Dr J. Bernadette Moore

Lecturer in Molecular Nutrition

Qualifications: PhD Nutritional Sciences

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 6405
Room no: 22 AY 03

Office hours

By appointment.

Further information

Biography

2007- Lecturer in Molecular Nutrition, University of Surrey

2005- Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Fellow; National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland

2003- National Institutes of Health Intramural Postdoctoral Fellow; National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive Kidney Diseases, USA

2003-Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow; Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies USA

2002- PhD. Nutritional Sciences; University of Florida, USA

1997- BSc. Chemical Sciences; Florida State University, USA

1993- BSc. Human Nutrition & Exercise Physiology; Florida State University, USA

Research Interests

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Recently recognized as the hepatic consequence of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common reason for referral to hepatology clinics. Prevalence of NAFLD in the general population is estimated at 30% and its dramatic rise in incidence is correlated to the worldwide increase in obesity. A disease spectrum, NAFLD ranges from the relatively benign steatosis to progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which leads to fibrosis, cirrhosis and end stage liver disease. A primary clinical concern is identifying patients that have or will develop NASH.

I am interested in the dietary, genetic and immune factors that influence NAFLD progression. Utilizing discovery based proteomics, genomics and systems biology approaches alongside molecular cell biology techniques, my research aims both to identify disease biomarkers and characterize molecular mechanisms of NAFLD progression.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share common genetic and environmental risk factors such as insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes. Pathogenesis of NAFLD, from benign steatosis to progressive steatohepatitis, involves immune inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress and fibrogenic factors also causal in atherosclerosis. Recent data show NAFLD is associated with increased CVD risk and NAFLD may serve as a mediator rather than a marker of atherosclerosis.

Our research also aims to investigate the influence of fatty liver on the development of cardiovascular disease. Of particular interest are immune mediators and proteins made by the liver in response to steatohepatitis that may serve to accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis.

GRANT FUNDING

Moore, JB (PI), Plant NJ, Kierzek AM; Predictive Analysis of Network Activation in Response to Lipid Loading in the Liver.  £500,000 (100% FEC), BBSRC, BB/I008195/1. August 2011-August 2014.

Kart, KH (PI), Moore JB, Fitzpatrick E, Dhawan A; Dietary Assessment in Paediatric Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): a case control study. £5,000, British Dietetic Association Paediatric Group. December 2010- December 2012.

Moore, JB (PI), Walden C; Nutrigenomics approaches towards an understanding of the relationship between lipid accumulation and glucose production in the liver. £115,000, Unilever-BBSRC CASE Studentship, BB/I532129/1. October 2010-September 2014.

Moore, JB (PI), Dhawan, A; Plasma proteome profiling in children with fatty liver disease. £5,000, Children’s Liver Disease Fund. January 2010-December 2010.

Moore, JB (PI), Oveido-Orta E; Proteomic characterization of fatty liver disease in apolipoprotein E deficient mice. £60,000, BBSRC Quota Studentship, BB/D526853/1 October 2008-September 2011.

Research Collaborations

Dr. Mark E. Weeks, UCL Institute of Child Health, Molecular Haematology & Cancer

Professor Anil Dhawan and Dr. Emer Fitzpatrick, Kings College Hospital Paediatric Liver Clinc 

Dr. Charlotte Walden, Unilever

Dr. Andrzej M. Kierzek and Dr. Nick J. Plant, FHMS, University of Surrey

Dr. David Windridge, CVSSP, FEPS, University of Surrey

Dr. Karen Young, Maths, FEPS, University of Surrey

Publications

Moore, J.B. & Weeks, M.A. (2011) Proteomics and Systems Biology: Current and Future Applications in the Nutritional Sciences.  Advances in Nutrition 2: 355–364; doi:10.3945/an.111.000554. http://advances.nutrition.org/content/2/4/355.full.pdf

Moore, J.B. (2010) Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: the emergent hepatic consequence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 69: 211-20. http://journals.cambridge.org/repo_A72zOweJ

Journal articles

  • Moore JB, Weeks ME. (2011) 'Proteomics and systems biology: current and future applications in the nutritional sciences.'. Adv Nutr, United States: 2 (4), pp. 355-364.
  • Moore JB. (2010) 'Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: the hepatic consequence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.'. Proc Nutr Soc, England: 69 (2), pp. 211-220.

    Abstract

    Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common liver disease in both adults and children worldwide. As a disease spectrum, NAFLD may progress from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. An estimated 20-35% of the general population has steatosis, 10% of whom will develop the more progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated with markedly increased risk of cardiovascular- and liver-related mortality. Development of NAFLD is strongly linked to components of the metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes. The recognition that NAFLD is an independent risk factor for CVD is a major public health concern. There is a great need for a sensitive non-invasive test for the early detection and assessment of the stage of NAFLD that could also be used to monitor response to treatment. The cellular and molecular aetiology of NAFLD is multi-factorial; genetic polymorphisms influencing NAFLD have been identified and nutrition is a modifiable environmental factor influencing NAFLD progression. Weight loss through diet and exercise is the primary recommendation in the clinical management of NAFLD. The application of systems biology to the identification of NAFLD biomarkers and factors involved in NAFLD progression is an area of promising research.

