Peter Coussons

Senior Lecturer

Location: Cambridge
Tel No: +44 (0)1223 363271 (ext 2158)
Fax No: +44 (0)1223 417712
Email: Peter.Coussons@anglia.ac.uk

Qualifications

PHD in Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK

Teaching experience

Module Leader
Human Pathology
Immunology
Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Principles of Pathology

Other Modules
Core Biology
Foundation Biology
Foundations of Cell Biology
Metabolism and Control
Preparation for research
Undergraduate Project

Staff Profile

I am an experienced research scientist with over seven years postdoctoral research experience in a wide variety of settings; from the Clinical Pharmacology laboratory ex. of Hans Krebs (Nobel Laureate) in the Radcliffe Infirmary, University of Oxford, to the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge. My research interests have spanned pure biochemical research (protein chemistry, receptor specificity, analysis of secretory mechanisms (of lipoproteins), to industrial applications, e.g. analysis of transgenic proteins from "Dolly" the transgenic sheep. My current research interests are in glycation chemistry associated with diabetic pathology and nutritional protection against oxidative damage in ageing and disease. Related long-term research interests relate to the investigation of the oxidative basis and immunological aspects of diabetes and atherosclerosis. This focuses in particular on superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes, wound repair and post-translational modification of proteins by transglutaminase enzymes in vitro and during programmed cell death (apoptosis).

Other interests, still actively followed include the investigation of role(s) of the immune system in antioxidant protection and nutritional antioxidant mechanisms. Most recently this interest has extended to the study of erythropoetin and nitrogen oxide metabolism (NO) in tissue culture models of rheumatoid arthritis. Another current project involves the structural analysis by molecular biological and X-ray crystallographic techniques of the bacterial transport protein (Tol C). Current projects involve collaborations with several other research groups, including the University of Luton, University of East Anglia. Past collaborations have been with the University of Cambridge, the University of Glasgow and The Roslin Institute (Edinburgh). Both past experience and current research inform and contribute to the delivery of my current teaching at Anglia Ruskin University.

Membership of professional bodies

Biochemical Society (1991-present)
European Haematology Association (1994-2002)
British Society of Immunology (1995-present)
Medical Research Society (1995-present)
Institute of Biomedical Science (2000-present)

Publications and Presentations

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Publications currently submitted and already in review process
Baig S., Fanutti C., Coussons P.J. and Grant R. (2007) Nitric oxide release and extracellular matrix turnover induced by recombinant human erythropoetin in porcine nasal cartilage explant model of rheumatoid arthritis, Submitted in May 2005 to Rheumatology Positive review in August but not accepted at this stage. Journal will accept as resubmission with extra data.

Publications pending submission
Baig S., Grant R., Coussons P.J. (2007/8) Effect of erythropoietin and interleukin-1beta on a mixed explant/ Swiss 3T3 cell model of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts (submission in 2006).

Ipekehim A., Coussons P.J. Proteomic analysis of the structural basis for protein modification by glucose during diabetes related glycation reactions. Manuscript in preparation (submission in 2007/8).

Petyaev I. and Coussons P.J. Immunoglobulins that catalyse H2O2 formation (Ab-HP): Measurement of Ab-HP activity in patient plasma and saline extracts from human atherosclerotic lesions. Manuscript in preparation (submission in 2007/8).

Published Journal Papers
Gorman K, Devine G., Bennison J., Coussons P., Punchard N., and Denholm I. 2007. Report of resistance to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Pest Management Science 63: 555-558

Backstrom M., Piatier-Tonneau D., Coussons, P.J., and Fanutti C., 2007. Display of cholera toxin B (CTB) enhances binding of bacteriophage to human T-cells. Miami Winter Symposium Short Reports, 18 p 40 also available online at http://www.miami.edu/mws.

P.J. Coussons, S. Baig, C. Fanutti and R. Grant (2005) Novel tissue remodelling roles for human recombinant erythropoietin. Biochem Soc Trans (Minireview).

Baig S., Patel Y., Coussons P.J. and Grant R. (2002) Erythropoietin and interleukin-1beta modulate nitrite production in a Swiss 3T3 cell model of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. Biochem Soc Trans (Pt 6): 883-6 (invited paper).

Fitzsimmons C.M., Petyaev A.M., Coussons P.J. and Petyaev I.M. (2000) Desialation but not lipid peroxidation or proteolysis is a major factor affecting immunological and adhesive properties of low density lipoprotein. Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology 32(3), 475.

Petyaev I.M. and Coussons P.J. (1999) Superoxide dismutase activity of antibodies purified from human atherosclerotic lesions. Superoxide Dismutases; Recent Advances and Clinical Applications Ed. Marvin A. Edeas. EDITIONS MEL PARIS, 51-54.

Mulligan S. A., Shultz D., Bagga M., Coussons P.J., Muller K. and Hunt J.V. (1998) Glucose modification of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) enhances human monocyte chemotaxis. Free Radical Research 28, 533-542.

Petyeav I., Hunt J.V., Mitchinson M.J. and Coussons P.J. (1998) Superoxide dismutase activity of immunoglobulin molecules within human aortic intima. Biochem. Soc Trans. 26, S33.

Coussons P.J., Jacoby J., Price N.C., Kelly S.M. and Hunt J.V. (1997) Glycation of human serum albumin; A structural study. Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine 22 (7), 1217-1227.

