Katherine Lester

Project Leader - Euphresco

Telephone Number
+44(0)131 244 6347

Email Address
katherine.lester@sasa.gsi.gov.uk

Research interests/Areas of expertise

Developing molecular tools for identification of the insect vectors of Xylella fastidiosa

Biography

Joined SASA in 2017 to lead a Euphresco project as well as providing molecular biology support for work carried out at SASA.
2001-2017: Marine Scotland monitoring and researching fish disease (viral, bacterial and parasitic) in aquaculture. Most recently I have been involved in projects funded by NC3R, Targetfish and BBRSC/NERC developing novel cell lines, both primary and transgenic, for use in the development of novel vaccines and for functional virological and immune studies; ultimately to improve monitoring and control of disease within the Scottish Aquaculture industry. My personal focus was to reduce in vivo testing through development and optimisation of in vitro assays.
1996-2000: Graduated from Aberdeen University with a Zoology degree and went on to obtain an MRes at Stirling University (2007): “Primary cell cultures from Cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)".

Publications

Noguera P, Grunow B, Klinger M, Lester K, Collet B, del-Pozo J. 2017. Atlantic salmon cardiac primary cultures: An in vitro model to study viral host pathogen interactions and pathogenesis. PLoS ONE. 12(7):e0181058.
Collet B, Collins C, Lester K. 2017. Engineered cell lines for fish health research. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 80:34-40.
Matejusova I, Hall M, McBeath AJA, Urquhart K, Simons J, Fordyce MJ, Lester K, Ho Y-M, Murray W, Bruno DW. 2016. Susceptibility of goldsinny wrasse, Ctenolabrus rupestris L. (Labridae), to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) genotype III: Experimental challenge and pathology. Veterinary Microbiology. 186:164-173.
Fourrier M, Lester K, Markussen T, Falk K, Secombes CJ, McBeath A, Collet B. 2015. Dual mutation events in the haemagglutinin-esterase and fusion protein from an infectious salmon anaemia virus HPR0 genotype promote viral fusion and activation by an ubiquitous host protease. PLoS ONE. 10(10):e0142020.
Fourrier M, Lester K, Thoen E, Mikalsen A, Evensen O, Falk K, Collet B, McBeath A. 2014. Deletions in the Highly Polymorphic Region (HPR) of Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus HPR0 haemagglutinin-esterase protein enhance viral fusion and influence the interaction with the fusion protein. Journal of General Virology. 95(5):1015-1024.
Collet B, Urquhart K, Noguera P, Larsen K, Lester K, Smail D, Bruno D. 2013. A method to measure an indicator of viraemia in Atlantic salmon using a reporter cell line. Journal of Virological Methods. 191(2):113-117.
Matejusova I, Lester K, Li Z, Bravo J, Bland F, Collet B. 2013. Comparison of complete polyprotein sequences of two isolates of salmon alphavirus (SAV) type I and their behaviour in a salmonid cell line. Archives of Virology. 158(10):2143–2146.
Lester K, Hall M, Urquhart K, Gahlawat S, Collet B. 2012. Development of an in vitro system to measure the sensitivity to the antiviral Mx protein of fish viruses. Journal of Virological Methods. 182(1-2):1-8.
Collet B, Lester K. 2011. Establishment of a Chinook salmon cell line with an inducible gene expression system. In vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Animal. 47(10):695–697.
Collet B, Lester K. 2011. Establishment of an Atlantic salmon kidney cell line with an inducible gene expression system. Journal of Biotechnology. 154(4):209-211.
Chang MX, Collet B, Nie P, Campbell S, Lester K, Secombes CJ, Zou J. 2011. Expression and functional characterization of the RIG-1 like receptors MDA5 and LGP2 in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Journal of Virology. 85(16):8403-8412.
Lester K, Black J, Bruno DW. 2011. Prevalence of salmonid alphavirus in Scottish fish farms from 2006 to 2007. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists. 31(5):199-204.
Noguera P, Collins C, Bruno D, Pert C, Turnbull A, McIntosh A, Lester K, Bricknell I, Wallace S, Cook P. 2009. Red vent syndrome in wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in Scotland is associated with Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (Nematoda: Anisakidae). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 87(3):199-215.
Bowden TJ, Lester K, MacLachlan P, Bricknell IR. 2000. Preliminary Study Into the Short Term Ef fects of Adjuvants on Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.).. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists. 20(4):148-152.