糖心原创

School of Medicine
Medical tablets, capsules and caplets flying out of a bottle against a light blue background

People

Karen Robinson

Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Contact

Research Summary

My research is currently focused on the human bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori, which is the main cause of stomach ulcers and gastric cancer. I am studying mucosal immunity and inflammation,… read more

Recent Publications

  • ROBINSON, K, LETLEY, DP and KANEKO, K, 2017. The Human Stomach in Health and Disease: Infection Strategies by Helicobacter pylori.. In: TEGTMEYER, N and BACKERT, S, eds., Molecular Pathogenesis and Signal Transduction by Helicobacter pylori 400. Springer. 1-26
  • TAYE T, ENQUSELASSIE, F, TSEGAYE, A, AMBERBIR, A, MEDHIN, G, FOGARTY, A, ROBINSON, K and DAVEY, G, 2017. Clinical & Experimental Allergy.
  • ROBINSON, K, KANEKO, K and ANDERSEN, LP, 2017. Inflammation, immunity, and vaccines for Helicobacter pylori infection Helicobacter. (In Press.)
  • HUSSAIN K, LETLEY DP, GREENAWAY AB, KENEFECK R, WINTER JA, TOMLINSON W, RHEAD J, STAPLES E, KANEKO K, ATHERTON JC and ROBINSON K, 2016. Frontiers in Immunology. 7, 71

Current Research

My research is currently focused on the human bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori, which is the main cause of stomach ulcers and gastric cancer. I am studying mucosal immunity and inflammation, T-cell subset responses (particularly regulatory T-cells and Th17), development of novel diagnostics, and gastric carcinogenesis. I am interested in how virulence factors (such as the cag pathogenicity island and duodenal ulcer promoting gene A) interact with host cells to provoke a more severe inflammatory response. Apart from associations with gastro-duodenal disease I am interested in the hygiene hypothesis and am exploring the link between some infections (H. pylori and gastro-intestinal parasites) and a reduced risk of allergy and autoimmune disease. Most of our work involves isolating and characterizing immune cells from human gastric tissues and peripheral blood.

Current main projects include

  • Characterization of human T-helper subset responses to H. pylori infection.
  • The role of regulatory T-cells in modulating H. pylori-induced pathology.
  • Discovering immunomodulatory molecules expressed by H. pylori.
  • The interaction of H. pylori virulence factors with host in causing inflammation, ulceration and carcinogenesis in the human stomach.
  • The effect of dupA- and cagPAI-positive strains of H. pylori on human dendritic cell responses.
  • Investigating the link between chronic mucosal infections and reduced risk of allergy and autoimmune disease, via epidemiology, work with samples from patients, and using in vivo models.

The techniques in use in the laboratory include

  • Isolation of immune cells from human tissue
  • Intracellular staining and flow cytometry
  • Real-time qPCR to quantify H. pylori colonization densities from human gastric biopsy tissues
  • Real-time RT-qPCR to quantify the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes and markers of Treg activity
  • Lymphocyte migration assays, using in vitro cell culture systems and in vivo imaging
  • Cloning, expression and purification of bacterial antigens
  • Serological analysis for diagnosis of H. pylori infections
  • Various cell signalling methods

Past Research

Neisseria meningitidis: Immunity and inflammation, vaccines

Recombinant lactic acid bacteria as vaccine vectors

Mucosal immunology and oral vaccines

DNA vaccines

Immunity to gastrointestinal helminth parasites Trichinella spiralis & Trichuris muris

Host-pathogen interactions.

