Staff Profiles

Staff Profile

I come from a predominantly biomedical research background, having obtained a BSc Hons (Cell and Immuno Biology) at Aberystwyth University in Wales in 1986 and completed a PhD in Parasitology at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University in Glasgow in 1994, where I then took up a research post. From 1996-2010 I was based at the University of Edinburgh, where I was responsible for a number of biomedical science research projects focussing on the analysis of host responses to human (e.g. Trichinella spiralis) and veterinary (Teladorsagia circumcincta) gastrointestinal nematode parasites, and have published substantially in these fields. From October 2004 my main role was in the supervision and training of veterinary and immunology research students, as part of the Veterinary Research and Training Initiative at the University of Edinburgh, Roslin Institute and the Moredun Institute. I moved into undergraduate teaching in the Biomedical Sciences from October 2010, mostly at the University of Glasgow but also Glasgow Caledonian University, and spent some short periods as a volunteer tutor at a charity nursing school in Bihar, India, which led to my interest in working overseas.

I joined the team at NUMed in August 2014 where I teach mostly on the Biomedical Science programme (Stages 1&2) as well as Phase 1 (Stages 1/2) of MBBS. My subject areas which I teach at NUMed are predominantly Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioethics and Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences. I am module lead for the Stage 1 laboratory module Practical Skills in the Biomedical Sciences 1 (BMN1004) and Stage 2 Practical and Presentation Skills (BMN2013) on the BMS programme as well as Chair of the NUMed BMS Stage2 Exam Board. I have achieved a Certificate in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice (CASAP) as a distance participant with Newcastle University UK, and obtained Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. At NUMed I enjoy teaching students from a range of backgrounds, and it is particularly rewarding to see students who overcome challenges, build their knowledge and practical skills and derive satisfaction from what they are achieving. Other likes: running, jungle trekking and wildlife, and Malaysian, Indian and Chinese food!

Qualifications

2017: Certificate in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice (CASAP) as a distance participant with Newcastle University UK. Awarded 10/17 after completion of the Academic Practice project (APP) module. Other modules achieved were Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) June 2015, and Newcastle Teaching Award after completion of the module Designer, Supervisor, Tutor (DST) module in May 2016. Gained UKPSF Descriptor 2 recognition and HEA Fellow status (Ref. no. PR138206, awarded 05/12/17).

2014: Post Experience Certificate in Supporting Student Learning (SSL), Glasgow Caledonian University, 25/11/14. Gained UKPSF Descriptor 1 recognition and HEA Associate Fellow status (Ref. no. PR076641, awarded 04/11/14)

1993: Ph.D. in Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow 11/93. Title: “The characterisation of Theileria annulata sporozoite surface antigens”. (BBSRC CASE award; supervisor Prof. A. Tait)

1988: B.Sc. (Hons (2i)) Cell and Immunobiology, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

Conference Presentations

Presentation of papers at international conferences such as British Society of Immunology (1997-2005), Association of Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (2004-2009), Keystone Symposia (2001, 2004, 2009), Molecular and Cellular Biology of Helminth Parasites (2003, 2010), and at the International Science Education conference (Singapore) in June 2018.

Key Publications

Craig, N.M., Smith, W.D, Pate, J.A., Morrison W.I. and Knight P.A. (2014) Local cytokine transcription in naïve and previously infected sheep and lambs following challenge with Teladorsagia circumcincta. BMC Veterinary Research 10:87

Pemberton, A.D., Brown, J.K., Craig, N.M., Pate, J., McLean K., Inglis N.F., Knox D., Knight P.A. (2012) Changes in protein expression in the sheep abomasum following trickle infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta. Parasitology 139:375

Knight, P.A., Griffith, S.E., Pemberton, A.D., Pate, J.M., Guarneri, L., Anderson, K., Talbot, R.T., Smith, S., Waddington, D., Fell, M., Alan L. Archibald, A.L., Burgess, S.T.G., Smith, W.D., Miller, H.R.P. and Morrison, I.W. (2011) Novel gene expression responses in the ovine abomasal mucosa to infection with the gastric nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta. Veterinary Research 42:78

Lu, Z.H, Domenico, A., Wright, S.H., Knight, P.A., Whitelaw, B.A. and Pemberton, A.D. (2011) Strain-specific copy number variation in the intelectin locus on the 129 mouse chromosome 1. BMC Genomics 12:110

Knight, P.A., Brown, J.K., and Pemberton, A.D. (2008) Innate immune response mechanisms in the intestinal epithelium; potential roles for mast cells and goblet cells in the expulsion of Trichinella spiralis adult worms. (invited review) Parasitology 135: 655-670.

