- STEM Ambassador
- Outreach for the British Heart Foundation
Alice Pollitt
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0118 378 3343
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Associate Professor
- Director of Postdoctoral Researchers
Areas of interest
- Funding from the British Heart Foundation, NC3Rs, The Academy of Medical Sciences and the EU.
- Understand cell-cell communication between platelets and non-hematopoietic cells.
- Understanding the molecular basis of changes in the spatial and temporal organisation of the cell surface and how this influences signalling pathways.
Research centres and groups
- Prof. Steve Watson - University of Birmingham
- Dr. Mike Tomlinson - University of Birmingham
- Dr. Chris O'Callaghan - University of Oxford
- Dr. Stephanie Jung - University of Cambridge
National Collaborators
Selected publications
Esteem Factors
- Peer review for Blood, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and Platelets
Platelets 3rd Edition; Chapter 11: GPVI and CLEC-2; Pollitt, Hughes & Watson
Impact, enterprise and outreach
Publications
- Clark, J. , Martin, E. , Morán, L. , Di, Y. , Wang, X. , Zuidscherwoude, M. , Brown, H. , Kavanagh, D. , Hummert, J. , Eble, J. , Nieswandt, B. , Stegner, D. , Pollitt, A. , Herten, D. , Tomlinson, M. , García, A. , Watson, S. (2023) Divalent nanobodies to platelet CLEC-2 can serve as agonists or antagonists. Communications Biology , 6 (1). ISSN: 2399-3642 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04766-6
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Kempster, C.
,
Butler, G.
,
Kuznecova, E.
,
Taylor, K.
,
Kriek, N.
,
Little, G.
,
Sowa, M.
,
Sage, T.
,
Johnson, L.
ORCID: 0000-0002-0006-1511
,
Gibbins, J.
ORCID: 0000-0002-0372-5352
,
Pollitt, A.
(2022)
Fully automated platelet differential interference contrast image analysis via deep learning.
Scientific Reports
, 12
ISSN:
2045-2322
|
doi:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08613-2
- Morán, L. , Di, Y. , Sowa, M. , Hermida-Nogueira, L. , Barrachina, M. , Martin, E. , Clark, J. , Mize, T. , Eble, J. , Moreira, D. , Pollitt, A. , Loza, M. , Domínguez, E. , Watson, S. , Garcia, Á. (2022) Katacine is a new ligand of CLEC-2 that acts as a platelet agonist. Thrombosis and haemostasis , 122 (8). pp. 1361-1368. ISSN: 0340-6245 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-1772-1069
- Danson, A. , McStea, A. , Wang, L. , Pollitt, A. , Martin-Fernandez, M. , Moraes, I. , Walsh, M. , MacIntyre, S. , Watson, K. (2020) Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy reveals clustering behaviour of Chlamydia pneumoniae’s major outer membrane protein. Biology , 9 (10). ISSN: 2079-7737 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology9100344
- Nicolson, P. , Nock, S. , Hinds, J. , Garcia-Quintanilla, L. , Smith, C. , Campos, J. , Brill, A. , Pike, J. , Khan, A. , Poulter, N. , Kavanagh, D. , Watson, S. , Watson, C. , Clifford, H. , Huissoon, A. , Pollitt, A. , Eble, J. , Pratt, G. , Watson, S. , Hughes, C. (2020) Low dose Btk inhibitors selectively block platelet activation by CLEC-2. Haematologica , 105 (1). ISSN: 1592-8721 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2019.218545
- Dunster, J. , Unsworth, A. , Bye, A. , Haining, E. , Sowa, M. , Di, Y. , Sage, T. , Pallini, C. , Pike, J. , Hardy, A. , Nieswandt, B. , García, Á. , Watson, S. , Poulter, N. , Gibbins, J. , Pollitt, A. (2020) Interspecies differences in protein expression do not impact the spatiotemporal regulation of glycoprotein VI mediated activation. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 18 (2). pp. 485-496. ISSN: 1538-7836 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.14673
- Dustin, M. and Pollitt, A. (2018) The study of platelet receptors using artificial lipid bilayers. In: Gibbins, J. and Mahaut-Smith, M. , (eds.) Platelets and Megakaryocytes: Volume 4, Advanced Protocols and Perspectives. Methods in Molecular Biology , 1812. Methods in Molecular Biology , 1812 pp. 127-137. ISSN: 1064-3745 ISBN: 9781493985845 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8585-2_8