  • McGauran AM, Moore JB, Madsen D, Barry D, O'Dea S, Mahon BP, Commins S. (2008) 'A possible role for protein synthesis, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in long-term spatial memory retention in the water maze.'. Behav Neurosci, United States: 122 (4), pp. 805-815.
  • Molloy EL, Adams A, Moore JB, Masterson JC, Madrigal-Estebas L, Mahon BP, O'Dea S. (2008) 'BMP4 induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like response in adult airway epithelial cells.'. Growth Factors, England: 26 (1), pp. 12-22.
  • Agarwal SK, Kennedy PA, Scacheri PC, Novotny EA, Hickman AB, Cerrato A, Rice TS, Moore JB, Rao S, Ji Y, Mateo C, Libutti SK, Oliver B, Chandrasekharappa SC, Burns AL, Collins FS, Spiegel AM, Marx SJ. (2005) 'Menin molecular interactions: insights into normal functions and tumorigenesis.'. Horm Metab Res, Germany: 37 (6), pp. 369-374.
  • Cousins RJ, Blanchard RK, Popp MP, Liu L, Cao J, Moore JB, Green CL. (2003) 'A global view of the selectivity of zinc deprivation and excess on genes expressed in human THP-1 mononuclear cells.'. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, United States: 100 (12), pp. 6952-6957.
  • Moore JB, Blanchard RK, Cousins RJ. (2003) 'Dietary zinc modulates gene expression in murine thymus: results from a comprehensive differential display screening.'. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, United States: 100 (7), pp. 3883-3888.
  • Moore JB, Blanchard RK, McCormack WT, Cousins RJ. (2001) 'cDNA array analysis identifies thymic LCK as upregulated in moderate murine zinc deficiency before T-lymphocyte population changes.'. J Nutr, United States: 131 (12), pp. 3189-3196.
  • Blanchard RK, Moore JB, Green CL, Cousins RJ. (2001) 'Modulation of intestinal gene expression by dietary zinc status: effectiveness of cDNA arrays for expression profiling of a single nutrient deficiency.'. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, United States: 98 (24), pp. 13507-13513.
  • Levenson CW, Moore JB. (1998) 'Response of rat adrenal neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA to acute stress is enhanced by long-term voluntary exercise.'. Neurosci Lett, IRELAND: 242 (3), pp. 177-179.

Conference papers

  • Cousins RJ, Blanchard RK, Moore JB, Cui L, Green CL, Liuzzi JP, Cao J, Bobo JA. (2003) 'Regulation of zinc metabolism and genomic outcomes.'. J Nutr, United States: 133 (5 Suppl 1), pp. 1521S-1526S.

Teaching

Undergraduate:

  • BMS1031 Molecular Biology and Genetics 1
  • BMS1032 Physiology
  • BMS2039 Human Nutrition
  • BMS2052 Pathology: A Metabolic Perspective
  • BMS2054 Animal Nutrition, Toxicology and Pharmacology
  • BMS3067 Advances in Nutrition: Nutrition in Health & Disease (Module Organiser)

MSc Nutritional Medicine: 

  • Module 1: Principles of Nutritional Science
  • Module 4: Obesity, Diabetes and Eating Disorders
  • Module 9: Dietary Minerals in Health and Disease (Module Organiser)
  • Module 12: The Brain, Nervous Syste, Diet and Behaviour (Module Organiser)

Laboratory Members

Ciaran Fisher, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2011-2014

 

Dr. Francesca Robertson, Nutritional Sciences Laboratory Manager

 
Christos Spanos, PhD student 2008-2011

Christos Spanos, PhD student 2008-2012

 

Matthew Clarke, PhD student 2010-2014

 

Dr. Modhi Al-Nehayan, MSc Student in Nutritional Medicine, 2011-2012

 

Elaina Maldonado, Level 3 project student, 2010-2011

 

Katie Arnold, Level 3 project student, 2010-2011

Past Lab Members

Gemma Shay                             MSc. Clinical Biochemistry 2008
Michelle Sze Man Yau               MSc. Clinical Biochemistry 2010
Kumiththa Kunasekaram         MSc. Clinical Biochemistry 2010
Jacqui Folkes                             MSc. Clinical Biochemistry 2011
Ahmad Kheyami                        MSc. Clinical Biochemistry 2011

Hannah Gerard                            Rank Prize Funds, Summer 2008
Karen Jane Levy                          L3 project student 2008-2009
Sophie Wise                                 Nuffield Prize, Summer 2010
Elaina Maldonado                        L3 project student 2010-2011
Katherine Arnold                          L3 project student 2010-2011