DR ANDREW DEVITT

Research Interests

•   Molecular mechanisms underlying recognition and clearance of apoptotic cell and pathogens
  
  

•   Macrophage biology and innate immunity

•   Monocytes and macrophages in ageing and cardiovascular disease

•   Apoptosis & Identification of apoptotic cells

•   Manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals

Projects and Funding

• Characterisation of transglutaminase-2 activity on human macrophages and its role in chemoattraction to apoptotic bodies released during cell death.  Wellcome Trust Studentship. (2012).

• Investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying the role of ICAM-3 in the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic leukocytes. BBSRC Research Grant £444, 088 (2007-2010) 

• Characterisation of the innate immune system in the clearance of apoptotic cells.  Aston University studentship. (2008-2011).
  

• Evaluation of monocyte/macrophage function throughout the ageing process. BBSRC Targeted Priority Studentship. (2009-2012).
  

• Analysis of the role of transglutaminase 2 in macrophage function. Aston University Bursary Scheme. (2009-2012).
  

• Characterisation of the molecular constitution of apoptotic bodies released during cell death and their role in macrophage chemoattraction. Biochemical Society Studentship. (2009).
  

• A versatile stem cell model of Alzheimer’s disease.  Co-applicant with Prof. Coleman and Drs. Eric Hill & Ann Vernallis. (2009).

Recent Publications

• Hill EJ, Nagel DA, O’Neil JD, Torr E, Woehrling EK, et al. (2013) Effects of Lithium and Valproic Acid on Gene Expression and Phenotypic Markers in an NT2 Neurosphere Model of Neural Development. PLoS ONE 8(3): e58822. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058822 [Online]
  
  
• Tennant, I., Pound, J. D., Marr, L. A., Willems, J. J. L. P., Petrova, S., Ford, C. A., Paterson, M., Devitt, A. and Gregory, C. D. (2013) Innate recognition of apoptotic cells: novel apoptotic cell-associated molecular patterns (ACAMPs) revealed by cross-reactivity of anti-LPS antibodies. Cell Death & Differentiation. doi:10.1038/cdd.2012.165[Online]
  
  
• Leslie, L., Marshall, L. J., Devitt, A., Hilton, A. & Tansley, G. (2012) Cell exclusion in Couette flow: evaluation through flow visualisation and mechanical forces.  Artificial Organs. In press.
  
  

• Torr, E. E., Gardner, D. H., Thomas, L., Goodall, D. M., Bielemeier, A., Willetts, R., Griffiths, H. R., Marshall, L. J. and
  Devitt, A. (2011).
  Apoptotic cell-derived ICAM-3 promotes both macrophage chemoattraction to and tethering of apoptotic cells.
  Cell Death & Differentiation.  [Online]

• Henrikson-Lacey, M., Devitt, A. & Perrie, Y.P. (2011).
  The vesicle size of DDA:TDB liposomal adjuvants plays a role in the cell-mediated immune response but has no significant effect on antibody production.
  Journal of Controlled Release.  154: 131-137. [Online]

• Devitt, A. & Marshall, L.J. (2011).
  The innate immune system and the clearance of apoptotic cells.
  Journal of Leukocyte Biology.  In press. [Online] 

• Pamukcu, B., Lip, G. Y. H., Devitt, A., Griffiths, H. R. & Shantsila, E. (2010).
  The role of monocytes in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
  Annals of Medicine. 42(6): 394-403.

• Shantsila, E, Devitt A. & Lip, G. Y. H. (2010).
  Circulating monocytes and atherogenesis: from animal experiments to human studies.
  Thrombosis and Hemostasis. 104(2): 191-193. [Online]

• Gregory, C. D., Pound, J. D., Devitt, A., Wilson-Jones, M., Ray, P. and Murray, R. J. (2009).
  Inhibitory effects of persistent apoptotic cells on monoclonal antibody production in vitro: simple removal of non-viable cells improves antibody productivity by hybridoma cell culture.[Online]
  

• Devitt, A., Parker, K., Clay, M. C., Hay, L. A., Bellamy, C. O., Lacey-Hulbert, A., Gangloff, S. C., Goyert, S. C. and Gregory, C. D. (2004).
  Persistence of apoptotic cells without autoimmune disease or inflammation in CD14-/- mice.
  Journal of Cell Biology. 167(6): 1161-1170. [Online]
  
  
• Gregory, C. D. & Devitt, A. (2004).
  The macrophage and the apoptotic cell: an innate immune interaction viewed simplistically.
  Immunology. 113:1-14. [Online]
  
  
• Henriksen, P.A., Devitt, A., Kotelevtsev, Y. and J-M Sallenave (2004).
  Gene delivery of the elastase inhibitor elafin protects macrophages from neutrophil elastase-mediated impairment of apoptotic cell recognition.
  FEBS Letters. 574:80-84. [Online]
  
  
• Devitt, A., Pierce, S. E., Moffatt, O. D. and Gregory, C. D. (2003).
  CD14-dependent clearance of apoptotic cells by human macrophages: the role of phosphatidylserine.
  Cell Death & Differentiation 10:371-382. [Online]
  
