Dr Katherine Smollett
- Research Associate (Virology)
telephone:
0141 330 8214
email:
Katherine.Smollett@glasgow.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7961-7377Biography
I joined CVR Genomics as a Research Associate in 2017 and have gained extensive experience in viral genomics. Previously I worked s a post-doctoral researcher investigating gene regulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the MRC-National Institute for Medical Research, and then in examining mechanisms of transcriptional control in Archaea at University College London. I have a doctorate in molecular microbiology from Imperial College London.
Research interests
CVR Genomics is the sequencing facility at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for virus research headed by Dr Ana Filipe. Our aim is to provide the CVR community and its collaborators with expertise in high-throughput sequencing to contribute to the understanding of viruses.
My current research focuses on developing and implementing sequencing workflows for the discovery and characterisation of emerging viral pathogens. For which I have expertise in a range of specialist techniques and technologies, including metagenomics, bulk transcriptomics, and targeted enrichment with sequencing on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore instruments.
Publications
2023
Jones, S. et al. (2023) SARS-CoV-2 in domestic UK cats from Alpha to Omicron: Swab surveillance and case reports. Viruses, 15(8), 1769. (doi: 10.3390/v15081769) (PMID:37632111) (PMCID:PMC10459977)
Pascall, D. J. et al. (2023) Directions of change in intrinsic case severity across successive SARS-CoV-2 variant waves have been inconsistent. Journal of Infection, 87(2), pp. 128-135. (doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.05.019) (PMID:37270070) (PMCID:PMC10234362)
Ho, A. et al. (2023) Adeno-associated virus 2 infection in children with non-A-E hepatitis. Nature, 617(7961), pp. 555-563. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-05948-2) (PMID:36996873)
Pascall, D. J. et al. (2023) The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased clinical severity of COVID-19 in Scotland: a genomics-based retrospective cohort analysis. PLoS ONE, 18(4), e0284187. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284187) (PMID:37053201) (PMCID:PMC10101505)
2022
Willett, B. J. et al. (2022) SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway. Nature Microbiology, 7(8), pp. 1161-1179. (doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01143-7) (PMID:35798890) (PMCID:PMC9352574)
Nickbakhsh, S. et al. (2022) Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning. Scientific Reports, 12, 11735. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15661-1) (PMID:35853960) (PMCID:PMC9296497)
Aggarwal, D. et al. (2022) Genomic assessment of quarantine measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 importation and transmission. Nature Communications, 13, 1012. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28371-z)
Aggarwal, D. et al. (2022) Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission. Nature Communications, 13, 751. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27942-w) (PMID:35136068) (PMCID:PMC8826310)
2021
Vöhringer, H. S. et al. (2021) Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England. Nature, 600(7889), pp. 506-511. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-04069-y) (PMID:34649268) (PMCID:PMC8674138)
Shaw, A. E. et al. (2021) The antiviral state has shaped the CpG composition of the vertebrate interferome to avoid self-targeting. PLoS Biology, 19(9), e3001352. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001352) (PMID:34491982) (PMCID:PMC8423302)
Li, K. K. et al. (2021) Genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in renal dialysis units - a high risk community-hospital interface. Journal of Infection, 83(1), pp. 96-103. (doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.020) (PMID:33895226) (PMCID:PMC8061788)
Davis, C. A. et al. (2021) Hepatitis E virus: whole genome sequencing as a new tool for understanding HEV epidemiology and phenotypes. Journal of Clinical Virology, 139, 104738. (doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104738) (PMID:33933822)
Volz, E. et al. (2021) Assessing transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England. Nature, 593(7858), pp. 266-269. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03470-x) (PMID:33767447)
Thomson, E. C. et al. (2021) Circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike N439K variants maintain fitness while evading antibody-mediated immunity. Cell, 184(5), 1171-1187.e20. (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.037) (PMID:33621484) (PMCID:PMC7843029)
