Yvonne Harcus

2018- Present Edinburgh University, Institute for Infection and Immunology research, Research Technician,

2016-2018 Edinburgh University, QMRI, Research Technician,

1996 to 2016 Edinburgh University, Institute for Infection and Immunology research, Research Technician,

1992 to 1996 Edinburgh University, Centre for Genome Research, Technician,

1988 to 1992 Edinburgh University, Crew building, Animal Technician

PUBLICATIONS

Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms. International Helminth Genomes Consortium. Nat Genet. 2019 Jan;51(1):163-174. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0262-1. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Concerted IL-25R and IL-4Rα signaling drive innate type 2 effector immunity for optimal helminth expulsion. Smith KA, Löser S, Varyani F, Harcus Y, McSorley HJ, McKenzie AN, Maizels RM. Elife. 2018 Sep 21;7. pii: e38269. doi: 10.7554/eLife.38269.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE ANTHELMINTIC POTENCY OF MARIMASTAT IN THE HELIGMOSOMOIDES POLYGYRUS RODENT MODEL. Robertson E, Harcus Y, Johnston CJC, Page AP, Walkinshaw MD, Maizels RM, Houston D., J Parasitol. 2018 Aug 29. doi: 10.1645/18-33. [Epub ahead of print]

TGF-β mimic proteins form an extended gene family in the murine parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Smyth DJ, Harcus Y, White MPJ, Gregory WF, Nahler J, Stephens I, Toke-Bjolgerud E, Hewitson JP, Ivens A, McSorley HJ, Maizels RM. Int J Parasitol. 2018 Apr;48(5):379-385. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.12.004. Epub 2018 Mar 3.

A structurally distinct TGF-β mimic from an intestinal helminth parasite potently induces regulatory T cells. Johnston CJC, Smyth DJ, Kodali RB, White MPJ, Harcus Y, Filbey KJ, Hewitson JP, Hinck CS, Ivens A, Kemter AM, Kildemoes AO, Le Bihan T, Soares DC, Anderton SM, Brenn T, Wigmore SJ, Woodcock HV, Chambers RC, Hinck AP, McSorley HJ, Maizels RM. Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 23;8(1):1741. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01886-6.

Extracellular Vesicles from a Helminth Parasite Suppress Macrophage Activation and Constitute an Effective Vaccine for Protective Immunity. Coakley G, McCaskill JL, Borger JG, Simbari F, Robertson E, Millar M, Harcus Y, McSorley HJ, Maizels RM, Buck AH. Cell Rep. 2017 May 23;19(8):1545-1557. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.05.001.

Intestinal epithelial tuft cells initiate type 2 mucosal immunity to helminth parasites. Gerbe F, Sidot E, Smyth DJ, Ohmoto M, Matsumoto I, Dardalhon V, Cesses P, Garnier L, Pouzolles M, Brulin B, Bruschi M, Harcus Y, Zimmermann VS, Taylor N, Maizels RM, Jay P. Nature. 2016 Jan 14;529(7585):226-30. doi: 10.1038/nature16527.

Erratum: Exosomes secreted by nematode parasites transfer small RNAs to mammalian cells and modulate innate immunity. Buck AH, Coakley G, Simbari F, McSorley HJ, Quintana JF, Le Bihan T, Kumar S, Abreu-Goodger C, Lear M, Harcus Y, Ceroni A, Babayan SA, Blaxter M, Ivens A, Maizels RM. Nat Commun. 2015 Oct 22;6:8772. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9772. No abstract available.

Low-level regulatory T-cell activity is essential for functional type-2 effector immunity to expel gastrointestinal helminths. Smith KA, Filbey KJ, Reynolds LA, Hewitson JP, Harcus Y, Boon L, Sparwasser T, Hämmerling G, Maizels RM. Mucosal Immunol. 2016 Mar;9(2):428-43. doi: 10.1038/mi.2015.73. Epub 2015 Aug 19.

Cultivation of Heligmosomoides polygyrus: an immunomodulatory nematode parasite and its secreted products. Johnston CJ, Robertson E, Harcus Y, Grainger JR, Coakley G, Smyth DJ, McSorley HJ, Maizels R. J Vis Exp. 2015 Apr 6;(98):e52412. doi: 10.3791/52412.

Concerted activity of IgG1 antibodies and IL-4/IL-25-dependent effector cells trap helminth larvae in the tissues following vaccination with defined secreted antigens, providing sterile immunity to challenge infection. Hewitson JP, Filbey KJ, Esser-von Bieren J, Camberis M, Schwartz C, Murray J, Reynolds LA, Blair N, Robertson E, Harcus Y, Boon L, Huang SC, Yang L, Tu Y, Miller MJ, Voehringer D, Le Gros G, Harris N, Maizels RM. PLoS Pathog. 2015 Mar 27;11(3):e1004676. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004676. eCollection 2015 Mar.

