Alex Macpherson

Biochemist in large pharma. Knob domains and chemical biology.

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

In our new @PLOSBiology paper, we show that a mini domain found in the CDRH3 of a subset bovine antibodies can function autonomously of the antibody scaffold, creating a small (~4 kDa), cysteine-rich antibody fragment, one third the size of a VHH https://t.co/FiXd5fUj0y

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

@AirCanada I am trying to contact you about my lost luggage with no success. Can you please help me?

[Dimitris Mastellos @dmastellos]

As @JeanvdElsen exquisitely summed it up in his historical perspective of the field, "there is complement structural biology before...and after Piet Gros"!
What an impactful legacy!

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

PhD position available: unravelling the molecular link between coagulation and immunity. Supervisory team @HeurichMeike (Cardiff), Halina Mikolajek (Diamond Light Source) and myself (Bath)
https://t.co/T8oJvSSp0O

[Prof. Nikolai Slavov @slavov_n]

DNA is good for information storage.
Peptides are better.

This @ScienceMagazine article makes a compelling case for peptides encoded small-molecule libraries.

A powerful new approach for drug discovery.

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

New tool helps scientist understand how MRSA superbug avoids immune detection https://t.co/v7i8n7vZoJ @Toska_Wonfor, Maisem Laabei, Shuxian Li, @DunphyRhys, @Alex_MacPh @LifeScienceBath @UniofBath

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

He's only gone and done it!! Congratulations Dr @DunphyRhys!! Many thanks to the excellent team of examiners @JodyMMason and Nic Harmer!! @GW4BioMedDTP @BiosciencesBath

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

SWBio DTP PhD opportunity ⁦@UniofBath⁩ ⁦@BiosciencesBath⁩ in collaboration with ⁦@cardiffuni⁩ and ⁦@Alex_MacPh⁩ https://t.co/YEQzy1sJ7j

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

Delighted that our paper has been published in MAbs. We show that the proximity of the termini of bovine knob domains enables transplantation into protein loops, to engineer binding specificity into proteins and antibodies. @TheAbSociety @JeanvdElsen https://t.co/MCgRggyCo9

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

The latest paper from our lab in @FrontImmunol unveils a novel staphylococcal #complement evasion mechanism which enables the pathogen to harness the ability of dimeric C3d to modulate B-cell activation via a unique structurally stabilising domain swap. https://t.co/OTfn4KVTut

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

@DunphyRhys @FrontImmunol Good stuff Rhys, great work!

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

@UnivCamPharm @AylaWahid @PMillerLab Amazing @AylaWahid! Well done all.

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

I'm pleased to announce a PhD opportunity @UniofBath to study complement C5, a target for inflammatory diseases, using a unique antibody toolkit. This a collaboration with Prof Paul Morgan, Dr Wiola Zelek @cardiffuni and @Alex_MacPh @ucb_news https://t.co/scGWeTpkrj DM for info

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

3. Huge thanks to @JeanvdElsen and many other colleagues @ucb_news and @UniofBath who contributed.

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

1. Hugely pleased this is out in @ChemicalBiology. We show that knob domains, antigen binding mini-domains found in a subset of bovine antibodies, are readily amenable to SPPS, creating truely synthetic antibody fragments. https://t.co/GsX3i42pXM

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

2. This permits incorporation of non-natural amino acids or other chemical modifications which further improve the in vivo stability of these scaffolds.

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

The world's tiniest antibodies can be chemically synthesised!! @Alex_MacPh et al @ChemicalBiology: https://t.co/lqRSoaRmiq

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

Latest paper from the lab: providing new insights in the importance of complement in the fluid phase and how C3 fragment dimers modulate B cell activation. Great collaboration between Bath, Newcastle, Colorado and UCB. https://t.co/eJWIPDD8HH

[Julien Licchesi @licchesilab]

We are launching @FrontiersIn E3 Ubiquitin Ligases: From Structure to Physiology to Therapeutics, Volume II https://t.co/bIpJ88Bd2d
@IkedaResearch @FleurMFerguson Dr Victor Bolanos-Garcia Dr Heike Laman @licchesilab
#ubiquitin #PROTAC #E3ubiquitinligase. Please RT, thanks.

[Alex Macpherson @Alex_MacPh]

@AylaWahid @JeanvdElsen Speed over substance 😉

[Jean van den Elsen @JeanvdElsen]

Hot off the preprint press:
The world's tiniest antibodies can be chemically synthesised!!

@Alex_MacPh's latest chapter in the continuing knob domain peptide saga:
https://t.co/1O25EIYNtW #antibody #complement #peptide