Dr Kirsti Newton BSc, PhD, FHEA
Senior Lecturer / Deputy Course Leader BSc (Honours) Biomedical Science
- School of Biosciences and Chemistry
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre
- Industry and Innovation Research Institute
Summary
Following 10 years in toxin research, I was appointed to my first teaching post at Sheffield Hallam University nearly twenty years ago and am currently a senior lecturer within the School of Biosciences and Chemistry. I teach physiology and neurobiology across a range of degree courses within the Department of Biosciences and Chemistry.
I am also the deputy course leader for the undergraduate BSc (Honours) Biomedical Science degree and the course leader for the undergraduate BSc (Honours) Biosciences degree. My research focusses on scorpion venom, antivenom, and pharmacological components of the venoms.
About
After my undergraduate degree in Biology with Biochemistry at the University of Wales, Bangor, I spent several years at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (an NHS special health authority). The centre was the major microbiological public health research centre in the UK, carrying out research on pathogenesis, vaccines and therapeutics for numerous infectious diseases, and a really exciting place for a young scientist to work. My work was primarily based on medical applications of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (botox), and also on replacements to animal testing.
A desire to further pursue my interest in the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring toxins and venoms led me to complete a PhD in that area here at Sheffield Hallam University. I love to travel, so an 18-month placement in the Department of Biochemistry at the National University of Singapore was an additional bonus. I then spent time as a postdoctoral research assistant at the University of Sheffield, before returning to Sheffield Hallam University in a teaching role.
I’ve been teaching at Hallam, primarily in anatomy, physiology and neurobiology for nearly 20 years now and have had many roles over that time. I am currently the module leader for the first-year module, Fundamentals of Biomedical Science and have recently returned to my former role as deputy course leader for the undergraduate Biomedical Science degree. I am also the course leader for BSc Biosciences (Honours) degree, which some students transfer to later in their studies.
Teaching
School of Biosciences and Chemistry
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
Biosciences
BSc (Honours) Biomedical Science
BSc (Honours) Biomedicine and Health Science
BSc (Honours) Biology
BSc (Honours) Biochemistry
Modules
- Fundamentals of Biomedical Science
- Neurobiology and Neurophysiology
- Human Reproduction and Development
- Physiology of Health and Disease
- Introducing Professional Skills For Scientists
- Demonstrating Professional Skills for Scientists
- Developing Professional Skills for Scientists
- Applying Professional Skills for Scientists
- Advanced Professional Skills for Scientists
- Research Project (undergraduate)
- Research Project (masters)
Research
My general research interests lie in scorpion venom research. Scorpion venoms represent extensive pharmacological libraries of specifically evolved peptides with distinct molecular targets. My current focus is on three main areas, venomics, antivenoms and venom-derived anti-cancer agents.
Publications
Journal articles
Ayed, A.S., Omran, M.A.A.A., Nabil, Z.I., Strong, P.N., Newton, K.A., & Abdel-Rahman, M.A. (2020). C-Terminal Amidation of Chlorotoxin Does Not Affect Tumour Cell Proliferation and Has No Effect on Toxin Cytotoxicity. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-020-10117-4
Newton, K.A., Clench, M.R., Deshmukh, R., Jeyaseelan, K., & Strong, P.N. (2007). Mass fingerprinting of toxic fractions from the venom of the Indian red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus:: Biotope-specific variation in the expression of venom peptides. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, 21 (21), 3467-3476. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.3240
Newton, K.A., Clench, M.R., Deshmukh, R., Jeyaseelan, K., & Strong, P.N. (2007). Mass fingerprinting of toxic fractions from the venom of the Indian red scorpion, mesobuthus tamulus: biotope-specific variation in the expression of venom peptides. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry, 21 (21), 3467-3476. http://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.3240
Newton, K., Wictome, M., Jameson, K., Dunnigan, P., Clarke, S., Gaze, J., ... Shone, C. (1999). Development of in vitro assays for the detection of botulinum toxins in foods. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 24 (3), 319-323. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.1999.tb01300.x
Theses / Dissertations
Newton, K.A. (2004). Biochemical studies on scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus) and bee (Apis mellifera) venom peptides. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Strong, P.
Postgraduate supervision
MPhil- Mechanism of action of the scorpion neurotoxin, chlorotoxin - a computer modelling study