Exosomes secreted by nematode parasites transfer small RNAs to mammalian cells and modulate innate immunity. Buck AH, Coakley G, Simbari F, McSorley HJ, Quintana JF, Le Bihan T, Kumar S, Abreu-Goodger C, Lear M, Harcus Y, Ceroni A, Babayan SA, Blaxter M, Ivens A, Maizels RM. Nat Commun. 2014 Nov 25;5:5488. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6488. Erratum in: Nat Commun. 2015;6:8772.

Commensal-pathogen interactions in the intestinal tract: lactobacilli promote infection with, and are promoted by, helminth parasites. Reynolds LA, Smith KA, Filbey KJ, Harcus Y, Hewitson JP, Redpath SA, Valdez Y, Yebra MJ, Finlay BB, Maizels RM. Gut Microbes. 2014 Jul 1;5(4):522-32. doi: 10.4161/gmic.32155. Epub 2014 Aug 5.

MyD88 signaling inhibits protective immunity to the gastrointestinal helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Reynolds LA, Harcus Y, Smith KA, Webb LM, Hewitson JP, Ross EA, Brown S, Uematsu S, Akira S, Gray D, Gray M, MacDonald AS, Cunningham AF, Maizels RM. J Immunol. 2014 Sep 15;193(6):2984-93. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401056. Epub 2014 Aug 11.

Secreted proteomes of different developmental stages of the gastrointestinal nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Sotillo J, Sanchez-Flores A, Cantacessi C, Harcus Y, Pickering D, Bouchery T, Camberis M, Tang SC, Giacomin P, Mulvenna J, Mitreva M, Berriman M, LeGros G, Maizels RM, Loukas A. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2014 Oct;13(10):2736-51. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M114.038950. Epub 2014 Jul 3.

The secreted triose phosphate isomerase of Brugia malayi is required to sustain microfilaria production in vivo. Hewitson JP, Rückerl D, Harcus Y, Murray J, Webb LM, Babayan SA, Allen JE, Kurniawan A, Maizels RM. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Feb 27;10(2):e1003930. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003930. eCollection 2014 Feb. Erratum in: PLoS Pathog. 2014 Apr;10(4):e1004133.

Innate and adaptive type 2 immune cell responses in genetically controlled resistance to intestinal helminth infection. Filbey KJ, Grainger JR, Smith KA, Boon L, van Rooijen N, Harcus Y, Jenkins S, Hewitson JP, Maizels RM. Immunol Cell Biol. 2014 May-Jun;92(5):436-48. doi: 10.1038/icb.2013.109. Epub 2014 Feb 4.

Secretion of protective antigens by tissue-stage nematode larvae revealed by proteomic analysis and vaccination-induced sterile immunity. Hewitson JP, Ivens AC, Harcus Y, Filbey KJ, McSorley HJ, Murray J, Bridgett S, Ashford D, Dowle AA, Maizels RM. PLoS Pathog. 2013 Aug;9(8):e1003492. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003492. Epub 2013 Aug 15.

Type 2 innate immunity in helminth infection is induced redundantly and acts autonomously following CD11c(+) cell depletion. Smith KA, Harcus Y, Garbi N, Hämmerling GJ, MacDonald AS, Maizels RM. Infect Immun. 2012 Oct;80(10):3481-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00436-12. Epub 2012 Jul 30.

Heligmosomoides polygyrus elicits a dominant nonprotective antibody response directed against restricted glycan and peptide epitopes. Hewitson JP, Filbey KJ, Grainger JR, Dowle AA, Pearson M, Murray J, Harcus Y, Maizels RM. J Immunol. 2011 Nov 1;187(9):4764-77. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1004140. Epub 2011 Sep 30.

Immune modulation and modulators in Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection. Maizels RM, Hewitson JP, Murray J, Harcus YM, Dayer B, Filbey KJ, Grainger JR, McSorley HJ, Reynolds LA, Smith KA. Exp Parasitol. 2012 Sep;132(1):76-89. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.08.011. Epub 2011 Aug 22. Review.

Proteomic analysis of secretory products from the model gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus reveals dominance of venom allergen-like (VAL) proteins. Hewitson JP, Harcus Y, Murray J, van Agtmaal M, Filbey KJ, Grainger JR, Bridgett S, Blaxter ML, Ashton PD, Ashford DA, Curwen RS, Wilson RA, Dowle AA, Maizels RM. J Proteomics. 2011 Aug 24;74(9):1573-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2011.06.002. Epub 2011 Jun 29.

