麻豆传媒高清版

About

I am a molecular parasitologist broadly interested in all aspects of host-pathogen interactions and co-evolution. I have a particular interest in how听chronoparasitology 鈥� the study of circadian rhythms of hosts and parasites 鈥� can be used to improve our understanding of disease dynamics in captive and wild animal populations. In addition, I am interested in how next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies can be used in the study of biotic and abiotic factors influencing species-specific differences in responses to shared pathogens.

Anthropogenic induced changes to wild species (e.g. climate change, habitat destruction/fragmentation, introduction of invasive species) and domesticated species (e.g. increased intensity of farming, farming in new geographic regions, global transportation) populations are leading to alterations of host exposure risks to both native and novel pathogens. Consequently, the dynamics of host-pathogen interactions are currently changing at unprecedented rates in both natural and domestic animal populations. Therefore, studying how host immunity, their microbiomes and parasites, and environment interact, is crucial to our understanding of altered pathogen transmission dynamics and its consequences on host species fitness. I believe in this flourishing era of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics, we are uniquely poised to tackle such questions at a new level of detail.

CV

Education

• 2012听PhD. Evolutionary genetics of the maintenance of mixed-mating systems. Aberystwyth University, UK.
• 2009听BSc. (Hons) Zoology (1^st). Aberystwyth University, UK.

Career

• 2019 鈥� Lecturer of Biological Sciences. 麻豆传媒高清版, UK.
• 2018 鈥� 2021 BBSRC Future Leader Fellow, Cardiff & 麻豆传媒高清版, UK. FUTUREFISH: The role of circadian rhythms, immunity and infection in enhancing aquaculture
• 2015 鈥� 2018 NRN-LCEE Ser Cymru Fellow, Cardiff University, UK. AquaWales: Minimising the impacts of intensive aquaculture in the face of climate change.
• 2012 鈥� 2015 NSF Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cornell University, USA. Functional genomics of amphibian chytridiomycosis resistance.

Name

Dr Amy Ellison

Position

Lecturer in听Biological Sciences

Email

a.ellison@bangor.ac.uk

Phone

+44(0)1248 388437

Location

School of Natural Sciences, 麻豆传媒高清版, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

Chronobiology & Fish Health

Circadian rhythms are ubiquitous; from bacteria to plants and animals, all organisms exhibit daily behavioural, physiological, metabolic, and even microbiome cycles. This rhythmicity is regulated by pivotal sets of 鈥渃lock genes鈥� and in mammals, clock gene expression cycles drive daily variations in immune functions and disease susceptibility. Conversely, immune responses are recognized to alter clock gene expression. Stress responses (in particular altered glucocorticoid levels) can impact clock gene expression and, consequently, innate and adaptive immune responses. In humans, there is increasing recognition of the impact of circadian disruption (e.g. shift-work, jet-lag) on disease susceptibility and the potential to increase drug efficacy using time-of-day targeted treatments/vaccinations (鈥渃hronotherapy鈥�). Temporal coordination of biological processes is not limited to free-living organisms; parasites also exhibit circadian rhythms in traits such as egg-laying or larval emergence. However, the extent to which these rhythms are entrained by host cues and/or the abiotic environment is poorly understood. Intriguingly, host-parasite circadian mismatch appears to be detrimental to parasite fitness. Therefore, the integration of chronobiology into current animal health and disease research frameworks is essential for advancing holobiont approaches to health.

In aquaculture, the world鈥檚 fastest-growing food sector, infectious disease is the principal barrier to economic and ecological sustainability. Disease outbreaks result in ~US$6 billion loss per year globally and account for annual losses up to 16.5% in the UK. Antibiotic-supplemented feeds are increasingly relied upon to mitigate disease despite concerns for their contribution to emerging antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments. Intensive indoor aquaculture is heralded as the future of sustainable fish farming, in which the fish鈥檚 environment (e.g. light, temperature, feeding) and reproduction is finely tuned to maximise growth and productivity, without impacting natural ecosystems via waste, chemical treatments and escapes. Manipulated photoperiods 鈥� particularly extended day length for diurnal species 鈥� are currently promoted to improve juvenile rearing quality in many fish species. In the extreme, constant light is used to maximize somatic growth and delay maturation. Despite an increasing awareness of the intricate interaction between circadian gene expression and immune functions in mammals, how this corresponds to current disease issues in captive fish populations is unknown. However, our preliminary data suggests parasitic infections alter fish daily behaviour patterns and dysregulate clock gene expression. Moreover, while time-of-day targeted treatments of disease and cancer in humans appear to have exciting potential, this has yet to be translated to animal health practice and, more fundamentally, the molecular control of circadian rhythmicity in parasites remains relatively unknown. My group is addressing these key knowledge gaps; investigating how light and feeding regimes, and circadian rhythms of fish, their parasites and microbiota, interact to impact on health and disease susceptibility. This work is funded by the BBSRC and Cefas Seafood Innovation Fund, and supported by a KESS2 studentship to Simon Baumgartner.