Rihn, S. J. et al. (2021) A plasmid DNA-launched SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system and coronavirus toolkit for COVID-19 research. PLoS Biology, 19(2), e3001091. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001091) (PMID:33630831) (PMCID:PMC7906417)
Da Silva Filipe, A. et al. (2021) Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 from mainland Europe into Scotland. Nature Microbiology, 6(1), pp. 112-122. (doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-00838-z) (PMID:33349681)
2019
Ankcorn, M. et al. (2019) Convalescent plasma therapy for persistent hepatitis E virus infection. Journal of Hepatology, 71(2), pp. 434-438. (doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.04.008) (PMID:31075322)
McFarlane, S. et al. (2019) The histone chaperone HIRA promotes the induction of host innate immune defences in response to HSV-1 infection. PLoS Pathogens, 15(3), e1007667. (doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007667) (PMID:30901352) (PMCID:PMC6472835)
2017
Smollett, K. , Blombach, F., Reichelt, R., Thomm, M. and Werner, F. (2017) A global analysis of transcription reveals two modes of Spt4/5 recruitment to archaeal RNA polymerase. Nature Microbiology, 2, p. 17021. (doi: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.21) (PMID:28248297)
Smollett, K. , Blombach, F., Fouqueau, T. and Werner, F. (2017) A global characterisation of the archaeal transcription machinery. In: Clouet-d'Orval, B. (ed.) RNA Metabolism and Gene Expression in Archaea. Series: Nucleic acids and molecular biology, 32 (32). Springer International Publishing, pp. 1-26. ISBN 9783319657943 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-65795-0_1)
2016
Sheppard, C. et al. (2016) Repression of RNA polymerase by the archaeo-viral regulator ORF145/RIP. Nature Communications, 7, 13595. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms13595) (PMID:27882920) (PMCID:PMC5123050)
Blombach, F., Smollett, K. L. , Grohmann, D. and Werner, F. (2016) Molecular mechanisms of transcription initiation—structure, function, and evolution of TFE/TFIIE-like factors and open complex formation. Journal of Molecular Biology, 428(12), pp. 2592-2606. (doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.04.016) (PMID:27107643)
Schulz, S., Gietl, A., Smollett, K. , Tinnefeld, P., Werner, F. and Grohmann, D. (2016) TFE and Spt4/5 open and close the RNA polymerase clamp during the transcription cycle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(13), E1816-E1825. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.1515817113) (PMID:26979960) (PMCID:PMC4822635)
Articles
Jones, S. et al. (2023) SARS-CoV-2 in domestic UK cats from Alpha to Omicron: Swab surveillance and case reports. Viruses, 15(8), 1769. (doi: 10.3390/v15081769) (PMID:37632111) (PMCID:PMC10459977)
Pascall, D. J. et al. (2023) Directions of change in intrinsic case severity across successive SARS-CoV-2 variant waves have been inconsistent. Journal of Infection, 87(2), pp. 128-135. (doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.05.019) (PMID:37270070) (PMCID:PMC10234362)
Ho, A. et al. (2023) Adeno-associated virus 2 infection in children with non-A-E hepatitis. Nature, 617(7961), pp. 555-563. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-05948-2) (PMID:36996873)
Pascall, D. J. et al. (2023) The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased clinical severity of COVID-19 in Scotland: a genomics-based retrospective cohort analysis. PLoS ONE, 18(4), e0284187. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284187) (PMID:37053201) (PMCID:PMC10101505)
Willett, B. J. et al. (2022) SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway. Nature Microbiology, 7(8), pp. 1161-1179. (doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01143-7) (PMID:35798890) (PMCID:PMC9352574)
Nickbakhsh, S. et al. (2022) Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning. Scientific Reports, 12, 11735. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15661-1) (PMID:35853960) (PMCID:PMC9296497)
Aggarwal, D. et al. (2022) Genomic assessment of quarantine measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 importation and transmission. Nature Communications, 13, 1012. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28371-z)
Aggarwal, D. et al. (2022) Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission. Nature Communications, 13, 751. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27942-w) (PMID:35136068) (PMCID:PMC8826310)
