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The University of Southampton
Biological Sciences
Phone:
(023) 8059 9006
Email:
L.M.Holden-Dye@soton.ac.uk

Professor Lindy Holden-Dye BSc, MSc, PhD, FRSB, FBPhS

Head of School, Chair in Neuroscience,Principal Investigator (Neuropharmacology & Physiology)

Professor Lindy Holden-Dye

Professor Lindy Holden-Dye holds a personal Chair in Neuroscience within Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton. Her interests focus on fundamental processes of neuronal communication and she has established research expertise in invertebrate preparations. Through this interest she has contributed to research relevant to a number of important areas of neuroscience that inform understanding of mental health. Her expertise in invertebrate neuroscience, and in particular nematode neural systems and the model genetic organism Caenorhabditis elegans positions her well to participate in drug discovery and mode of action programmes for novel antiparasitics. For the last two decades she has collaborated with industry to improve prospects for parasitic nematode control. Her research group identified the molecular target for the resistance breaking anthelmintic emodepside showing it acts through a calcium-activated K+ channel SLO-1 to bring about neuromuscular paralysis in nematode worms. This discovery has paved the way for the pursuit of new approaches to the treatment of human filarial disease. The experimental approaches deployed in her research group encompass genetics through to whole animal physiology and incorporate novel methods for tracking animal behaviour and signal processing.

Career History

2006-present: Professor of Neuroscience. University of Southampton, UK.
2008-2014: Chair. SoNG Advisory Board.
2004-2006: Reader. Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.
1986-1991: Post-doctoral Research Fellow. Department of Neurophysiology, University of Southampton, UK.

Academic Qualifications

1986: PhD Neuropharmacology. University of Southampton, UK.
1981: MSc Biochemical Pharmacology. University of Southampton, UK.
1976-1979: BSc Hons Physiology. University College, Cardiff, UK.

Research interests

I am interested in the fundamental processes of neuronal communication and have established research expertise in simple invertebrate preparations. Much of my work now resonates with issues concerning mental health such as addiction and neurodegeneration. My expertise in invertebrate neuroscience, and in particular nematode neural systems and C. elegans, positions me well to participate in drug discovery and mode of action programmes for novel antiparasitics. For the last decade I have collaborated with industry to improve prospects for parasitic nematode control. The experimental approaches deployed in my research encompass genetics through to whole animal physiology and incorporate novel methods for tracking animal behaviour and signal processing.

PhD Supervision

Caroline Rivers. Chemical biology of the interaction between plants and pathogenic nematodes. BBSRC CASE Samah Zaroug. Associative learning and feeding behaviour in C. elegans. IfLS.

Euan Scott. Probing Bacterial Pathogenicity using C. elegans as the Biosensor. BBSRC, Public Health England.

Yogendra Gaihre. Hatching factors in plant parasitic nematodes. Vice Chancellor's Scholarship. Felix Cobbold Trust. James Hutton Institute.

Monika Kudelska. Structural/functional studies of the ligand binding domains of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Gerald Kerkut Charitable Trust.

Patricia Gonzalez. New routes to the treatment of human organophosphate poisoning. DSTL.

Emily Feist. Understanding the mode of action of a novel nematicide. Adama Agricultural Solutions.

Ellie Kirby. Forward genetics to understand the mode of action of a novel nematicide. Adama Agricultural Solutions.

 

 

Research group

Plants and Food Security

Affiliate research groups

Neuroscience, Institute for Life Sciences (IfLS), Southampton Neuroscience Group (SoNG)

Research project(s)

Modelling decision making in C. elegans to understand neural mechanisms of major psychiatric disorders

Genetic differences have been identified in individuals with autism and schizophrenia. Here we are using the model organism C. elegans to investigate how these genetic differences bring about changes in the function of neural circuits.

Are GTGs a new class of plant anion channels regulating pH in the endomembrane system?

Given the significant sequence similarity between members of the GTG/GPHR family, we are testing whether the GTG/GPHR family has a conserved physiological function in diverse organisms.

Generation of a screening platform for the Cys-loop superfamily of ligand gated ion channels

Structural/functional studies of the ligand binding domains of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Characterisation of cue-dependent behaviour in plant parasitic nematodes: the neurobiology of host plant invasion

The neurobiology of plant parasitic nematodes.

Exploiting C. elegans to provide insight into neural substrates of human alcohol dependence

Changes in the pattern of behaviour with increasing alcohol intake in humans reflect its complex effects on the brain.

Elucidating the mode of action of a novel nematicide on plant parasitic nematodes

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Additional publications

Holden-Dye L and Walker RJ. Anthelmintic Drugs. (2007) WormBook, ed. The C. elegans Research Community, WormBook, doi/10.1895/wormbook. http://www.wormbook.org.

Franks CJ, Holden-Dye L, Bull K, Luedtke S, Walker RJ. (2006) Anatomy, physiology and pharmacology of Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx: a model to define gene function in a simple neural system. Invert Neurosci. 6:105-22

Module coordinator

BIOL1011 Foundations of Physiology I 
BIOL1013 Cell Communications Foundations of Physiology
BIOL2016 Pharmacology A
BIOL2014 Neuroscience 
BIOL2017 Pharmacology B
BIOL3021 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 
BIOL3027 Selective toxicity 
BIOL3018 Molecular Pharmacology 
BIOL3020 Systems Neuroscience 
BIOL3025 Neuropharmacology of CNS Disorders

Contributions to postgraduate teaching programme

BIOL3050 Short Research Project
BIOL3034 In-depth Research Project
BIOL3031 Literature-based Research Project
BIOL3032 Literature-based Research Project
BIOL2016 Pharmacology A
BIOL2014 Neuroscience

Other teaching related responsibilities

Neuroscience tutorials for second year
Contribution to two modules at Winchester School of Art, one in fashion design and the other in graphic arts by providing briefs for neuroscience inspired projects (2 launches in this academic year).
Contribution to Faculty of Medicine, Scientific Basis of Medicine module (Alcohol)

Professor Lindy Holden-Dye
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
Life Sciences Building 85
University of Southampton
Highfield Campus
Southampton
SO17 1BJ

Room Number : 85/3041

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