Differential recognition patterns of Schistosoma haematobium adult worm antigens by the human antibodies IgA, IgE, IgG1 and IgG4. Mutapi F, Bourke C, Harcus Y, Midzi N, Mduluza T, Turner CM, Burchmore R, Maizels RM. Parasite Immunol. 2011 Mar;33(3):181-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2010.01270.x.

Helminth secretions induce de novo T cell Foxp3 expression and regulatory function through the TGF-β pathway. Grainger JR, Smith KA, Hewitson JP, McSorley HJ, Harcus Y, Filbey KJ, Finney CA, Greenwood EJ, Knox DP, Wilson MS, Belkaid Y, Rudensky AY, Maizels RM. J Exp Med. 2010 Oct 25;207(11):2331-41. doi: 10.1084/jem.20101074. Epub 2010 Sep 27.

Dynamics of CD11c(+) dendritic cell subsets in lymph nodes draining the site of intestinal nematode infection. Balic A, Smith KA, Harcus Y, Maizels RM. Immunol Lett. 2009 Dec 2;127(1):68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2009.09.001. Epub 2009 Sep 18.

C-type lectins from the nematode parasites Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Harcus Y, Nicoll G, Murray J, Filbey K, Gomez-Escobar N, Maizels RM. Parasitol Int. 2009 Dec;58(4):461-70. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2009.08.011. Epub 2009 Sep 13.

daf-7-related TGF-beta homologues from Trichostrongyloid nematodes show contrasting life-cycle expression patterns. McSorley HJ, Grainger JR, Harcus Y, Murray J, Nisbet AJ, Knox DP, Maizels RM. Parasitology. 2010 Jan;137(1):159-71. doi: 10.1017/S0031182009990321. Epub 2009 Aug 28.

Expansion of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in mice infected with the filarial parasite Brugia malayi. McSorley HJ, Harcus YM, Murray J, Taylor MD, Maizels RM. J Immunol. 2008 Nov 1;181(9):6456-66.

The secretome of the filarial parasite, Brugia malayi: proteomic profile of adult excretory-secretory products. Hewitson JP, Harcus YM, Curwen RS, Dowle AA, Atmadja AK, Ashton PD, Wilson A, Maizels RM. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2008 Jul;160(1):8-21. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2008.02.007. Epub 2008 Feb 16.

IL-4R signaling is required to induce IL-10 for the establishment of T(h)2 dominance. Balic A, Harcus YM, Taylor MD, Brombacher F, Maizels RM. Int Immunol. 2006 Oct;18(10):1421-31. Epub 2006 Aug 28.

Praziquantel treatment of individuals exposed to Schistosoma haematobium enhances serological recognition of defined parasite antigens. Mutapi F, Burchmore R, Mduluza T, Foucher A, Harcus Y, Nicoll G, Midzi N, Turner CM, Maizels RM. J Infect Dis. 2005 Sep 15;192(6):1108-18. Epub 2005 Aug 5.

Th2 induction by Nippostrongylus secreted antigens in mice deficient in B cells, eosinophils or MHC Class I-related receptors. Holland MJ, Harcus YM, Balic A, Maizels RM. Immunol Lett. 2005 Jan 15;96(1):93-101.

Selective maturation of dendritic cells by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis-secreted proteins drives Th2 immune responses. Balic A, Harcus Y, Holland MJ, Maizels RM. Eur J Immunol. 2004 Nov;34(11):3047-59.

Inhibition of neutrophil recruitment by ES of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Keir PA, Brown DM, Clouter-Baker A, Harcus YM, Proudfoot L. Parasite Immunol. 2004 Mar;26(3):137-9.

Signal sequence analysis of expressed sequence tags from the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and the evolution of secreted proteins in parasites. Harcus YM, Parkinson J, Fernández C, Daub J, Selkirk ME, Blaxter ML, Maizels RM. Genome Biol. 2004;5(6):R39. Epub 2004 May 18.

IL-4 is required to prevent filarial nematode development in resistant but not susceptible strains of mice. Le Goff L, Lamb TJ, Graham AL, Harcus Y, Allen JE. Int J Parasitol. 2002 Sep;32(10):1277-84.

Proteins secreted by the parasitic nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis act as adjuvants for Th2 responses. Holland MJ, Harcus YM, Riches PL, Maizels RM. Eur J Immunol. 2000 Jul;30(7):1977-87.