Light pollution & aquatic animal health

For marine intertidal organisms, circadian and circalunar clocks orchestrate development, orientation, reproduction, migration and other key life events. Skyglow 鈥� artificial light scattered in the atmosphere and reflected back to ground over kilometres 鈥� now covers 22% of the world鈥檚 coastal regions, the ecological impacts of which are largely unknown. Skyglow can interfere with the detectability of lunar light cycles and thus hinder the ability of organisms to temporally organise essential biological events, and orientate themselves in space. Therefore, it is critical the disruptive effects of light pollution on biological clocks are quantified and integrated with measures of individual and population fitness to predict future consequences of artificial light on coastal ecosystems. At Bangor,听in collaboration with Aberystwyth and Plymouth Universities,听we use a combination of experimental, observational and remote sensing approaches to measure the impacts of artificial light on the chronobiology of intertidal macro-invertebrates from gene expression, to individual phenotypic and population level effects. This work is currently funded by a NERC Envision studentship to Leo Burke.

听

Amphibian microbiomes & disease resistance

The emergence of the disease chytridiomycosis caused by the chytrid fungus听Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis听(Bd) has been implicated in dramatic global amphibian declines. Although many species have undergone catastrophic declines and/or extinctions, others appear to be unaffected or persist at reduced frequencies after听Bd听outbreaks. In my first postdoctoral research position (Zamudio Lab, Cornell University), I investigated how the transcriptomic responses of amphibians to Bd differed among species and under different environmental conditions, in order to build a greater understanding of this emerging wildlife disease threat. In addition, I developed techniques to generate the first transcriptomic profiles of Bd in-host, revealing key听defense and host exploitation mechanisms.

In 2022, I am delighted to be returning to research on this fascinating host-pathogen system. In collaboration with US teams, we will be investigating the amphibian skin immune-microbiome interface, employing combinations of听microbial ecology, comparative immunology, meta-transcriptomics and proteomic methods to听simultaneously evaluate the relative contribution of the microbiome and immune system to chytridiomycosis resistance.

2024

• Published
  Burke, L., Davies, T. W., Wilcockson, D., Jenkins, S. & Ellison, A., Sept 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 943, 173790.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Baumg盲rtner, S., Creer, S., Jones, C., James, J. & Ellison, A., 15 Jan 2024, In: Aquaculture. 578, 740016.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Gibson, T., Baillie, C., Collins, R. A., Wangensteen, O. S., Corrigan, L., Ellison, A., Heddell-Cowie, M., Westoby, H., Byatt, B., Lawson-Handley, L., Soto, A. Z., Creer, S., Genner, M. J. & Mariani, S., 1 Aug 2024, In: Ecological Indicators. 165, 112215.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Farag, H., Murphy, B., Templeman, J., Hanlon, C., Joshua, J., Koch, T., Niel, L., Shoveller, A., Bedecarrats, G., Ellison, A., Wilcockson, D. & Martino, T., 20 Feb 2024, In: Journal of Biological Rhythms. 39, 3, p. 237-269 33 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Review article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Osborne, O., Jim茅nez, R., Byrne, A., Gratwicke, B., Ellison, A. & Muletz-Wolz, C., 11 Jun 2024, In: The ISME Journal. 18, 1
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Arapi, E., Reynolds, M., Ellison, A. & Cable, J., Mar 2024, In: Parasitology. 151, 3, p. 251-259 9 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2023

• Published
  Gibson, T., Carvalho, G., Ellison, A., Gargiulo, E., Hatton-Ellis, T., Handley, L. L., Mariani, S., Collins, R. A., Sellers, G., Distaso, M., Zampieri, C. & Creer, S., 1 Nov 2023, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 294, 108522.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Wood, D., Holmberg, J., Osborne, O., Helmstetter, A. J., Dunning, L. T., Ellison, A., Smith, R. J., Lighten, J. & Papadopulos, A. S. T., Mar 2023, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 7, 3, p. 414-423 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Dunkley, K., Whittey, K. E., Ellison, A., Perkins, S. E., Cable, J. & Herbert-Read, J., 28 Mar 2023, In: Behavioral Ecology. 34, 2, p. 269-277 9 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2022