Diagnostics

  • ROBINSON, K, LETLEY, DP and KANEKO, K, 2017. The Human Stomach in Health and Disease: Infection Strategies by Helicobacter pylori.. In: TEGTMEYER, N and BACKERT, S, eds., Molecular Pathogenesis and Signal Transduction by Helicobacter pylori 400. Springer. 1-26
  • TAYE T, ENQUSELASSIE, F, TSEGAYE, A, AMBERBIR, A, MEDHIN, G, FOGARTY, A, ROBINSON, K and DAVEY, G, 2017. Clinical & Experimental Allergy.
  • ROBINSON, K, KANEKO, K and ANDERSEN, LP, 2017. Inflammation, immunity, and vaccines for Helicobacter pylori infection Helicobacter. (In Press.)
  • HUSSAIN K, LETLEY DP, GREENAWAY AB, KENEFECK R, WINTER JA, TOMLINSON W, RHEAD J, STAPLES E, KANEKO K, ATHERTON JC and ROBINSON K, 2016. Frontiers in Immunology. 7, 71
  • ROBINSON K, STEPHENS J, CONSTANTINESCU C and GRAN B, 2016. Helicobacter pylori, Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, and Multiple Sclerosis.. In: C. CONSTANTINESCU, R. ARSENESCU and V ARSENESCU, eds., Neuro-Immuno-Gastroenterology Springer International Publishing. 97-122
  • SINNETT CG, LETLEY DP, NARAYANAN GL, PATEL SR, HUSSEIN NR, ZAITOUN AM, ROBINSON K and ATHERTON JC, 2016. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 69(11), 968-973
  • TAYE B, ENQUSELASSIE F, TSEGAYE A, AMBERBIR A, MEDHIN G, FOGARTY A, ROBINSON K and DAVEY G, 2016. International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. 50, 57-66
  • COOK K, CROOKS J, HUSSAIN K, O'BRIEN K, BRAITCH M, KAREEM H, CONSTANTINESCU C, ROBINSON K and GRAN B, 2015. Frontiers in Microbiology: Microbial Immunology. 6, 52
  • ROBINSON, K., 2015. Diseases. 3(2), 34-55
  • TAYE, B, ENQUSELASSIE, F, TSEGAYE, A, AMBERBIR, A, MEDHIN, G, FOGARTY, A, ROBINSON, K and DAVEY, G, 2015. BMC Infectious Diseases. 15, 270
  • WHITE, JR, WINTER, JA and ROBINSON, K, 2015. Journal of Inflammation Research. 2015:8, 137鈥�147
  • AMILON KR, LETLEY DP, WINTER JA, ROBINSON K and ATHERTON JC, 2015. Molecular microbiology. 98(5), 831-846
  • COOK KW, LETLEY DP, INGRAM RJ, STAPLES E, SKJOLDMOSE H, ATHERTON JC and ROBINSON K, 2014. Gut. 63, 1550-1559
  • WINTER J, LETLEY D, RHEAD J, ATHERTON J and ROBINSON K, 2014. Infection and Immunity. 82, 1372-81
  • AMBERBIR A, MEDHIN G, ABEGAZ WE, HANLON C, ROBINSON K, FOGARTY A, BRITTON J, VENN A and DAVEY G, 2014. Clinical Experimental Allergy. 44(4), 563-71
  • WINTER JA, LETLEY DP, COOK KW, RHEAD JL, ZAITOUN AAM, INGRAM RJM, AMILON KR, CROXALL NJ, KAYE PV, ROBINSON K and ATHERTON JC, 2014. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 210, 954-63
  • 2014. Gut Reactions . International Innovation. 07/17/2014 00:00:00
  • STAPLES E, INGRAM RJ, ATHERTON JC and ROBINSON K, 2013. Journal of Immunological Methods. 394(1-2), 1-9
  • PATEL, S.R., SMITH, K., LETLEY, D.P., COOK, K.W., MEMON, A.A., INGRAM, R.J.M., STAPLES, E., BACKERT, S., ZAITOUN, A.M., ATHERTON, J.C. and ROBINSON, K., 2013. Cellular Microbiology. n/a(n/a), n/a (In Press.)
  • PC OYSTON and K ROBINSON, 2012. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 61(7), 889-94
  • AMBERBIR, A., MEDHIN, G., ERKU, W., ALEM, A., SIMMS, R., ROBINSON, K., FOGARTY, A., BRITTON, J., VENN, A. and DAVEY, G., 2011. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 41(10), 1422-1430
  • YIN, Y., GRABOWSKA, A.M., CLARKE, P.A., WHELBAND, E., ROBINSON, K., ARGENT, R.H., TOBIAS, A., KUMARI, R., ATHERTON, J.C. and WATSON, S.A., 2010. Gut. 59(8), 1037-1045
  • ROBINSON, K. and BRADLEY, J. E., 2010. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 40, 1586-9
  • HUSSEIN, N.R., ARGENT, R.H., MARX, C.K., PATEL, S.R., ROBINSON, K. and ATHERTON, J.C., 2010. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 202(2), 261-269
  • HARRINGTON D, DIN HM, GUY J, ROBINSON K, SPARAGANO O, 2009. Characterization of the immune response of domestic fowl following immunization with proteins extracted from Dermanyssus gallinae Veterinary Parasitology. 130, 285-294
  • ROBINSON K. AND ATHERTON J.C., 2009. Chapter 38 鈥� Helicobacter pylori: the role of the immune response in pathogenesis.. In: KAUFMANN, SHE, ROUSE, B & SACKS, D, ed., Immunology of Infectious Diseases ASM Press, Washington, DC..
  • ROBINSON K. AND ATHERTON J.C., 2009. Chapter 7 鈥� Helicobacter pylori-induced acquired immunity and immunoregulation.. In: SUTTON, P & MITCHELL, H, ed., Helicobacter pylori in the 21st Century CABI Press, Oxfordshire, UK.. 94-115
  • ROBINSON K. AND ATHERTON J.C., 2009. Helicobacter pylori. In: FRATAMICO, PM , SMITH, JL & BROGDEN, KA, ed., Sequelae and Long-Term Consequences of Infectious Diseases ASM Press, Washington, DC.. 107-133
  • HARRINGTON D, GUY J, ROBINSON K, SPARAGANO, O., 2009. Comparison of synthetic membranes in the development of an in vitro feeding system for Dermanyssus gallinae. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 5, 1-6
  • HARRINGTON, D., CANALES, M., FUENTE, J. DE LA, DE LUNA, C., ROBINSON, K., GUY, J. and SPARAGANO, O., 2009. Vaccine. 27(30), 4056-4063
  • PATEL, S.R., ROBINSON, K., LETLEY, D.P. and ATHERTON, J.C., 2008. Accurate quantification of H pylori density in human gastric biopsies using real-time PCR Gut. 57, 124
  • HUSSEIN, N.R., ROBINSON, K. and ATHERTON, J.C., 2008. A study of age-specific Helicobacter pylori seropositivity rates in Iraq Helicobacter. 13(4), 306-307
  • ROBINSON, K., KENEFECK, R., PIDGEON, E.L., SHAKIB, S., PATEL, S., POLSON, R.J., ZAITOUN, A.M. and ATHERTON, J.C., 2008. Gut. 57(10), 1375-1385
  • OLDFIELD, N.J., BLAND, S.J., TARAKTSOGLOU, M., DOS RAMOS, F.J., ROBINSON, K., WOOLDRIDGE, K.G. and ALA'ALDEEN, D.A.A., 2007. Cellular Microbiology. 9(2), 463-478
  • ROBINSON, KAREN, ARGENT, RICHARD H and ATHERTON, JOHN C, 2007. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology. 21(2), 237-59
  • HALE, J.L., ARGENT, R.H., ROBINSON, K., VAN DER MERWE, S. and ATHERTON, J.C., 2006. Evolution of Helicobacter pylori virulence factors in individuals and families from an isolated African population Gut. 55, 106
  • ROBINSON, K., WOOLDRIDGE, K.G., WELLS, D.B., HASAN, A., TODD, I., ROBINS, A., JAMES, R. and ALA'ALDEEN, D.A.A., 2005. Infection and Immunity. 73(8), 4684-4693
  • ROBINSON, K., LOUGHLIN, M.F., POTTER, R. and JENKS, P.J., 2005. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 191(4), 579-587
  • ROBINSON, K., TARAKTSOGLOU, M., ROWE, K.S., WOOLDRIDGE, K.G. and ALA'ALDEEN, D.A., 2004. Cellular Microbiology. 6(10), 927-938
  • CONSTANTIN, D., CORDENIER, A., ROBINSON, K., ALA'ALDEEN, D.A. and MURPHY, S., 2004. Journal of Neurochemistry. 89(5), 1166-1174
  • ROBINSON, K., CHAMBERLAIN, L.M., LOPEZ, M.C., RUSH, C.M., MARCOTTE, H., LE PAGE, R.W.F. and WELLS, J.M., 2004. Infection and Immunity. 72(5), 2753-2761