  
• Turner, C., Devitt, A., Parker, K., MacFarlane, M., Giuliano, M., Cohen, G. and Gregory, C. D. (2003).
  Macrophage-mediated clearance of cells undergoing caspase-3-independent death.
  Cell Death & Differentiation. 10:302-312. [Online]
  
  
• Drewett, V., A. Devitt, J. Saxton, N. Portman, P. Greaney, N. Cheong, T. F. Alnemri, E. Alnemri, and P. E. Shaw. (2001).
  Serum Response Factor Cleavage by Caspases 3 and 7 Linked to Apoptosis in Human BJAB Cells
  J. Biol. Chem. 276:33444-33451. [Online]
  
  
• Gregory, C. D. and Devitt, A. (1999)
  CD14 and apoptosis.
  Apoptosis, 4, 11-20. [Online]
  
  
• Moffatt, O. D., Devitt, A., Bell, E. D., Simmons, D. L. and Gregory, C. D. (1999)
  Macrophage recognition of ICAM-3 on apoptotic leukocytes.
  Journal of Immunology, 162, 6800-6810. [Online]
  
  
• Devitt, A., Moffatt, O. D., Raykundalia, C., Capra, J. D., Simmons, D. L., and Gregory, C. D. (1998)
  Human CD14 mediates recognition and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells.
  Nature, 392, 505-509. [Online]
  
  
• Gregory, C. D., Devitt, A. and Moffatt, O. (1998)
  Roles of ICAM-3 and CD14 in the recognition and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages.
  Biochemical Society Transactions, 26, 644-649.
  
  
• Flora, P. K., Devitt, A., Johnson, G. D., Milner, A. E., and Gregory, C. D. (1996)
  Bcl-2 delays macrophage engulfment of human B-cells induced to undergo apoptosis.
  European Journal Of Immunology 26, 2243-2247. [Online]
  
  
• Devitt, A., Lund, P. A., Morris, A. G., and Pearce, J. H. (1996)
  Induction of α/β-interferon and dependent nitric-oxide synthesis during Chlamydia trachomatis infection of McCoy cells in the absence of exogenous cytokine.
  Infection and Immunity 64, 3951-3956. [Online]
  
  
• Pearce, J.H., Gaston, H., Deane, K., Devitt, A., Harper, A. and Jecock, R. (1994)
  Persistent forms and persistence of Chlamydia.
  Trends in Microbiology, 2(7), 257-258.
  
  
• Coles, A. M., Reynolds, D. J., Harper, A., Devitt, A., and Pearce, J. H. (1993)
  Low-nutrient induction of abnormal chlamydial development - a novel component of chlamydial pathogenesis. 
  FEMS Microbiology Letters 106, 193-200.

Book Chapters

• Devitt, A. & Gregory, C. D. (2008).
  Innate immune mechanisms in the resolution of inflammation.
  In: Progress in Inflammation Series. The resolution of Inflammation. pp39-56.  Eds: Rossi, A. & Sawatzky, D.; Birkhäuser Verlag AG. [Online]

• Devitt, A. & Gregory, C. D. (2004).
  Measurement of apoptotic cell clearance in vitro.
  In: Methods in Molecular Biology.  282:207-22. [Online]
  

• Gregory, C. D. & Devitt, A. (2003).
  Innate Immunity and Apoptosis: CD14 dependent clearance of apoptotic cells.  In: Apoptosis and Autoimmunity.  Pp 111-132.  Eds: Herrmann, M. & Kalden, J. R.  Wiley-VCH. [Online]
  

• Devitt, A., Lund, P. A., and Pearce, J. H. (1994)
  Cytokine-independent induction of nitric oxide during the initiation of chlamydial infection.
  Proceedings of the Eight International Symposium on Human Chlamydial Infections, pp. 411-414.
    

Book Reviews

• Devitt, A. (2009). 
  Inflammation Research. DOI : 10.1007/s00011-009-0151-2. [Online]
  

• Devitt, A. (2009). 
  Inflammopharmacology. DOI : 10.1007/s10787-009-0024-x. [Online]

Patents

•  Devitt, A. (2010)
  Therapeutic Methods
  GB Patent Application: GB1016864.9

• Gregory, C.D., Devitt, A. and Tennant, I. (2006)
  Assay Method.
  International Patent Application Number: PCT/GB2005/004405. 
  Publication Number: WO/2006/054068. [Online]

• Gregory, C.D., Devitt, A. and Tennant, I. (2005)
  Improvements in Cell Culture Productivity.
  International Patent Application Number: PCT/GB2004/003399.
  Publication Number: WO/2005/014801. [Online]
  

Membership of Professional Bodies

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 
• Member - British Society for Immunology
  
• Member - International Society for Extracellular Vesicles
• Member – The Biochemical Society 
• Member – The Society For Leukocyte Biology 
• Member – European Cell Death Organization

• Member – BBSRC Core member of Research Committee A
  

 Dr Andrew Devitt / Aston University / last updated 10 January 2013