response, native protein antigens (Ag.) must be captured, intra-cellularly processed, complexed with molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II region and re-expressed on the cell surface of antigen presenting cells (APC).

The use of specific Ag. receptors expressed on the surface of APC has been shown to enhance this process by several orders of magnitude. As well as producing antibodies, B cells function as APC and express several surface Ag. receptors.

My interest lies in these specialized antigen receptors and is aimed primarily at understanding the role of B cells as APC in mediating immunity to invading pathogens. I am also interested in situations where B cell APC function has apparently become de-regulated leading to the development of autoimmunity (in collaboration with Jeremy Palmer and John Robinson (Musculoskeletal Research group) as well as a possible role for B cells in tumour surveillance (in collaboration with John Kirby).

Postgraduate Supervision

1. Faculty of Medicine/Institute of Cellular Medicine-funded PhD studentship: "Biliary autoantigen acquisition and presentation by B lymphocytes." 2010-13. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Co-supervisor

2. Arthritis Research UK-funded PhD studentship: "The role of B cells as antigen presenting cells in a model of Rheumatoid Arthritis." 2009-12. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Main supervisor

3. Self-funded Studentship. "Generation and Testing of a novel multimeric C3d based adjuvant." 2008-2012; The University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Co-supervisor

4. Arthritis Research UK -funded Ph.D. Studentship "The Role of B Lymphocytes in Processing and Presentation of the Candidate Joint Autoantigen, Aggrecan in a Model of Rheumatiod Arthritis." 2006-2009. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Main supervisor

5. Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Breast Clinic Appeal-funded Ph.D. Studentship.
"Understanding the mechanisms involved in the immuno-recognition of breast cancer cells" 2006-2009. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne; Main supervisor

6. BBSRC Case Studentship. "The Novel C3d Co-presentation Approach to Developing a Vaccine Targeting PfEMP-1." 2001-2004. The University of Edinburgh/Adprotech Ltd. ; Co-supervisor

7. Wellcome Trust 4-Year Ph.D. Programme. "Presentation of native antigen to B cells." 2000-2004. The University of Edinburgh; Main supervisor

8. Self-funded Studentship. “Host and Parasite Genes Involved in Immunity to Plasmodium chabaudi.” 2000-2003. The University of Edinburgh; Co-supervisor.

Keywords

B cells, antigen processing and presentation, complement receptors, autoimmunity, cancer immunology.

Undergraduate

Biomedical Sciences (BMS) BSc Honours

Stage 3 BMS module leader/lecturer "Immunology of Health and Disease"

Stage 3 BMS, lecturer "Medical Biotechnology"

Stage 3 Biochemistry, lecturer "Applied Biochemistry"

Stage 3 BMS, lecturer "Experimental Design and the Process of Research" 

Stage 2 BMS, module leader/lecturer "Cell and Molecular Biology of the Immune System"

Stage 2 BMS, lecturer "Cell Biology and Disease'

BNS personal tutor

External examiner

University of Glasgow, School of Life Sciences: 2nd year BSc. courses (2020-)

University of Liverpool: BSc. Genetics and Molecular Biology (2015-2019)

Postgraduate

Medical Sciences MRes (2006-2017)

lecturer Applied Immunobiology

lecturer Current Research Trends in Musculoskeletal Research

Staff Development (2013-2019)

Faculty of Medical Sciences Faculty Programme Liason Officer (FPLO) for the Certificate in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice (CASAP) (2013-2019)

AdvanceHE (formerly Higher Education Academy) Senior Fellow (2016)

Administration

School of BNS, Chair of Phase II Biomedical Sciences Curriculum Committee 

School of BNS, Admissions Tutor (Biomedical Sciences)

