TKS
Group Highlights
Prof Terry Smith is an expert in phospholipid metabolism and the use of mass spectrometry techniques and heads the Lipidomics Facility with GC-MSs and ABSciex 4000 QTrap for lipidomic and focussed metabolomics. Smith being a joint appointment between Biology and Chemistry also has access to a wide-range of world-class analytical facilities, some of which will be utilised in this proposal, i.e. GC-MS and NMR. Prof Smith has received funding from the Wellcome Trust, SULSA, EU and studentships from BBSRC and MRC. He has more than 27 years’ experience in the molecular and biochemical parasitology arena, including T. brucei, T. cruzi, Leishmania, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium. He has published over 75 papers in the last 10 years, including numerous successful collaborations undertaking lipidomic analyses of various pathogens and numerous models for human diseases.
Research
The Smith group uses their interfacial chemical/biological expertise to find, validate and exploit differences between protozoan and mammalian metabolism.Smith is a leading international authority on parasite lipid metabolism with important publications in this area. His group have to date validated >24 drug targets, conducted several screening campaigns and have 4 lead compound series, which are progressing through the drug discovery pipeline.
Group Members
Dr Louise Major
Dr Farhan Ali
Dr Michela Cerone
PhD students
Jagwinder Dhaliwal
William Mosedale
Veronica Harris
Rachel Humman
Nora Von Xylander
Berta Fatas
Ngoc Anh Thu Trinh
Vytautas Kuodis
Peter Black
M(Res)
Oenone Bodman-Harris
Publications
Chapters
Optical spectroscopic analysis for the discrimination of extra-virgin olive-oil
McReynolds, N., Garcia, J. M. A., Guengerich, Z., Smith, T. K. & Dholakia, K., 28 Jan 2017, MOEMS AND Miniaturized Systems XVI. Piyawattanametha, W. & Park, Y. (eds.). SPIE, 1 p. 101160K. (Proceedings of SPIE; vol. 10116).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
The Importance of Targeting Lipid Metabolism in Parasites for Drug Discovery
Young, S. A., Roberts, M. D. & Smith, T. K., 19 Oct 2016, Comprehensive Analysis of Parasite Biology: From Metabolism to Drug Discovery. 1st ed. Germany: Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Vol. 7. p. 335 361 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Lipids and liposomes in the enhancement of health and treatment of disease
Young, S. & Smith, T. K., 3 Jun 2015, Drug Discovery and Development - From Molecules to Medicine. Vallisuta, O. & Olimat, S. (eds.). InTech, p. 131-162
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Coupled Enzyme Activity and Thermal Shift Screening of the Maybridge Rule of 3 Fragment Library Against Trypanosoma brucei Choline Kinase; A Genetically Validated Drug Target.
Major, L. L., Denton, H. & Smith, T. K., 2013, Drug Discovery. El-Shemy, H. (ed.). London: IntechOpen, p. 413-431
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Inhibitors of GPI biosynthesis
Smith, T. K., 2009, The Enzymes. Menon, A., Kinoshita, T., Orlean , P. & Tamanoi, F. (eds.). Academic Press/Elsevier , Vol. 26. p. 247-267 21 p. (The Enzymes).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Dietary Modulation of the Glutathione Detoxification Pathway and the Potential for Altered Xenobiotic Metabolism
Smith, T., 1991, Nutritional And Toxicological Consequences Of Food Processing. Friedman, M. (ed.). p. 165-169 5 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Articles
Bioactivity profiles of progressively ring-fluorinated cyclohexyl motifs in the WKYMVm peptide as formylpeptide FPR2 agonists and in keto-piperazines as antitrypanosome agents
He, M., Thomson, C. M., Thompson, D., Kuodis, V., Smith, T. K., Dall'Angelo, S. & O'Hagan, D., 3 Oct 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ChemBioChem. Early View, 8 p., 2500384.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Building a cell-factory in Crithidia fasciculata: a bio-sustainable system to produce high-value polyunsaturated fatty acids
Cerone, M., Major, L. L. & Smith, T. K., 23 Jun 2025, In: Microbial Cell Factories. 24, p. 1-16 16 p., 142.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Exploring the activity of the putative Δ6-desaturase and its role in bloodstream form life-cycle transitions in Trypanosoma brucei
Cerone, M. & Smith, T. K., 18 Feb 2025, In: PLoS Pathogens. 21, 2, p. 1-39 39 p., e1012691.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Hexosamine biosynthesis disruption impairs GPI production and arrests Plasmodium falciparum growth at schizont stages
Alberione, M. P., Avalos-Padilla, Y., Rangel, G. W., Ramírez, M., Romero-Uruñuela, T., Fenollar, À., Ortega-Barrionuevo, J., Crispim, M., Smith, T. K., Llinás, M. & Izquierdo, L., 3 Jul 2025, In: PLoS Pathogens. 21, 7, p. 1-27 27 p., e1012832.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
High-throughput screening of potent drug-like molecules targeting 17β-HSD10 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cancer
Aitken, L., Baillie, G., Pannifer, A., Morrison, A., Major, L. L., Alphey, M. S., Sethi, R., Timmerman, M., Robinson, J., Riley, J., Shishikura, Y., Koekemoer, L., Von Delft, F., Rutjes, H., Read, K., Jones, P. S., McElroy, S. P., Smith, T. K. & Gunn-Moore, F. J., 18 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ACS Chemical Biology. ASAP, p. 1-16 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Inactivating SARS-CoV-2 virus with MOF-composites as smart face masks
