Dr. Karthic Swaminathan,Lecturer in Skin Sciences
Information about Dr. Karthic Swaminathan at the University of Bradford.
- School of Chemistry & Biosciences
(Faculty of Life Sciences) - Email:
- k.swaminathan@bradford.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- +44 1274 234174
Biography
Dr Swaminathan graduated with a Bachelor in Biochemistry in 2004(University of Madras, India) and with a dual degree in master’s inbiotechnology and a Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics (2006) from BharathidasanUniversity, India. After completing his master’s education, he obtainedInternational Graduate School Scholarship (IGSDHD) to pursue PhD studies at Universityof Cologne and received his PhD from Institute of Biochemistry (2013, Cologne, Germany)on the role of coronin actin binding proteins in cell migration. His researchduring his PhD studies have identified a novel role of coronin proteins in cellmigration through modulation of GTPase signalling and myosin II dynamics (Swaminathanet al, PNAS 2014, Swaminathan et al, Sci Rep 2016).
He then received a Cancer Research UK (CRUK) postdoctoral fellowshipto continue his research on understanding cell migration during organismaldevelopment and cancer metastasis at Beatson Institute of Cancer Research (CRUK),Glasgow. He has uncovered several cytoskeletal signalling pathways required forefficient colonization of melanocyte during embryonic development and demonstratedhow these signalling pathways are altered during the development of melanoma (Swaminathanet al JID, 2021, Papalazarou et al Development 2020, Woodham etal Curr Biol 2017, Reid et al, EMBO J 2017).
In 2020, Dr Swaminathan joined as a Lecturer at the Centrefor Skin Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Bradford. He haswon research awards from Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, and British Skin Foundation.
Research
Cancer Metastasis and Genomics Group (CMG)
The overarching goal of his research group at UoB is tounderstand how cancer cells spread (metastasis) and identify novel translatablepathways/targets to treat metastatic disease.
Nearly 90% of cancer related deaths is due to metastasis.Cancer metastasis is defined as a process in which cancer cells spread todistant tissues and organs generating tumours away from the original site. Thecomplex metastatic process relies on cancer cells penetrating the surroundingtissue, gaining access to circulatory system, and seeding and growth in distantorgans.
The group focuses on elucidating molecular mechanisms underpinningcancer metastatic process within the context of three broad research themes:
Theme 1: Sugars, Cell Adhesion, and Migration
Altered cell attachment (adhesion) to the Extra CellularMatrix (ECM), which is a meshwork of proteins that holds the cells in place, isa hallmark of cancer cells. We investigate how addition of sugars to signallingproteins (process known as sialylation) influences cancer cell behaviour suchas their attachment to ECM, invasion, and migration.
Theme 2: Epigenetics of Stem Cell Biology and Cancer
Epigenetic programs are crucial to maintain the homeostasisof embryonic and adult stem cells. Our previous work has demonstrated that a healthyepigenetic program is required for embryonic development and to maintain lineagespecific transcriptional output during adult stem cell homeostasis. Altered epigeneticsignalling and associated transcriptional programs are commonly observed duringcancer metastasis. We investigate the epigenetic programs requiredfor stem cell homeostasis (development and adult stem cells) and aim to understandhow cancer cells leverage these epigenetic programs during metastaticprogression.
Theme 3: Microbiome and Metastasis
Recent emerging evidence has highlighted the importance anddiversity of microbiome within the tumour microenvironment. These tumours boundmicrobiome were demonstrated to influence tumour progression and treatmentoutcomes. We investigate the molecular mechanism underpinning the interplay(communication) between microbiome and tumour cells impacting tumour invasionand metastasis.
We use an integrated approach combining biochemical,molecular biology, and cell culture methods with state-of-the-art genomics techniquesto unravel the mechanisms of cancer metastasis.
Professional activities
Information about education, employment and areas of particular interest for Dr. Karthic Swaminathan is as follows:
Employment
- University of Bradford - Lecturer in Skin Sciences in the year 2019 (specified as 05/12/2019)
- Cancer Research UK (BICR, Glasgow) - Postdoctoral Researcher in the year 2014 (specified as 01/04/2014)
Education
- Bharathidasan University - Master of Science
- University of cologne - PhD
- Bharathidasan University - Master of Philosophy
- Bharathidasan University - Post Graduate Diploma
- University of Madras - Bachelor of Science
Publications
There are 12 publications involving or that are attributed to Dr. Karthic Swaminathan.
