Prof. Robert Hirt

Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Prof. Robert Hirt

Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Academic Career Length

35Years (1992-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 January 2007 in Science

Journal Article

Draft Genome Sequence of the Sexually Transmitted Pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis

Jane M. Carlton

Robert Hirt

Joana C. Silva

Arthur L. Delcher

Michael Schatz

Patricia J. Johnson

+59

We describe the genome sequence of the protist Trichomonas vaginalis , a sexually transmitted human pathogen. Repeats and transposable elements comprise about two-thirds of the ∼160-megabase genome, reflecting a recent massive expansion of genetic material. This expansion, in conjunction with the shaping of metabolic pathways that likely transpired through lateral gene transfer from bacteria, and amplification of specific gene families implicated in pathogenesis and phagocytosis of host proteins may exemplify adaptations of the parasite during its transition to a urogenital environment. The genome sequence predicts previously unknown functions for the hydrogenosome, which support a common evolutionary origin of this unusual organelle with mitochondria.

1 February 2005 in Nature

Journal Article

The genome of the protist parasite Entamoeba histolytica

Brendan Loftus

Iain Anderson

Rob Davies

U. Cecilia M. Alsmark

John Samuelson

Neil Hall

+48

Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal parasite and the causative agent of amoebiasis, which is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in developing countries¹. Here we present the genome of E. histolytica, which reveals a variety of metabolic adaptations shared with two other amitochondrial protist pathogens: Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. These adaptations include reduction or elimination of most mitochondrial metabolic pathways and the use of oxidative stress enzymes generally associated with anaerobic prokaryotes. Phylogenomic analysis identifies evidence for lateral gene transfer of bacterial genes into the E. histolytica genome, the effects of which centre on expanding aspects of E. histolytica's metabolic repertoire. The presence of these genes and the potential for novel metabolic pathways in E. histolytica may allow for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents. The genome encodes a large number of novel receptor kinases and contains expansions of a variety of gene families, including those associated with virulence. Additional genome features include an abundance of tandemly repeated transfer-RNA-containing arrays, which may have a structural function in the genome. Analysis of the genome provides new insights into the workings and genome evolution of a major human pathogen.

19 January 1999 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Journal Article

Microsporidia are related to Fungi: Evidence from the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II and other proteins

Robert Hirt

John M. Logsdon

Bryan Healy

Michael W. Dorey

W. Ford Doolittle

T. Martin Embley

We have determined complete gene sequences encoding the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RBP1) from two Microsporidia, Vairimorpha necatrix and Nosema locustae . Phylogenetic analyses of these and other RPB1 sequences strongly support the notion that Microsporidia are not early-diverging eukaryotes but instead are specifically related to Fungi. Our reexamination of elongation factors EF-1α and EF-2 sequence data that had previously been taken as support for an early (Archezoan) divergence of these amitochondriate protists show such support to be weak and likely caused by artifacts in phylogenetic analyses. These EF data sets are, in fact, not inconsistent with a Microsporidia + Fungi relationship. In addition, we show that none of these proteins strongly support a deep divergence of Parabasalia and Metamonada, the other amitochondriate protist groups currently thought to compose early branches. Thus, the phylogenetic placement among eukaryotes for these protist taxa is in need of further critical examination.

1 August 2002 in Nature

Journal Article

A mitochondrial remnant in the microsporidian Trachipleistophora hominis

23 December 2008 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Journal Article

The archaebacterial origin of eukaryotes

The origin of the eukaryotic genetic apparatus is thought to be central to understanding the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Disagreement about the source of the relevant genes has spawned competing hypotheses for the origins of the eukaryote nuclear lineage. The iconic rooted 3-domains tree of life shows eukaryotes and archaebacteria as separate groups that share a common ancestor to the exclusion of eubacteria. By contrast, the eocyte hypothesis has eukaryotes originating within the archaebacteria and sharing a common ancestor with a particular group called theCrenarchaeotaor eocytes. Here, we have investigated the relative support for each hypothesis from analysis of 53 genes spanning the 3 domains, including essential components of the eukaryotic nucleic acid replication, transcription, and translation apparatus. As an important component of our analysis, we investigated the fit between model and data with respect to composition. Compositional heterogeneity is a pervasive problem for reconstruction of ancient relationships, which, if ignored, can produce an incorrect tree with strong support. To mitigate its effects, we used phylogenetic models that allow for changing nucleotide or amino acid compositions over the tree and data. Our analyses favor a topology that supports the eocyte hypothesis rather than archaebacterial monophyly and the 3-domains tree of life.

30 April 2008 in Nature

Journal Article

A novel route for ATP acquisition by the remnant mitochondria of Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Anastasios D. Tsaousis

Alina V. Goldberg

About Me

I studied Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Zoology (graduated in 1987) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). I initiated my research career as a molecular cell biologist with a PhD (obtained in 1992, Institute of Biochemistry, UNIL) studying polarised membrane trafficking in mammalian epithelial cells. I investigated the role of phosphorylation of the mammalian polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in the transcytosis of its ligand, dimeric IgAs, both key molecules of the mucosal immune system. Being fascinated by evolutionary biology and recognising the power of comparative approaches and evolutionary biology to provide general insights into the molecular and cellular biology or eukaryotic cells, I joined the Natural History Museum London for a NERC-funded postdoctoral project on ciliate molecular evolution (1992-1996). My work provided novel insights into ciliate phylogeny and allowed me to polarise the evolution of ciliates nuclear dualism. My newly gained skills in evolutionary molecular cell biology equipped me to compete successfully for two Wellcome Trust grants: “Career Development Fellowship” (1996-2000) and “University Award” (2000-2004). My research program since then has focused on the molecular cell biology and evolution of common parasites focusing on Trichomonads and Microsporidia. In 2004 I joined Newcastle University where I currently research at the Biosciences Institute and teach at the School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences.

Prof. Robert Hirt

Prof. Robert Hirt

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