Coussons P.J., Jacoby J. and Hunt J.V. (1996) Effect of flavones on glucose-induced changes in human serum albumin. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 24, 397S.

Coussons P.J., Burgeois C.S., Wiggins D. and Gibbons G.F. (1996) Selective recruitment of Apo B48 for the assembly of VLDL in rat triacylglycerol-enriched hepatocytes. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 16 (7), 889-897.

Coussons P.J., Kelly S.M., Price N.C., Smith B. and Sawyer L. (1992) Factors which govern the specificity of transglutaminase-catalysed modification of proteins and peptides. Biochem J. 282, 929-930.

Coussons P.J., Kelly S.M., Price N.C., Smith B. and Sawyer L (1992) Transglutaminase catalyses the modification of glutamine side-chains in the C-terminal region of bovine ß-lactoglobulin. Biochem J. 283, 803-806.

Coussons P.J., Kelly S.M., Price N.C., Johnston C.M., Smith B. and Sawyer L. (1991) Selective modification by transglutaminase of a glutamine side-chain in the hinge region of the His388g Gln388 mutant of yeast phosphoglycerate kinase. Biochem. J. 273, 73-78.

Coussons P.J., Price N.C., Kelly S.M. and Fothergill-Gilmore L. (1991) The modification of bovine ß-casein using transglutaminase purified from guinea pig liver. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 20, 48S.

Coussons P.J., Kelly S.M. and Price N.C. (1990) pH dependent structural transitions in bovine ß-lactoglobulin. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 18 (4), 672-673.

Proceedings
Petyaev I.M., Petyaev A.M., Dujikov A.K. and Coussons P.J. (2000) The accumulation of H2O2-producing SOD-antibodies may be responsible for the depletion of antioxidant defence in the human atherosclerotic lesion. Proc. of 2nd International Conference on Superoxide Dismutase, Institut Pasteur, Paris, May 18-19, 2000 pg 122.

Coussons P.J., Bagga M., Mulligan S. and Hunt J.V. (1997) Maillard products: Interference in carbonyl assay of oxidized proteins. Proc. of 3rd International Meeting for Maillard Chemistry, University of Reading, England p.120.

Coussons P.J., Jacoby J., Mitchinson M.J. and Hunt J.V. (1997) Identification of oxidized proteins in human atherosclerotic lesions. Proc. VII Biennial Meeting of The International Society for Free Radical Research, Barcelona, Spain p.180.

Coussons P.J., Jacoby J. and Hunt J.V. (1997) Glycation-dependent changes in the structure of human serum albumin. Proc. VII Biennial Meeting of The International Society for Free Radical Research, Barcelona, Spain p. 181.

Hunt J.V., Jacoby J., Coussons P.J., McKay A., Bagga M., Mulligan S., Petyaev I.M., Schultz D. and Skamarauskas J. (1997) Protein glycation and macrophage foam cell formation. Proc. VII Biennial Meeting of The International Society for Free Radical Research, Barcelona, Spain p. 51.

Coussons P.J. (1994) A substrate site for guinea pig liver transglutaminase within porcine pepsin has structural similarities to another protein substrate: HIV-1 AP proteinase. Proc. 2nd Euroconference on apoptosis, Kinsale, Ireland p.150.

Invited talks
2005: Biochemical Society Meeting, July 27th 2005 Glasgow "Recombinant human erythropoietin as a modulator of porcine cartilage breakdown".

2004: Queensbury School, Dunstable "Erythropoeitin in Sports, Medicine and Disease"

2002: Meridien School, Royston "An Introduction to Immunology".

2000: PPL, Roslin Institute, Edinburgh "Introduction to Glycation Chemistry".

1994: 2nd Euroconference on apoptosis, Kinsale, Ireland "Transglutaminase enzyme specificity".

1994: Bayer Science Ltd., invited speaker and consultant for the Annual Medical Translators Workshop "Who wants to live forever? Current ideas concerning programmed cell death".

1992: Biochemical Society Predoctoral meeting Glasgow "The specificity of transglutaminase enzymes towards protein substrates".

Recent poster presentations
2005: Fanutti C., Coussons P.J. and Hemmings A. Helical peptide found in the outer membrane protein Tol C July, Biochemical Society meeting, University of Glasgow.

2005: Baig S., Fanutti C., Coussons P.J. and Grant R. "Nitric oxide release and extracellular matrix turnover induced by recombinant human erythropoetin in porcine nasal cartilage explant model of rheumatoid arthritis", July, Biochemical Society meeting, University of Glasgow (originally invited for Pfizer prize).

2004: Gorman K., Denholm I., Punchard N. and Coussons P.J. "Insecticide resistance to conventional and novel insecticides in the glasshouse whitefly Trialeurodes Vaporariorum", Luton University poster day. Winner 3rd Prize.

2004 Ihimekpen A. and Coussons P.J. "Investigation into the chemical basis for non-enzymic glycation of lysine residues (a diabete feature) in protein substrates", Luton University poster day (Fourth place).

2002 Baig S., Patel Y., Coussons P.J. and Grant R. "Effect of erythropoietin on a 3T3 fibroblast model of rheumatoid arthritis", July, Biochemical Society meeting University of Cardiff.

Invited editor/book reviewer
2004-January: Chapters 26-32, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 3rd Ed Elliot and Elliot Oxford University Press.

2003-August: Chapters 1-8, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 3rd Ed Elliot and Elliot, Oxford University Press.

Anglia Ruskin University