Ettlinger, R., Desai, A. V., Cheong, H. L. J., Major, L. L., Smith, T. K., Naden, A. B., Hilton, J., Adamson, C. S., Armstrong, A. R. & Morris, R. E., 2 Oct 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Advanced Functional Materials. Early View, p. 1-7 7 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
N-Salicyl-amino acid derivatives with antiparasitic activity from Pseudomonas sp. UIAU-6B
Rajakulendran, J. E., Oluwabusola, E. T., Cerone, M., Smith, T. K., Adebisi, O. O., Adedotun, A., Preet, G., Soldatou, S., Deng, H., Ebel, R. & Jaspars, M., 4 Jul 2025, In: Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. 21, p. 1388-1396 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Rhodium-catalysed connective synthesis of diverse reactive probes bearing S(VI) electrophilic warheads
Rice, S., Chesti, J., Mosedale, W. R. T., Wright, M. H., Marsden, S. P., Smith, T. K. & Nelson, A., 17 Sept 2025, In: Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. 21, p. 1924-1931 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The effect of depth on the composition and saturation of total fatty acids present within the tissues and skeletons of two reef-building corals
von Xylander, N. S. H., Hedouin, L., Smith, T. K. & Allison, N., 1 May 2025, In: Marine Biology. 172, 5, 16 p., 65.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Click chemistry methodology: the novel paintbrush of drug design
Oprea, I. & Smith, T. K., 27 Dec 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ACS Chemical Biology. Articles ASAP, 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Other publications
ADIPOSE TISSUE IS A MAJOR RESERVOIR OF FUNCTIONALLY DISTINCT TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI PARASITES
Trindade, S., Rijo-Ferreira, F., Carvalho, T., Pinto-Neves, D., Guegan, F., Aresta-Branco, F., Bento, F., Young, S. A., Pinto, A., Van den Abbeele, J., Ribeiro, R. M., Dias, S., Smith, T. K. & Figueiredo, L. M., Nov 2017, In: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 95, 5, p. 606-606 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
ANALOGS OF THE NATURAL PRODUCT CHAMUVARININ TARGET THE TRYPANOSOMATID FOF1-ATP SYNTHASE MITOCHONDRIAL COMPLEX V
Menzies, S. K., Tulloch, L. B., Fraser, A. L., Gould, E. R., King, E. F., Zacharova, M. K., Florence, G. J. & Smith, T. K., Nov 2017, In: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 95, 5, p. 164-164 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRYPANOSOMATID SECONDARY ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE - A NOVEL POTENTIAL DRUG TARGET
Menzies, S. K., Tulloch, L. B., Fraser, A. L., Gould, E. R., King, E. F., Zacharova, M. K., Florence, G. J. & Smith, T. K., Nov 2017, In: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 95, 5, p. 410-410 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of benzothiazole-based ureas as potential ABAD/17β-HSD10 modulators for Alzheimer’s disease treatment
Hroch, L., Benek, O., Guest, P., Aitken, L., Soukup, O., Janockova, J., Musil, K., Dohnal, V., Dolezal, R., Kuca, K., Smith, T. K., Gunn-Moore, F. J. & Musilek, K., 1 Aug 2016, In: Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 26, 15, p. 3675-3678 4 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
Development of simplified heterocyclic acetogenin analogues as potent and selective Trypanosoma brucei inhibitors
Florence, G. J., Fraser, A. L., Gould, E. R., King, E. F., Menzies, S. K., Morris, J. C., Thomson, M. I., Tulloch, L. B., Zacharova, M. K. & Smith, T. K., 19 Jul 2016, In: ChemMedChem. 11, 14, p. 1503-1506 4 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
Gating MscS: Structural basis of mechanosensation and the role of lipids in ion channel regulation
Pliotas, C., Dahl, A. C., Rasmussen, T., Mahendran, K. R., Smith, T. K., Marius, P., Gault, J., Rasmussen, A., Robinson, C. V., Bayley, H., Sansom, M. S., Booth, I. R. & Naismith, J. H., Sept 2016, In: Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and Advances. A72, s35
Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
Novel approach towards the stereoselective synthesis of protected inositols
Sayer, L. H., Smith, T. K. & Florence, G. J., 7 Apr 2013, In: Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society. 245, 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
Lipid metabolism as a therapeutic target
Smith, T. K., Reynolds, T. B. & Denny, P. W., 2012, In: Biochemistry Research International. 2012, 2 p., 158139.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Apicoplast lipoic acid protein ligase B is not essential for Plasmodium falciparum
Guenther, S., Wallace, L., Smith, T. K. & Mueller, S., Jan 2008, In: International Journal for Parasitology. 38, Suppl. 1, p. 36-36 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
Contact
Prof Terry K. Smith CChem, FRSC; FRSB
Director of the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex
University Biological Hazards Adviser
Director of the Cat 3
Radiation Safety Officer
Office B3.10
Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC),
The North Haugh,
The University,
St. Andrews,
Fife Scotland.
KY16 9ST.
Tel; office: 01334-463412
Email: [email protected]
Related themes:
Related Centre: