Imperial College London

Professor Michael A. ("Mike") Skinner

Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Infectious Disease

Emeritus Professor in Virology
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 3938m.skinner Website

 
 
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Assistant

 

Mrs Yasmin Mallu +44 (0)20 7594 3972

 
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Location

 

315Medical SchoolSt Mary's Campus

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Summary

 

Summary

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Innate immunity, in particular the antiviral type I interferon system, and viral mechanisms to modulate the host responses (speciality - the avian system).
  • Emerging viruses, enzootic and zoonotic, panzootic and pandemic.

NEWS

Development of improved avian cell substrates for diagnosis of emerging diseases of birds and for production of vaccine viruses (for poultry and for human vaccines), with members of the ‘Developing Rapid Responses to Emerging Virus Infections of Poultry’ (DRREVIP) BBSRC-funded, sLoLa consortium (which he coordinates) based in London, Cambridge and Edinburgh.


FEATURED VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkCnmemFV5k&t=3s

BOARDS & GROUPS:

Honorary Fellow of The Pirbright Institute.

Appointed Chair of the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) Scientific Advisory Group on Genetic Modification (Contained Use) [SACGM(CU)] (2014; reappointed 2017 to date).

Microbiology Society (formerly Society for General Microbiology) Elected Member of Council and Governing Trustee (2015-2017).

Appointed member of the Houghton Trust; "Promoting research into poultry diseases" (since 2015)

Appointed member of the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) Scientific Advisory Group on Genetic Modification (Contained Use) [SACGM(CU)] (2004-2014).

Chair of the Poxviridae Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, ICTV (2009-2014).

Founding member of Wellcome Trust-funded UK HIV Vaccines Consortium (UK HVC), coordinator Prof Jonathan N Weber.

Ad hoc co-opted expert to DEFRA's (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE).

Journal of General Virology Editorial Board (1994-1997 and since 2009).

Member of the Pool of Experts for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's (BBSRC) Research Committees (2008-2011).

SACGM(CU)-co-opted member of  HSE Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens Working Group on a Single regulatory framework for work with human and animal pathogens (2008-2009).

Microbiology Society (formerly Society for General Microbiology) Virus Group Committee (2000-2003).

PROMOTING SCIENCE:

Science Media Centre - regular contributor, e.g.: briefings on: avian influenza H7N9; reaction to publications on: Ebola virus, recombination between vaccine viruses and vaccine-driven evolution of pathogens; commenting on press releases: PHE on influenza vaccine efficacy.

School talks and Cafés Scientifique, including at Science Oxford, broadly on Emerging viruses and Recombinant Vaccines.

Multiple media interviews on avian influenza H5N1 and pandemic influenza H1N1. 

Background:

See my Google Scholar profile

Molecular biology of mammalian viral pathogens, specifically:

• HIV (tat/TAR interactions; at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge),

• Poliovirus (analysis of the role of secondary structure of 5' non-coding RNA in neurovirulence and vaccine attenuation, using: bioinformatics, in vitro structural analysis and reverse genetics) with Prof Jeffrey Almond, in Leicester then Reading,

• Coronaviruses (in the pre-SARS & SARS-CoV-2 era) with Prof Stuart Siddell, then in Würzburg, Germany.

Before moving to Imperial, also led research into important veterinary pathogens, at the Houghton and Compton Laboratories of the Institute for Animal Health  (now The Pirbright Institute), specifically:

 

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

Idoko-Akoh A, Goldhill DH, Sheppard CM, et al., 2023, Creating resistance to avian influenza infection through genome editing of the ANP32 gene family., Nat Commun, Vol:14

Asfor AS, Nazki S, Reddy VRAP, et al., 2021, Transcriptomic analysis of inbred chicken lines reveals infectious bursal disease severity is associated with greater bursal inflammation in vivo and more rapid induction of pro-inflammatory responses in primary bursal cells stimulated ex vivo, Viruses-Basel, Vol:13, ISSN:1999-4915, Pages:1-19

Oliveira M, Rodrigues DR, Guillory V, et al., 2021, Chicken cGAS senses fowlpox virus infection and regulates macrophage effector functions, Frontiers in Immunology, Vol:11, ISSN:1664-3224

Giotis E, Laidlaw S, Bidgood S, et al., 2020, Modulation of early host innate immune response by an avipox vaccine virus’ lateral body protein, Biomedicines, Vol:8, ISSN:2227-9059, Pages:1-21

Giotis ES, Carnell G, Young EF, et al., 2019, Entry of the bat influenza H17N10 virus into mammalian cells is enabled by the MHC class II HLA-DR receptor., Nature Microbiology, Vol:4, ISSN:2058-5276, Pages:2035-2038