• Published
  Hunt, R., Cable, J. & Ellison, A., Jul 2022, In: International Journal for Parasitology. 52, 8, p. 509-518 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  MacAulay, S., Ellison, A., Kille, P. & Cable, J., Sept 2022, In: Reviews in Aquaculture. 14, 4, p. 1813-1829 17 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Review article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Baumg盲rtner, S., James, J. & Ellison, A., 1 Aug 2022, In: Aquaculture Reports. 25, 101204.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2021

• Published
  Ellison, A., Wilcockson, D. & Cable, J., 16 Nov 2021, In: Microbiome. 9, 1, 18 p., 222.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Smallbone, W., Ellison, A., Poulton, S., van Oosterhout, C. & Cable, J., Feb 2021, In: Molecular Ecology. 30, 3, p. 736-746
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Tidau, S., Smyth, T., McKee, D., Wiedenmann, J., D'Angelo, C., Wilcockson, D., Ellison, A., Grimmer, A., Jenkins, S., Widdicombe, S., de Moura Queiros, A., Talbot, E., Wright, A. & Davies, T., Sept 2021, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 12, 9, p. 1588-1601
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Matthews, E., Ellison, A. & Cable, J., Apr 2021, In: Fungal Biology. 125, 4, p. 260-268
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Hunt, R., Cable, J. & Ellison, A., 1 Jun 2021, In: Parasitology. 148, 7, p. 850-856 7 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2020

• Published
  Ellison, A., Uren Webster, T. M., Rodriguez-Barreto, D., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Consuegra, S., Orozco-terWengel, P. & Cable, J., Sept 2020, In: Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 104, p. 192-201
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Masud, N., Ellison, A., Pope, E. & Cable, J., 22 Oct 2020, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 223, 20
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Thomas, J. R., Robinson, C., Mruga艂a, A., Ellison, A., Matthews, E., Griffiths, S., Consuegra, S. & Cable, J., May 2020, In: Parasitology. 147, 6, p. 706-714
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  McDonald, C. A., Ellison, A., Toledo, L. F., James, T. Y. & Zamudio, K. R., Jan 2020, In: Fungal Biology. 124, 1, p. 34-43
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ammann, L., Moorhouse-Gann, R., Bertrand, C., Mestre, L., Cuff, J., Perez Hidalgo, N., Ellison, A., Herzog, F., Entling, M., Albrecht, M. & Symondson, W. O. C., 1 Jul 2020, In: PLoS ONE. 15, 7, e0235054.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Konczal, M., Ellison, A., Phillips, K., Radwan, J., Mohammed, R., Cable, J. & Chadzinska, M., Dec 2020, In: Parasite Immunology. 42, 12, e12782.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A., Zamudio, K. R., Lips, K. R. & Muletz-Wolz, C., 31 Jan 2020, In: Molecular Ecology. 29, 2, p. 325-343 19 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2019

• Published
  Masud, N., Ellison, A. & Cable, J., Apr 2019, In: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 134, p. 25-32
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Dunkley, K., Ellison, A., Mohammed, R. S., van Oosterhout, C., Whittey, K. E., Perkins, S. E. & Cable, J., 1 Apr 2019, In: Coral Reefs. 38, 2, p. 321-330
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2018

• Published
  Ellison, A. R., Uren Webster, T. M., Rey, O., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Consuegra, S., Orozco-terWengel, P. & Cable, J., 1 Oct 2018, In: BMC Genomics. 19, 723.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2017

• Published
  Liew, N., Moya, M. J. M., Wierzbicki, C. J., Hollinshead, M., Dillon, M. J., Thornton, C. R., Ellison, A., Cable, J., Fisher, M. C. & Mostowy, S., 20 Apr 2017, In: Nature Communications. 8, 15048.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A. R., DiRenzo, G. V., McDonald, C. A., Lips, K. R. & Zamudio, K. R., 1 Jan 2017, In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 7, 1, p. 269-278
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Cable, J., Barber, I., Boag, B., Ellison, A. R., Morgan, E. R., Murray, K., Pascoe, E. L., Sait, S. M., Wilson, A. J. & Booth, M., 13 Mar 2017, In: Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 372, 1719, 20160088.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Walker, J. G., Hurford, A., Cable, J., Ellison, A. R., Price, S. J. & Cressler, C. E., 5 May 2017, In: Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 372, 1719
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2015