Vöhringer, H. S. et al. (2021) Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England. Nature, 600(7889), pp. 506-511. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-04069-y) (PMID:34649268) (PMCID:PMC8674138)
Shaw, A. E. et al. (2021) The antiviral state has shaped the CpG composition of the vertebrate interferome to avoid self-targeting. PLoS Biology, 19(9), e3001352. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001352) (PMID:34491982) (PMCID:PMC8423302)
Li, K. K. et al. (2021) Genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in renal dialysis units - a high risk community-hospital interface. Journal of Infection, 83(1), pp. 96-103. (doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.020) (PMID:33895226) (PMCID:PMC8061788)
Davis, C. A. et al. (2021) Hepatitis E virus: whole genome sequencing as a new tool for understanding HEV epidemiology and phenotypes. Journal of Clinical Virology, 139, 104738. (doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104738) (PMID:33933822)
Volz, E. et al. (2021) Assessing transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England. Nature, 593(7858), pp. 266-269. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03470-x) (PMID:33767447)
Thomson, E. C. et al. (2021) Circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike N439K variants maintain fitness while evading antibody-mediated immunity. Cell, 184(5), 1171-1187.e20. (doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.037) (PMID:33621484) (PMCID:PMC7843029)
Rihn, S. J. et al. (2021) A plasmid DNA-launched SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system and coronavirus toolkit for COVID-19 research. PLoS Biology, 19(2), e3001091. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001091) (PMID:33630831) (PMCID:PMC7906417)
Da Silva Filipe, A. et al. (2021) Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 from mainland Europe into Scotland. Nature Microbiology, 6(1), pp. 112-122. (doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-00838-z) (PMID:33349681)
Ankcorn, M. et al. (2019) Convalescent plasma therapy for persistent hepatitis E virus infection. Journal of Hepatology, 71(2), pp. 434-438. (doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.04.008) (PMID:31075322)
McFarlane, S. et al. (2019) The histone chaperone HIRA promotes the induction of host innate immune defences in response to HSV-1 infection. PLoS Pathogens, 15(3), e1007667. (doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007667) (PMID:30901352) (PMCID:PMC6472835)
Smollett, K. , Blombach, F., Reichelt, R., Thomm, M. and Werner, F. (2017) A global analysis of transcription reveals two modes of Spt4/5 recruitment to archaeal RNA polymerase. Nature Microbiology, 2, p. 17021. (doi: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.21) (PMID:28248297)
Sheppard, C. et al. (2016) Repression of RNA polymerase by the archaeo-viral regulator ORF145/RIP. Nature Communications, 7, 13595. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms13595) (PMID:27882920) (PMCID:PMC5123050)
Blombach, F., Smollett, K. L. , Grohmann, D. and Werner, F. (2016) Molecular mechanisms of transcription initiation—structure, function, and evolution of TFE/TFIIE-like factors and open complex formation. Journal of Molecular Biology, 428(12), pp. 2592-2606. (doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.04.016) (PMID:27107643)
Schulz, S., Gietl, A., Smollett, K. , Tinnefeld, P., Werner, F. and Grohmann, D. (2016) TFE and Spt4/5 open and close the RNA polymerase clamp during the transcription cycle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(13), E1816-E1825. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.1515817113) (PMID:26979960) (PMCID:PMC4822635)
Book Sections
Smollett, K. , Blombach, F., Fouqueau, T. and Werner, F. (2017) A global characterisation of the archaeal transcription machinery. In: Clouet-d'Orval, B. (ed.) RNA Metabolism and Gene Expression in Archaea. Series: Nucleic acids and molecular biology, 32 (32). Springer International Publishing, pp. 1-26. ISBN 9783319657943 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-65795-0_1)
Research datasets
2021
Shaw, A., Rihn, S. , Mollentze, N. , Wickenhagen, A., Stewart, D., Orton, R. , Kuchi, S., Bakshi, S., Collados Rodriguez, M. , Turnbull, M. , Busby, J., Gu, Q. , Smollett, K., Bamford, C., Sugrue, E. , Johnson, P. , Da Silva Filipe, A. , Castello, A. , Streicker, D. , Robertson, D. , Palmarini, M. and Wilson, S. (2021) The 'antiviral state' has shaped the CpG composition of the vertebrate interferome to avoid self-targeting. [Data Collection] (Unpublished)