Giotis E, Montillet G, Pain B, et al., 2019, Chicken embryonic-stem cells are permissive to poxvirus recombinant vaccine vectors, Genes, Vol:10, ISSN:2073-4425

Giotis ES, Ross CS, Robey RC, et al., 2017, Constitutively elevated levels of SOCS1 suppress innate responses in DF-1 immortalised chicken fibroblast cells, Scientific Reports, Vol:7, ISSN:2045-2322

Dulwich KL, Giotis ES, Gray A, et al., 2017, Differential gene expression in chicken primary B cells infected ex vivo with attenuated and very virulent strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)., Journal of General Virology, Vol:98, ISSN:1465-2099, Pages:2918-2930

Anasir MI, Caria S, Skinner MA, et al., 2017, Structural basis of apoptosis inhibition by the Fowlpox virus protein FPV039, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol:292, ISSN:1083-351X, Pages:9010-9021

Giotis ES, Robey RC, Skinner NG, et al., 2016, Chicken interferome: avian interferon-stimulated genes identified by microarray and RNA-seq of primary chick embryo fibroblasts treated with a chicken type I interferon (IFN-α), Veterinary Research, Vol:47, ISSN:1297-9716

Long J, Efstathios SG, Moncorge O, et al., 2016, Species difference in ANP32A underlies influenza A virus polymerase host restriction, Nature, Vol:529, ISSN:1476-4687, Pages:101-104

Schmid M, Smith J, Burt DW, et al., 2015, Third Report on Chicken Genes and Chromosomes 2015, Cytogenetic and Genome Research, Vol:145, ISSN:1424-8581, Pages:78-179

Laidlaw SM, Skinner MA, 2014, Construction of Deletion-knockout Mutant Fowlpox Virus (FWPV)., Bio Protoc, Vol:4, ISSN:2331-8325

Buttigieg K, Laidlaw SM, Ross C, et al., 2013, Genetic Screen of a Library of Chimeric Poxviruses Identifies an Ankyrin Repeat Protein Involved in Resistance to the Avian Type I Interferon Response, Journal of Virology, Vol:87, ISSN:1098-5514

Laidlaw SM, Robey R, Davies M, et al., 2013, Genetic Screen of a Mutant Poxvirus Library Identifies an Ankyrin Repeat Protein Involved in Blocking Induction of Avian Type I Interferon, Journal of Virology, Vol:87, ISSN:1098-5514

Gyuranecz M, Foster JT, Dan A, et al., 2013, Worldwide Phylogenetic Relationship of Avian Poxviruses, Journal of Virology, Vol:87, ISSN:1098-5514

Jeshtadi A, Burgos P, Stubbs CD, et al., 2010, Interaction of poxvirus intracellular mature virion proteins with the TPR domain of kinesin light chain in live infected cells revealed by two-photon-induced fluorescence resonance energy transfer fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy., Journal of Virology, Vol:84, ISSN:1098-5514, Pages:12886-12894

Skinner MA, Laidlaw SM, 2009, Advances in fowlpox vaccination, Cab Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, Vol:4, Pages:1-10

Childs K, Stock N, Ross C, et al., 2007, mda-5, but not RIG-I, is a common target for paramyxovirus V proteins, Virology, Vol:359, ISSN:0042-6822, Pages:190-200

Jarmin S, Manvell R, Gough RE, et al., 2006, Avipoxvirus phylogenetics: identification of a PCR length polymorphism that discriminates between the two major clades, Journal of General Virology, Vol:87, ISSN:0022-1317, Pages:2191-2201

Webster DP, Dunachie S, McConkey S, et al., 2006, Safety of recombinant fowlpox strain FP9 and modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccines against liver-stage <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i> malaria in non-immune volunteers, Vaccine, Vol:24, ISSN:0264-410X, Pages:3026-3034

Webster DP, Dunachie S, Vuola JM, et al., 2005, Enhanced T cell-mediated protection against malaria in human challenges by using the recombinant poxviruses FP9 and modified vaccinia virus Ankara, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol:102, ISSN:0027-8424, Pages:4836-4841

Skinner MA, Laidlaw SM, Eldaghayes I, et al., 2005, Fowlpox virus as a recombinant vaccine vector for use in mammals and poultry, Expert Review of Vaccines, Vol:4, ISSN:1476-0584, Pages:63-76

Laidlaw SM, Skinner MA, 2004, Comparison of the genome sequence of FP9, an attenuated, tissue culture-adapted European strain of <i>Fowlpox virus</i>, with those of virulent American and European viruses, Journal of General Virology, Vol:85, ISSN:0022-1317, Pages:305-322

Boulanger D, Green P, Jones B, et al., 2002, Identification and characterization of three immunodominant structural proteins of fowlpox virus, Journal of Virology, Vol:76, ISSN:0022-538X, Pages:9844-9855

