Henry McSorley
@henrymcsorley.bsky.social
I use parasites to mess with the immune system. Reader at University of Dundee. I also like bikes and cats.
Done! 7 laps, 67 km. To be clear, the race is still going on, IM done. 3000 calories - could eat… strava.app.link/8fs8DA6u0Wb
September 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Done! 7 laps, 67 km. To be clear, the race is still going on, IM done. 3000 calories - could eat… strava.app.link/8fs8DA6u0Wb
Doing the Glentress 7 today - 7h mountain bike race. I plan to become a machine which turns peanut butter and jam sandwiches into laps.
September 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Doing the Glentress 7 today - 7h mountain bike race. I plan to become a machine which turns peanut butter and jam sandwiches into laps.
We screened the CCP domain protein family to see if there were other host immune factor binders, using an AVEXIS protein-protein interaction screen. The screen confirmed that HpBARI binds ST2, and that TGM1 binds TGFBR2 (reassuring) and identified one new hit - a protein which bound RELM-beta.
September 25, 2025 at 7:28 AM
We screened the CCP domain protein family to see if there were other host immune factor binders, using an AVEXIS protein-protein interaction screen. The screen confirmed that HpBARI binds ST2, and that TGM1 binds TGFBR2 (reassuring) and identified one new hit - a protein which bound RELM-beta.
This story started when we realised that all of the immunomodulators we had identified from Hpb (HpARI, HpBARI and TGM) were related in their domain structure - all consist of strings of CCP domains. Turns out the CCP domain family is massively (and uniquely) expanded in the Hpb genome.
September 25, 2025 at 7:28 AM
This story started when we realised that all of the immunomodulators we had identified from Hpb (HpARI, HpBARI and TGM) were related in their domain structure - all consist of strings of CCP domains. Turns out the CCP domain family is massively (and uniquely) expanded in the Hpb genome.
Latest McSorley lab paper is out! Led by Vivien @vshek.bsky.social, this is a story about the immunomodulators from H. polygyrus bakeri (Hpb), and how their analysis led to the identification of HpBoRB, a secreted protein which binds host RELM-beta www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 25, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Latest McSorley lab paper is out! Led by Vivien @vshek.bsky.social, this is a story about the immunomodulators from H. polygyrus bakeri (Hpb), and how their analysis led to the identification of HpBoRB, a secreted protein which binds host RELM-beta www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Gonna steal this sign for my office door
July 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Gonna steal this sign for my office door
The perils of living in cow-country. I thought I was putting the grass cuttings on the compost heap. Apparently no, I was filling up the cow feeding trough. The cows made it clear that this was the best day ever.
June 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The perils of living in cow-country. I thought I was putting the grass cuttings on the compost heap. Apparently no, I was filling up the cow feeding trough. The cows made it clear that this was the best day ever.
We found that this combination vaccine worked super well, showing all the best elements of the HpARI and the HpBARI vaccines, boosting ILC2s, Th2s, goblet cells and cytokine responses.
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
We found that this combination vaccine worked super well, showing all the best elements of the HpARI and the HpBARI vaccines, boosting ILC2s, Th2s, goblet cells and cytokine responses.
So we combined the successful vaccines to make a HpARI2+HpBARI+HpBARI_Hom2 (A2+B+BH2) cocktail. Its super effective!
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
So we combined the successful vaccines to make a HpARI2+HpBARI+HpBARI_Hom2 (A2+B+BH2) cocktail. Its super effective!
Vaccinating with HpBARI+HpBARI_hom2, like with HpARI2 vaccination, had big effects on the immune response to the parasite. In this case, there was no effect on ILC2 responses, but an increase in Th2 cells, and their cytokines.
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Vaccinating with HpBARI+HpBARI_hom2, like with HpARI2 vaccination, had big effects on the immune response to the parasite. In this case, there was no effect on ILC2 responses, but an increase in Th2 cells, and their cytokines.
So next, what about HpBARI? There is also a family of HpBARI proteins - HpBARI, and HpBARI_Hom2. We found that only by vaccinating with both proteins together could we reverse the ST2 suppression seen during Hpb infection. So these HpBARI proteins clearly have redundant effects.
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
So next, what about HpBARI? There is also a family of HpBARI proteins - HpBARI, and HpBARI_Hom2. We found that only by vaccinating with both proteins together could we reverse the ST2 suppression seen during Hpb infection. So these HpBARI proteins clearly have redundant effects.
...moreover, HpARI2 vaccination (but not HpARI3 vaccination) protected against infection - so by blocking the immunomodulatory effects of the parasite, we could cause a productive immune response and ejection of the worm!
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
...moreover, HpARI2 vaccination (but not HpARI3 vaccination) protected against infection - so by blocking the immunomodulatory effects of the parasite, we could cause a productive immune response and ejection of the worm!
When we assessed the effects of vaccination during that crucial first week of Hpb infection, we found that only HpARI2 vaccination had a significant effect, boosting ILC2 responses.
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
When we assessed the effects of vaccination during that crucial first week of Hpb infection, we found that only HpARI2 vaccination had a significant effect, boosting ILC2 responses.
We first begun by looking at the effects of HpARI and HpBARI during H. polygyrus bakeri (Hpb) infection. You can see HpBARI working as it makes the IL-33 receptor, ST2, disappear on flow cytometry staining. We found that this effect is seen systemically, but only during the first week of infection.
May 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
We first begun by looking at the effects of HpARI and HpBARI during H. polygyrus bakeri (Hpb) infection. You can see HpBARI working as it makes the IL-33 receptor, ST2, disappear on flow cytometry staining. We found that this effect is seen systemically, but only during the first week of infection.
Stayed last weekend in the wonderful Bamff wildland. So many beavers! Right outside the window! Morning coffee and beavers = excellent.
May 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Stayed last weekend in the wonderful Bamff wildland. So many beavers! Right outside the window! Morning coffee and beavers = excellent.
Just a great bunch of lads
May 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Just a great bunch of lads
Got some helpers for today’s marking. Baby cows are best cows.
May 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Got some helpers for today’s marking. Baby cows are best cows.
Been to a few pretty great conferences recently. Big this vibes.
April 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Been to a few pretty great conferences recently. Big this vibes.
Smudge is helping with the washing up
March 29, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Smudge is helping with the washing up
Everything is awful. Have a woodpecker in the snow.
February 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Everything is awful. Have a woodpecker in the snow.
I'd like to come but it looks like its a ways off...
January 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
I'd like to come but it looks like its a ways off...
Christmas biscuits from the lab!! I must get a new red check shirt…
December 13, 2024 at 4:37 PM
Christmas biscuits from the lab!! I must get a new red check shirt…
Congratulations to Dr Nicole Ong who passed her PhD viva yesterday! And many thanks to examiners Bill Horsnell and @simon-arthur.bsky.social. Fabulous PhD hat made by @vshek.bsky.social
December 6, 2024 at 8:11 AM
Congratulations to Dr Nicole Ong who passed her PhD viva yesterday! And many thanks to examiners Bill Horsnell and @simon-arthur.bsky.social. Fabulous PhD hat made by @vshek.bsky.social
Beautiful sunrise this morning, pretty chilly though
November 28, 2024 at 7:16 AM
Beautiful sunrise this morning, pretty chilly though