• Published
  Ellison, A., Rodriguez Lopez, C. M., Moran, P., Breen, J., Swain, M., Megias, M., Hegarty, M., Wilkinson, M., Pawluk, R. & Consuegra, S., 22 Nov 2015, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 282, 1819, 20151900.
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A. R., Tunstall, T., DiRenzo, G. V., Hughey, M. C., Rebollar, E. A., Belden, L. K., Harris, R. N., Ibanez, R., Lips, K. R. & Zamudio, K. R., Jan 2015, In: Genome Biology and Evolution. 7, 1, p. 286-298
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2014

• Published
  Savage, A. E., Kiemnec-Tyburczy, K. M., Ellison, A. R., Fleischer, R. C. & Zamudio, K. R., 1 Jun 2014, In: Gene. 542, 2, p. 98-108
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A. R., Savage, A. E., DiRenzo, G. V., Langhammer, P., Lips, K. R. & Zamudio, K. R., 1 Jul 2014, In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 4, 7, p. 1275-1289
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2013

• Published
  Consuegra, S., Ellison, A., Allainguillaume, J., Pachebat, J., Peat, K. M. & Wright, P., 7 Mar 2013, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 280, 1754
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Editorial 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A., Jones, J., Inchley, C. & Consuegra, S., 1 Jun 2013, In: American Naturalist. 181, 6
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A., Garcia de Leaniz, C. & Consuegra, S., Apr 2013, In: Molecular Ecology. 22, 8, p. 2292-2300
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2012

• Published
  Ellison, A., Wright, P., Taylor, D. S., Cooper, C., Regan, K., Currie, S. & Consuegra, S., 19 Jun 2012, In: Ecology and Evolution. 2, 7
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
• Published
  Ellison, A., Allainguillaume, J., Girdwood, S., Pachebat, J., Peat, K. M., Wright, P. & Consuegra, S., 17 Oct 2012, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 279, 1749, p. 5004-5013
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2011

• Published
  Ellison, A., Cable, J. & Consuegra, S., Oct 2011, In: Evolution. 65, 10, p. 3021-3026
  Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2024

• Associate editor

  2024 鈫�

  Activity: Editorial activity (Editorial board member)

2023

• This proposal outlines how the research expertise of members of the ZRCP and our track-record of working with the Zanzibar red colobus will be leveraged to deliver impact in the form of a policy briefing paper for the Zanzibari government, and how that activity in turn will be the focus of a programme of public engagement initiatives in North Wales and beyond. Translating research into policy on the topic of wildlife-human interactions will be impactful beyond the Zanzibari context given the significant increase in anthropogenic encroachment on the habitat of primates and other wildlife around the world and the growing need to find solutions for co-existence.

  Funding awarded through the 麻豆传媒高清版 Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = 拢34,990

  1 Aug 2023 鈥� 31 Jul 2024

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

2022

• This is a transformative impact-led project that aims to capitalise on the strength and depth of expertise at BU across a range of disciplines (e.g. psychology, life sciences, engineering, health science). The project aims to engage with stakeholders to develop the evidence base needed to secure funding to allow the establishment of a One Health Wales Institute. At the same time we will collect evidence on on-going COVID-19 activities in readiness for submission as an Impact Case 麻豆传媒高清版 for the next REF submission. The project will map and bring together expertise from across the colleges to address the One Health agenda. It also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the talent that exists at BU with external stakeholders. BU is perfectly placed to adopt a One Health way of thinking. If the project achieves its key goal to establish the One Health Wales Institute it should have considerable legacy in terms of raising awareness of BU, external grant capture, increased recruitment and impact generation.听听听

  Funding awarded through the 麻豆传媒高清版 Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = 拢42,270

  1 Apr 2022 鈥� 31 Mar 2023

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

• 01/09/2024 鈥� 15/09/2026 (Active)

• 01/09/2023 鈥� 15/09/2026 (Active)

• 01/07/2023 鈥� 29/08/2024 (Finished)

• 01/03/2022 鈥� 31/03/2025 (Active)

• 01/12/2020 鈥� 01/08/2022 (Finished)

• 01/03/2020 鈥� 31/03/2024 (Finished)

• 01/04/2019 鈥� 01/08/2022 (Finished)