Sheena McGowan

Personal profile

Biography

Sheena McGowan was formally trained in microbiology, completing her PhD in 2004. During her PhD she studied the structure and function of a toxin regulator from the causative agent of gas gangrene, developing what would become a long-standing interest in structure and function of proteins. During her post-doctoral work she was trained in protein crystallography and biophysics and she now applies these skills in microbiology and structural biology to investigate novel methods for microbial disease control.

The McGowan laboratory is interested in characterising novel molecular drug targets. The lab has a strong research focus in the design of novel anti-malarial drugs as well as other parasitic and bacterial diseases. Primarily we are a structural biology laboratory using techniques in X-ray crystallography, biochemistry and biophysics to analyse our proteins of interest. We use this mechanistic information to design inhibitors or analogues with potential applications in human medicine.

Research area keywords

Protease
Protease Inhibitors
Drug Discovery
Structural Biology
Microbiology

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Projects

1 Not started
3 Active
12 Finished

Multidisciplinary catalyst to discover and progress novel antimalarial drugs

Charman, S., Creek, D., de Koning-Ward, T. F., Gilson, P., McGowan, S. & Scammells, P.

National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

1/01/20 → 31/12/24

Project: Research

Mechanism of action of a novel multifunctional bacterial secretion system

Lyras, D., McGowan, S. & Rood, J.

1/01/18 → 31/12/20

Project: Research

Anti-sporulation strategies for Clostridium difficile infections

Lyras, D., McGowan, S., Pyne, S. G., Keller, P. A. & Yu, H.

1/01/18 → 31/12/21

Project: Research

Gordon Research Conference: Proteolytic Enzymes and their Inhibitors

McGowan, S.

CASS Foundation

Project: Research

Harnessing the type VI secretion system 'combat' arsenal of A. baumannii as a source of new antimicrobials and antimicrobial targets

Boyce, J., McGowan, S. & Harper, M.

National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

1/01/17 → 31/12/19

Project: Research

Research Output

58 Article
5 Chapter (Book)
2 Letter
2 Review Article

Reply to: Caution is warranted in using cephamycin antibiotics against recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection

Lyras, D., Srikhanta, Y. & McGowan, S., Feb 2020, In : Nature Microbiology. 5, 2, p. 237-238 2 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Other › peer-review

Strategies for Increasing Protein Stability

Chandler, P. G., Broendum, S. S., Riley, B. T., Spence, M. A., Jackson, C. J., McGowan, S. & Buckle, A. M., 2020, Protein Nanotechnology: Protocols, Instrumentation, and Applications. Gerrard, J. A. & Domigan, L. J. (eds.). New York, NY: Humana Press, p. 163-181 19 p. (Methods in Molecular Biology; vol. 2073).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review

Cephamycins inhibit pathogen sporulation and effectively treat recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection

Srikhanta, Y. N., Hutton, M. L., Awad, M. M., Drinkwater, N., Singleton, J., Day, S. L., Cunningham, B. A., McGowan, S. & Lyras, D., Dec 2019, In : Nature Microbiology. 4, p. 2237-2245 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Crystal structure of the inhibitor-free form of the serine protease kallikrein-4

Riley, B. T., Hoke, D. E., McGowan, S. & Buckle, A. M., Aug 2019, In : Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology Communications. F75, p. 543-546 4 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Hydroxamic Acid Inhibitors Provide Cross-Species Inhibition of Plasmodium M1 and M17 Aminopeptidases

Vinh, N. B., Drinkwater, N., Malcolm, T. R., Kassiou, M., Lucantoni, L., Grin, P. M., Butler, G. S., Duffy, S., Overall, C. M., Avery, V. M., Scammells, P. J. & McGowan, S., 24 Jan 2019, In : Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 62, 2, p. 622-640 19 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Activities

1 Membership of industry collaboration/ network