- Nicolson, P. , Hughes, C. , Watson, S. , Nock, S. , Hardy, A. , Watson, C. , Montague, S. , Clifford, H. , Huissoon, A. , Malcor, J. , Thomas, M. , Pollitt, A. , Tomlinson, M. , Pratt, G. , Watson, S. (2018) Inhibition of Btk by Btk-specific concentrations of ibrutinib and acalabrutinib delays but does not block platelet aggregation to GPVI. Haematologica , 103 (12). pp. 2097-2108. ISSN: 1592-8721 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2018.193391
- Lombard, S. , Pollitt, A. , Hughes, C. , Di, Y. , Mckinnon, T. , O'Callaghan, C. , Watson, S. (2018) Mouse podoplanin supports adhesion and aggregation of platelets under arterial shear: a novel mechanism of haemostasis. Platelets , 29 (7). pp. 716-722. ISSN: 0953-7104 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09537104.2017.1356919
- Poulter, N. , Pollitt, A. , Owen, D. , Gardiner, E. , Andrews, R. , Shimizu, H. , Ishikawa, D. , Bihan, D. , Farndale, R. , Moroi, M. , Watson, S. , Jung, S. (2017) Clustering of GPVI dimers upon adhesion to collagen as a mechanism to regulate GPVI signalling in platelets. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 15 (3). pp. 549-564. ISSN: 1538-7933 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.13613
- Flierl, U. , Nero, T. , Lim, B. , Arthur, J. , Yao, Y. , Jung, S. , Gitz, E. , Pollitt, A. , Zaldivia, M. , Jandrot-Perrus, M. , Schäfer, A. , Nieswandt, B. , Andrews, R. , Parker, M. , Gardiner, E. , Peter, K. (2015) Phosphorothioate backbone modifications of nucleotide-based drugs are potent platelet activators. The Journal of Experimental Medicine , 212 (2). pp. 129-137. ISSN: 1540-9538 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20140391
- Navarro-Núñez, L. , Pollitt, A. , Lowe, K. , Latif, A. , Nash, G. , Watson, S. (2015) Platelet adhesion to podoplanin under flow is mediated by the receptor CLEC-2 and stabilised by Src/Syk-dependent platelet signalling. Thrombosis and haemostasis , 113 (5). pp. 1109-1120. ISSN: 0340-6245 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1160/TH14-09-0762
- Poulter, N. , Pollitt, A. , Davies, A. , Malinova, D. , Nash, G. , Hannon, M. , Pikramenou, Z. , Rappoport, J. , Hartwig, J. , Owen, D. , Thrasher, A. , Watson, S. , Thomas, S. (2015) Platelet actin nodules are podosome-like structures dependent on Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein and ARP2/3 complex. Nature Communications , 6 ISSN: 2041-1723 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8254
- Alshehri, O. , Montague, S. , Watson, S. , Carter, P. , Sarker, N. , Manne, B. , Miller, J. , Herr, A. , Pollitt, A. , O'Callaghan, C. , Kunapuli, S. , Arman, M. , Hughes, C. , Watson, S. (2015) Activation of glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC-2) underlies platelet activation by diesel exhaust particles and other charged/hydrophobic ligands. Biochemical Journal , 468 (3). pp. 459-473. ISSN: 0264-6021 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BJ20150192
- Borgognone, A. , Navarro-Núñez, L. , Correia, J. , Pollitt, A. , Thomas, S. , Eble, J. , Pulcinelli, F. , Madhani, M. , Watson, S. (2014) CLEC-2-dependent activation of mouse platelets is weakly inhibited by cAMP but not by cGMP. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 12 (4). pp. 550-559. ISSN: 1538-7933 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.12514
- Gitz, E. , Pollitt, A. , Gitz-Francois, J. , Alshehri, O. , Mori, J. , Montague, S. , Nash, G. , Douglas, M. , Gardiner, E. , Andrews, R. , Buckley, C. , Harrison, P. , Watson, S. (2014) CLEC-2 expression is maintained on activated platelets and on platelet microparticles. Blood , 124 (14). pp. 2262-2270. ISSN: 0006-4971 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2014-05-572818
- Pollitt, A. , Poulter, N. , Gitz, E. , Navarro-Nuñez, L. , Wang, Y. , Hughes, C. , Thomas, S. , Nieswandt, B. , Douglas, M. , Owen, D. , Jackson, D. , Dustin, M. , Watson, S. (2014) Syk and Src family kinases regulate C-type lectin receptor 2 (CLEC-2)-mediated clustering of podoplanin and platelet adhesion to lymphatic endothelial cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry , 289 (52). pp. 35695-35710. ISSN: 1083-351X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M114.584284
- Pollitt, A. , Hughes, C. , Watson, S. (2013) GPVI and CLEC-2. In: Michelson, A. , (eds.) Platelets. 3rd edition. Academic Press , Amsterdam. pp. 215-231. ISBN: 9780123878373 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-387837-3.00011-0