Boulanger D, Smith T, Skinner MA, 2000, Morphogenesis and release of fowlpox virus, Journal of General Virology, Vol:81, ISSN:0022-1317, Pages:675-687

Britton P, Green P, Kottier S, et al., 1996, Expression of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase in avian and mammalian cells by a recombinant fowlpox virus, Journal of General Virology, Vol:77, ISSN:0022-1317, Pages:963-967

Brown MD, Skinner MA, 1996, Coding sequences of both genome segments of a European 'very virulunt' infectious bursal disease virus, Virus Research, Vol:40, ISSN:0168-1702, Pages:1-15

BAI J, PAYNE LN, SKINNER MA, 1995, HPRS-103 (EXOGENOUS AVIAN-LEUKOSIS VIRUS, SUBGROUP-J) HAS AN ENV GENE-RELATED TO THOSE OF ENDOGENOUS ELEMENTS EAV-0 AND E51 AND AN E-ELEMENT FOUND PREVIOUSLY ONLY IN SARCOMA-VIRUSES, Journal of Virology, Vol:69, ISSN:0022-538X, Pages:779-784

BAI J, HOWES K, PAYNE LN, et al., 1995, SEQUENCE OF HOST-RANGE DETERMINANTS IN THE ENV GENE OF A FULL-LENGTH, INFECTIOUS PROVIRAL CLONE OF EXOGENOUS AVIAN-LEUKOSIS VIRUS HPRS-103 CONFIRMS THAT IT REPRESENTS A NEW SUBGROUP (DESIGNATED J), Journal of General Virology, Vol:76, ISSN:0022-1317, Pages:181-187

Brown MD, Green P, Skinner MA, 1994, VP2 sequences of recent European 'very virulent' isolates of infectious bursal disease virus are closely related to each other but are distinct from those of 'classical' strains., Journal of General Virology, Vol:75 ( Pt 3), ISSN:0022-1317, Pages:675-680

SOMOGYI P, FRAZIER J, SKINNER MA, 1993, FOWLPOX VIRUS HOST-RANGE RESTRICTION - GENE-EXPRESSION, DNA-REPLICATION, AND MORPHOGENESIS IN NONPERMISSIVE MAMMALIAN-CELLS, Virology, Vol:197, ISSN:0042-6822, Pages:439-444

DINGWALL C, ERNBERG I, GAIT MJ, et al., 1990, HIV-1 TAT PROTEIN STIMULATES TRANSCRIPTION BY BINDING TO A U-RICH BULGE IN THE STEM OF THE TAR RNA STRUCTURE, EMBO Journal, Vol:9, ISSN:0261-4189, Pages:4145-4153

HEAPHY S, DINGWALL C, ERNBERG I, et al., 1990, HIV-1 REGULATOR OF VIRION EXPRESSION (REV) PROTEIN BINDS TO AN RNA STEM-LOOP STRUCTURE LOCATED WITHIN THE REV RESPONSE ELEMENT REGION, Cell, Vol:60, ISSN:0092-8674, Pages:685-693

DINGWALL C, ERNBERG I, GAIT MJ, et al., 1989, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-1 TAT PROTEIN BINDS TRANS-ACTIVATION-RESPONSIVE REGION (TAR) RNA INVITRO, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol:86, ISSN:0027-8424, Pages:6925-6929

SKINNER MA, RACANIELLO VR, DUNN G, et al., 1989, NEW MODEL FOR THE SECONDARY STRUCTURE OF THE 5' NON-CODING RNA OF POLIOVIRUS IS SUPPORTED BY BIOCHEMICAL AND GENETIC DATA THAT ALSO SHOW THAT RNA SECONDARY STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT IN NEUROVIRULENCE, Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol:207, ISSN:0022-2836, Pages:379-392

ALMOND JW, WESTROP GD, WAREHAM KA, et al., 1987, STUDIES ON THE GENETIC-BASIS OF ATTENUATION OF THE SABIN TYPE-3 POLIOVIRUS VACCINE, Biochemical Society Symposium, ISSN:0067-8694, Pages:85-90

SPAAN W, DELIUS H, SKINNER M, et al., 1983, Coronavirus mRNA synthesis involves fusion of non‐contiguous sequences, EMBO Journal, Vol:2, ISSN:0261-4189, Pages:1839-1844

Chapters

Giotis ES, Skinner M, 2021, Fowlpox Virus and Other Avipoxviruses (Poxviridae), Encyclopedia of Virology, Academic Press, ISBN:9780128145166

Conference

Oliveira M, Rodrigues DR, Guillory V, et al., 2021, Chicken cGAS is a key DNA sensor for antiviral immunity and regulation of macrophage effector functions, WILEY, Pages:322-322, ISSN:0014-2980

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