NUTCRI "Immunity and Inflammation" research theme Education co-lead

• He Y-G, Pappworth IY, Rossbach A, Paulin J, Mavimba T, Hayes C, Kulik L, Holers VM, Knight AM, Marchbank KJ. A novel C3d-containing oligomeric vaccine provides insight into the viability of testing human C3d-based vaccines in mice. Immunobiology 2018, 223(1), 125-134.
• Knight AM. B-cell acquisition of antigen: Sensing the surface. European Journal of Immunology 2015, 45(6), 1600-1604.
• Ciechomska M, Wilson CL, Floudas A, Hui W, Rowan AD, van Eden W, Robinson JH, Knight AM. Antigen-specific B lymphocytes acquire proteoglycan aggrecan from cartilage extracellular matrix resulting in antigen presentation and CD4⁺ T-cell activation. Immunology 2014, 141(1), 70-78.
• Floudas A, Griffiths L, Jones D, Knight AM, Palmer JM. Altered B cell populations and cytokine production in primary biliary cirrhosis. In: BSI Congress 2013: Annual Congress of the British-Society-for-Immunology. 2013, Liverpool, England: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Wilson CL, Hine DW, Pradipta A, Pearson JP, van Eden W, Robinson JH, Knight AM. Presentation of the candidate rheumatoid arthritis autoantigen aggrecan by antigen-specific B cells induces enhanced CD4+T helper type 1 subset differentiation. Immunology 2012, 135(4), 344-354.
• Ciechomska M, Lennard TWJ, Kirby JA, Knight AM. B lymphocytes acquire and present intracellular antigens that have relocated to the surface of apoptotic target cells. European Journal of Immunology 2011, 41(7), 1850-1861.
• Hoefer MM, Aichem A, Knight AM, Illges H. Modulation of murine complement receptor type 2 (CR2/CD21) ectodomain shedding by its cytoplasmic domain. Molecular Immunology 2008, 45(8), 2127-2137.
• Knight AM. Regulated release of B cell-derived exosomes: Do differences in exosome release provide insight into different APC function for B cells and DC?. European Journal of Immunology 2008, 38(5), 1186-1189.
• Brown SL, Barrault DV, Phythian-Adams A, Knight AM. Lack of induced co-stimulation as a result of complement receptor 2 (CR2) ligation on mouse splenic B cells. International Immunology 2006, 18(1), 69-78.
• Barrault DV, Steward M, Cox VF, Smith RAG, Knight AM. Efficient production of complement (C3d)3 fusion proteins using the baculovirus expression vector system. Journal of Immunological Methods 2005, 304(1-2), 158-173.
• Barrault DV, Knight AM. Distinct Sequences in the Cytoplasmic Domain of Complement Receptor 2 Are Involved in Antigen Internalization and Presentation. Journal of Immunology 2004, 172(6), 3509-3517.
• Brooks K, Knight AM. Lowering the affinity between antigen and the B cell receptor can enhance antigen presentation. European Journal of Immunology 2004, 34(3), 837-843.
• A. M. Knight,J. M. Lucocq,A. R. Prescott,S. Ponnambalam,C. Watts. Antigen endocytosis and presentation mediated by human membrane IgG1 in the absence of the Ig(alpha)/Ig(beta) dimer. Embo J 1997, 16(13), 3842-50.
• E. Simpson,P. J. Dyson,A. M. Knight,P. J. Robinson,J. I. Elliott,D. M. Altmann. T-cell receptor repertoire selection by mouse mammary tumor viruses and MHC molecules. Immunol Rev 1993, 131, 93-115.
• A. M. Knight,G. B. Harrison,R. J. Pease,P. J. Robinson,P. J. Dyson. Biochemical analysis of the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat product. Evidence for the molecular structure of an endogenous superantigen. Eur J Immunol 1992, 22(3), 879-82.
• K. Tomonari,S. Fairchild,O. A. Rosenwasser,P. J. Robinson,A. M. Knight,P. J. Dyson. Endogenous ligands selecting T cells expressing particular V beta elements. Int Rev Immunol 1992, 8(4), 289-309.
• M. McDuffie,D. Schweiger,B. Reitz,A. Ostrowska,A. M. Knight,P. J. Dyson. I-E-independent deletion of V beta 17a+ T cells by Mtv-3 from the nonobese diabetic mouse. J Immunol 1992, 148(7), 2097-102.
• P. J. Dyson,C. de Smet,A. M. Knight,D. Simon-Chazottes,J. L. Guenet,T. Boon. Mapping of the genes encoding tum- transplantation antigens P91A, P35B, and P198. Immunogenetics 1992, 35(5), 316-23.
• G. A. Fowlis,S. Adelman,A. M. Knight,E. Simpson. PCR-analyzed microsatellites of the mouse genome--additional polymorphisms among ten inbred mouse strains. Mamm Genome 1992, 3(4), 192-6.
• C. M. Hearne,M. A. McAleer,J. M. Love,T. J. Aitman,R. J. Cornall,S. Ghosh,A. M. Knight,J. B. Prins,J. A. Todd. Additional microsatellite markers for mouse genome mapping. Mamm Genome 1991, 1(4), 273-82.
• P. J. Dyson,A. M. Knight,S. Fairchild,E. Simpson,K. Tomonari. Genes encoding ligands for deletion of V beta 11 T cells cosegregate with mammary tumour virus genomes. Nature 1991, 349(6309), 531-2.
• J. A. Todd,T. J. Aitman,R. J. Cornall,S. Ghosh,J. R. Hall,C. M. Hearne,A. M. Knight,J. M. Love,M. A. McAleer,J. B. Prins,et al. Genetic analysis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus in mice. Nature 1991, 351(6327), 542-7.
• A. M. Knight,P. J. Dyson. Detection of DNA polymorphisms between two inbred mouse strains-- limitations of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Mol Cell Probes 1990, 4(6), 497-504.
• J. M. Love,A. M. Knight,M. A. McAleer,J. A. Todd. Towards construction of a high resolution map of the mouse genome using PCR-analysed microsatellites. Nucleic Acids Res 1990, 18(14), 4123-30.