  • ROBINSON, K., NEAL, K.R., HOWARD, C., STOCKTON, J., ATKINSON, K., SCARTH, E., MORAN, J., ROBINS, A., TODD, I., KACZMARSKI, E., GRAY, S., MUSCAT, I., SLACK, R. and ALA'ALDEEN, D.A.A., 2002. Infection and Immunity. 70(3), 1301-1309
  • WELLS, D.B., TIGHE, P.J., WOOLDRIDGE, K.G., ROBINSON, K. and ALA'ALDEEN, D.A.A., 2001. Infection and Immunity. 69(4), 2718-2722
  • HADI, H.A., WOOLDRIDGE, K.G., ROBINSON, K. and ALA'ALDEEN, D.A., 2001. Molecular Microbiology. 41(3), 611-623
  • GILBERT, C, ROBINSON, K, LE PAGE, R W and WELLS, J M, 2000. Infection and Immunity. 68(6), 3251-60
  • STEIDLER, L, ROBINSON, K, CHAMBERLAIN, L, SCHOFIELD, K M, REMAUT, E, LE PAGE, R W and WELLS, J M, 1998. Mucosal delivery of murine interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 by recombinant strains of Lactococcus lactis coexpressing antigen and cytokine. Infection and Immunity. 66(7), 3183-9
  • ROBINSON, K, CHAMBERLAIN, L M, SCHOFIELD, K M, WELLS, J M and LE PAGE, R W, 1997. Nature Biotechnology. 15(7), 653-7
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T and WAKELIN, D, 1996. The mycobacterial component of complete Freund's adjuvant induces expulsion of the intestinal nematode Trichinella spiralis in mice. Applied Parasitology. 37(1), 23-31
  • WELLS, J M, ROBINSON, K, CHAMBERLAIN, L M, SCHOFIELD, K M and LE PAGE, R W, 1996. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 70(2-4), 317-30
  • BELLABY, T, ROBINSON, K and WAKELIN, D, 1996. Induction of differential T-helper-cell responses in mice infected with variants of the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris. Infection and Immunity. 64(3), 791-5
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T, CHAN, W C and WAKELIN, D, 1995. High levels of protection induced by a 40-mer synthetic peptide vaccine against the intestinal nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis. Immunology. 86(4), 495-8
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T and WAKELIN, D, 1995. International Journal for Parasitology. 25(8), 989-92
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T and WAKELIN, D, 1995. Immune response profiles in vaccinated and non-vaccinated high- and low-responder mice during infection with the intestinal nematode Trichinella spiralis. Parasitology (Cambridge). 110 ( Pt 1), 71-8
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T and WAKELIN, D, 1995. Efficacy of oral vaccination against the murine intestinal parasite Trichuris muris is dependent upon host genetics. Infection and Immunity. 63(5), 1762-6
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T and WAKELIN, D, 1995. Parasite Immunology. 17(2), 85-90
  • ROBINSON, K, MOSTRATOS, A and GRENCIS, R K, 1995. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology. 10(3-4), 191-8
  • BELLABY, T, ROBINSON, K, WAKELIN, D and BEHNKE, J M, 1995. Isolates of Trichuris muris vary in their ability to elicit protective immune responses to infection in mice. Parasitology (Cambridge). 111 ( Pt 3), 353-7
  • ROBINSON, K, BELLABY, T and WAKELIN, D, 1994. Vaccination against the nematode Trichinella spiralis in high- and low-responder mice. Effects of different adjuvants upon protective immunity and immune responsiveness. Immunology. 82(2), 261-7

School of Medicine

糖心原创
Medical School
Nottingham, NG7 2UH

Contacts: For admissions enquiries, call 0115 951 5559. For other enquiries, call 0115 823 0031 ext.30031 or please see our 'contact us' page for further details