- Ura, S. , Pollitt, A. , Veltman, D. , Morrice, N. , Machesky, L. , Insall, R. (2012) Pseudopod growth and evolution during cell movement is controlled through SCAR/WAVE dephosphorylation. Current Biology , 22 (7). pp. 553-561. ISSN: 0960-9822 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.02.020
- Finney, B. , Schweighoffer, E. , Navarro-Núñez, L. , Bénézech, C. , Barone, F. , Hughes, C. , Langan, S. , Lowe, K. , Pollitt, A. , Mourao-Sa, D. , Sheardown, S. , Nash, G. , Smithers, N. , Reis e Sousa, C. , Tybulewicz, V. , Watson, S. (2012) CLEC-2 and Syk in the megakaryocytic/platelet lineage are essential for development. Blood , 119 (7). pp. 1747-1756. ISSN: 0006-4971 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2011-09-380709
- Séverin, S. , Pollitt, A. , Navarro-Nuñez, L. , Nash, C. , Mourão-Sá, D. , Eble, J. , Senis, Y. , Watson, S. (2011) Syk-dependent phosphorylation of CLEC-2: a novel mechanism of hem-immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif signalling. The Journal of Biological Chemistry , 286 (6). pp. 4107-4116. ISSN: 1083-351X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.167502
- Pollitt, A. , Grygielska, B. , Leblond, B. , Désiré, L. , Eble, J. , Watson, S. (2010) Phosphorylation of CLEC-2 is dependent on lipid rafts, actin polymerization, secondary mediators, and Rac. Blood , 115 (14). pp. 2938-2946. ISSN: 0006-4971 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2009-12-257212
- Watson, S. , Herbert, J. , Pollitt, A. (2010) GPVI and CLEC-2 in hemostasis and vascular integrity. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 8 (7). pp. 1456-1467. ISSN: 1538-7933 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.03875.x
- Falet, H. , Pollitt, A. , Begonja, A. , Weber, S. , Duerschmied, D. , Wagner, D. , Watson, S. , Hartwig, J. (2010) A novel interaction between FlnA and Syk regulates platelet ITAM-mediated receptor signaling and function. The Journal of Experimental Medicine , 207 (9). pp. 1967-1979. ISSN: 1540-9538 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20100222
- Hughes, C. , Pollitt, A. , Mori, J. , Eble, J. , Tomlinson, M. , Hartwig, J. , O'Callaghan, C. , Fütterer, K. , Watson, S. (2010) CLEC-2 activates Syk through dimerization. Blood , 115 (14). pp. 2947-2955. ISSN: 1528-0020 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2009-08-237834
- Hughes, C. , Navarro-Núñez, L. , Finney, B. , Mourão-Sá, D. , Pollitt, A. , Watson, S. (2010) CLEC-2 is not required for platelet aggregation at arteriolar shear. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis , 8 (10). pp. 2328-2332. ISSN: 1538-7933 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.04006.x
- Pollitt, A. and Insall, R. (2009) Loss of Dictyostelium HSPC300 causes a scar-like phenotype and loss of SCAR protein.. BMC cell biology , 10 pp. 13. ISSN: 1471-2121
- Pollitt, A. and Insall, R. (2009) WASP and SCAR/WAVE proteins: the drivers of actin assembly.. Journal of cell science , 122 (Pt 15). pp. 2575-8. ISSN: 0021-9533
- Spalton, J. , Mori, J. , Pollitt, A. , Hughes, C. , Eble, J. , Watson, S. (2009) The novel Syk inhibitor R406 reveals mechanistic differences in the initiation of GPVI and CLEC-2 signaling in platelets.. Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH , 7 (7). pp. 1192-9. ISSN: 1538-7836
- Christou, C. , Pearce, A. , Watson, A. , Mistry, A. , Pollitt, A. , Fenton-May, A. , Johnson, L. , Jackson, D. , Watson, S. , O'Callaghan, C. (2008) Renal cells activate the platelet receptor CLEC-2 through podoplanin.. The Biochemical journal , 411 (1). pp. 133-40. ISSN: 1470-8728
- Pollitt, A. and Insall, R. (2008) Abi mutants in Dictyostelium reveal specific roles for the SCAR/WAVE complex in cytokinesis.. Current biology : CB , 18 (3). pp. 203-10. ISSN: 0960-9822
- Pollitt, A. , Blagg, S. , Ibarra, N. , Insall, R. (2006) Cell motility and SCAR localisation in axenically growing Dictyostelium cells.. European journal of cell biology , 85 (9-10). pp. 1091-8. ISSN: 0171-9335
- Ibarra, N. , Pollitt, A. , Insall, R. (2005) Regulation of actin assembly by SCAR/WAVE proteins.. Biochemical Society transactions , 33 (Pt 6). pp. 1243-6. ISSN: 0300-5127