Knight, P.A., Brown, J.K., Wright, S.H., Thornton, E.M., Pate, J.A. and Miller, H.R.P. (2007) Aberrant mucosal mast cell protease expression in the enteric epithelium of nematode-infected mice lacking integrin alpha(v)beta(6), a TGF-beta₁ activator. Am J. Pathology 171: 1237-1248

Knight, P.A., Pemberton, A. D., Robertson, K. A., Roy, D. J., Wright, S. H. and Miller, H.R.P. (2004) Expression profiling reveals novel innate and inflammatory responses in the jejunal epithelial compartment during infection with Trichinella spiralis. Infection and Immunity 72: 6076-6086

Artis, D., Wang, M.L., Keilbaugh, S., He, W., Brunes, M., Swain, G.P., Knight, P. A., Donaldson, D.D., Miller, H.R.P., Schad, G.A., Scott, P. and G.D. Wu. (2004) RELM beta/FIZZ2 is a novel goblet cell-specific immune effector molecule in the gastrointestinal tract. PNAS 101: 13596-13600

Knight, P. A., Wright, S. H., Brown, J. K., Huang, X., Sheppard, D. and Miller, H. R.P. (2002) Enteric expression of the integrin alpha(v)beta(6) is essential for nematode-induced mucosal mast cell hyperplasia and expression of the granule chymase, mouse mast cell protease-1. American Journal of Pathology 161:771-9.

Knight, P. A., Wright, S. H., Lawrence, C. E., Paterson, Y. Y., and Miller, H.R.P. (2000) Delayed expulsion of the nematode Trichinella spiralis in mice lacking the mucosal mast cell-specific granule chymase, mouse mast cell protease-1. Journal of Experimental Medicine 192:1849.

41 publications to date

Research

Post-doctoral research posts

Aug 1993-March 1996; Dept. Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow. Research Fellow (AR1A) (Funding; Wellcome Trust, Group leader: Prof. Andrew Tait). Research post; Theileria annulata in cattle.

April 1996-Oct 2004: R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh. Research Fellow (AR1A/AR2) (Funding; Wellcome Trust, Group leader: Prof. Hugh Miller). Engaged in research with a focus on analysing the role of mast cells and their products in the control of intestinal nematodes.

Nov 2004-Oct 2010: Roslin Institute/R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh. Senior Research Fellow (AR3) on the Veterinary Training and Research Initiative (Funding: DEFRA/SFC; Grant holders: Profs. Hugh Miller/Ivan Morrison) and PI for R(D)SVS on BBSRC grant BB/E01867X/1 (CEDFAS initiative). Engaged in research student training and independent active research, with a focus on identifying novel components of the mucosal immune response to parasitic gastric nematodes in sheep.

Successful Research Funding

Principal/co-investigator on two BBSRC research grants: BB/E01867X/1 (Aug 2007- June 2011): Critical early events at the mucosal/worm interface following infection of sheep with the abomasal nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta. Lead PI: D. Knox (Moredun Research Institute); PI: P. A. Knight, Co-I: A. Pemberton (R(D)SVS); PI: A. Archibald (Roslin Insitute) and BB/E009069/1 (Jan 2006-June 2009): Development of transgenic mice to determine the role of intelectins as effectors of gastrointestinal nematode infection. Lead PI: A.D. Pemberton; Co-I; P.A. Knight ((R(D)SVS); PI: B. Whitelaw (RI); PI: J. Pearson (Newcastle University). Contributor to a number of other successful research grants.

Conference Presentations

Presentation of papers at international conferences such as British Society of Immunology (1997-2005), Association of Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (2004-2009), Keystone Symposia (2001, 2004, 2009) and Molecular and Cellular Biology of Helminth Parasites (2003, 2010)