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Title | Year | Publication name | Journal | Volume | Pages | Authors | Editors | ISSN | Publisher | DOI | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WASP Restricts Active Rac to Maintain Cells' Front-Rear Polarization. | 2019 | Current Biology : Cb | 29 | Amato C;Thomason PA;Davidson AJ;Swaminathan K;Ismail S;Machesky LM;Insall RH; | 1879-0445 | 10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.036 | |||||
| Coordination by Cdc42 of Actin, Contractility, and Adhesion for Melanoblast Movement in Mouse Skin. | 2017 | Current Biology : Cb | 27 | Woodham EF;Paul NR;Tyrrell B;Spence HJ;Swaminathan K;Scribner MR;Giampazolias E;Hedley A;Clark W;Kage F;Marston DJ;Hahn KM;Tait SW;Larue L;Brakebusch CH;Insall RH;Machesky LM; | 1879-0445 | 10.1016/j.cub.2017.01.033 | |||||
| Novel Coronin7 interactions with Cdc42 and N-WASP regulate actin organization and Golgi morphology. | 2016 | Scientific Reports | 6 | Bhattacharya K;Swaminathan K;Peche VS;Clemen CS;Knyphausen P;Lammers M;Noegel AA;Rastetter RH; | 2045-2322 | 10.1038/srep25411 | |||||
| The Dictyostelium discoideum RACK1 orthologue has roles in growth and development. | 2014 | Cell Communication And Signaling : Ccs | 12 | Omosigho NN;Swaminathan K;Plomann M;Müller-Taubenberger A;Noegel AA;Riyahi TY; | 1478-811X | 10.1186/1478-811X-12-37 | |||||
| A Cdc42- and Rac-interactive binding (CRIB) domain mediates functions of coronin. | 2014 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 111 | Swaminathan K;Müller-Taubenberger A;Faix J;Rivero F;Noegel AA; | 1091-6490 | 10.1073/pnas.1315368111 | |||||
| Mutations in LMNA modulate the lamin A--Nesprin-2 interaction and cause LINC complex alterations. | 2013 | PLoS ONE | 8 | Yang L;Munck M;Swaminathan K;Kapinos LE;Noegel AA;Neumann S; | 1932-6203 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0071850 | |||||
| The cytohesin paralog Sec7 of Dictyostelium discoideum is required for phagocytosis and cell motility. | 2013 | Cell Communication And Signaling : Ccs | 11 | Müller R;Herr C;Sukumaran SK;Omosigho NN;Plomann M;Riyahi TY;Stumpf M;Swaminathan K;Tsangarides M;Yiannakou K;Blau-Wasser R;Gallinger C;Schleicher M;Kolanus W;Noegel AA; | 1478-811X | 10.1186/1478-811X-11-54 | |||||
| Tumor matrix stiffness promotes metastatic cancer cell interaction with the endothelium | 2017 | EMBO Journal | 36 | Reid, SE; Kay, EJ; Neilson, LJ; Henze, AT; Serneels, J; McGhee, EJ; Dhayade, S; Nixon, C; Mackey, JB; Santi, A; Swaminathan, Karthic; Athineos, D; Papalazarou, V; Patella, F; Roman-Fernandez, A; ElMaghloob, Y; Hernandez-Fernaud, JR; Adams, RH; Ismail, S; Bryant, DM; Salmeron-Sanchez, M; Machesky, LM; Carlin, LM; Blyth, K; Mazzone, M; Zanivan, S | |||||||
| Coronin7 regulates WASP and SCAR through CRIB mediated interaction with Rac proteins | 2015 | Scientific Reports | 5 | Swaminathan, Karthic; Stumpf, M; Mueller, R; Horn, AC; Schmidbauer, J; Eichinger, L; Mueller Taubenberger, A; Faix, J; Noegel, AA | |||||||
| The WAVE Regulatory Complex Is Required to Balance Protrusion and Adhesion in Migration. | 2020 | Cells | 9 | Whitelaw JA;Swaminathan K;Kage F;Machesky LM; | 2073-4409 | 10.3390/cells9071635 | |||||
| The RAC1 target NCKAP1 plays a crucial role in progression of BRAF/PTEN -driven melanoma in mice. | 2020 | Journal of Investigative Dermatology | Swaminathan K;Campbell A;Papalazarou V;Jaber-Hijazi F;Nixon C;McGhee E;Strathdee D;Sansom OJ;Machesky LM; | 1523-1747 | 10.1016/j.jid.2020.06.029 | ||||||
| The Arp2/3 complex is critical for colonisation of the mouse skin by melanoblasts. | 2020 | Development - Company of Biologists | Papalazarou V;Swaminathan K;Jaber-Hijazi F;Spence H;Lahmann I;Nixon C;Salmeron-Sanchez M;Arnold HH;Rottner K;Machesky LM; | 1477-9129 | 10.1242/dev.194555 |