Overview
Background
I was awarded my PhD in Computational Biophysics from the University of Western Australia (2012) for my work on combining molecular modelling and simulation approaches with fluorescence spectroscopy experiments to study mechanosensitive ion channels.
Following this, I carried out Postdoctoral work at the University of Queensland and Curtin University, funded by Early Career Fellowships from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Australian National Health and Research Council (NHMRC). In 2019, I joined UTS under a UTS Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and started my independent research group. In 2021, I returned to the University of Queensland as a Senior Lecturer.
Apart from my research, I am a passionate advocate for mental health in academia and
supporting PhD students. My teaching and supervision are guided by encouraging students to become 'critical thinkers'. I practice mindful leadership and aim to integrate kindness and gratitude into how I lead my research team.
Availability
- Dr Evelyne Deplazes is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Curtin University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Research interests
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Antifungal peptides
Invasive fungal infections are difficult to treat, and many current drugs are toxic to human cells. This project studies the membrane-altering properties of peptides or steroid drugs that have antifungal activity or that increase the potency of existing anti-fungal drugs. Understanding the mechanism of action of these compounds will help develop less toxic antifungal treatments. This project is a collaboration with fungal biologists and combines biophysical chemistry and cell-based experiments.
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Ex-vivo and in-silico structural models of fungal cell membranes and cell walls.
Targets for developing antifungal drugs are limited due to the similarity between fungal and human cells and most antifungal drugs work by interfering with the cell wall or cell membrane. Lipid vesicles or other model membrane systems are regularly used to study drug-membrane interactions, but these model systems are too simplistic to capture the complexity of the cell membrane or wall. This project aims to develop ex-vivo membrane models that better capture drug-membrane interactions. We do this using both biophysical chemistry approaches and computer simulations (in-silico).
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What drives the haemolytic activity of antimicrobial peptides
The rise of antibiotic resistance has renewed the interest in antimicrobial peptides with complex, membrane-based mechanisms. While AMPs have potent antibiotic activity, most of them are also haemolytic (they rupture red blood cells). This project aims to use lipid extracts from cells to develop membrane models that more accurately mimic the haemolytic activity of AMPs and help identify what properties give a peptide potent antibiotic activity yet would be safe to use in humans.
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Steroid – membrane interactions
Steroids are a class of chemical compounds that occur naturally in the body (e.g. progesterone or testosterone) and are also used to treat a range of conditions such asthma, eczema or arthritis. Steroids exert their biological or pharmacological activities via a range of different mechanism, including by altering the structure and fluidity of cell membranes. We combine computer simulations and various wet-lab experiments to understand how steroids interact with membranes and how this might be used to modulate the function of membrane proteins. This project is a collaboration with researchers from the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.
Research impacts
Our research combines computer simulations and biophysical chemistry experiments to study biomolecular systems with a particular focus on understanding how small molecules interact with biological membranes. We aim to use the knowledge and tools from our research to help develop new pharmaceuticals or understand fundamental processes such as membrane permeation. In addition, we are interested in studying the structure and function of proteins. Our group collaborates with scientists from different fields including structural biologists, molecular and cell biologists as well as peptide and physical chemists to address challenges in biomedical sciences.
https://www.scientia.global/dr-evelyne-deplazes-combining-simulations-experiments-to-explore-interactions-between-membranes-small-molecules/
Works
Search Professor Evelyne Deplazes’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Secondary structure propensities of the Ebola delta peptide E40 in solution and model membrane environments
Li, Jiayu, Eagles, David A., Tucker, Isaac J., Pereira Schmidt, Anneka C. and Deplazes, Evelyne (2024). Secondary structure propensities of the Ebola delta peptide E40 in solution and model membrane environments. Biophysical Chemistry, 314 107318, 107318. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107318
2024
Journal Article
A charge-neutral organic cage selectively binds strongly hydrated sulfate anions in water
Jing, Liuyang, Deplazes, Evelyne, Clegg, Jack K. and Wu, Xin (2024). A charge-neutral organic cage selectively binds strongly hydrated sulfate anions in water. Nature Chemistry, 16 (3), 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41557-024-01457-5
2024
Journal Article
Hfe permease and Haemophilus influenzae manganese homeostasis
Ganio, Katherine, Nasreen, Marufa, Yang, Zihao, Maunders, Eve A., Luo, Zhenyao, Hossain, Sheikh Imamul, Ngu, Dalton H. Y., Ellis, Daniel, Gu, Jin, Neville, Stephanie L., Wilksch, Jonathan, Gunn, Adam P., Whittall, Jonathan J., Kobe, Boštjan, Deplazes, Evelyne, Kappler, Ulrike and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2024). Hfe permease and Haemophilus influenzae manganese homeostasis. ACS Infectious Diseases, 10 (2), 436-452. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00407
2023
Journal Article
Biochemical interactions between the Atm1-like transporter from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans and heavy metals
Rottet, Sarah, Iqbal, Shagufta, Xifaras, Rachel, Singer, Michael T., Scott, Colin, Deplazes, Evelyne and Callaghan, Richard (2023). Biochemical interactions between the Atm1-like transporter from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans and heavy metals. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 744 109696, 109696. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109696
2023
Journal Article
Influence of force field choice on the conformational landscape of rat and human islet amyloid polypeptide
Moore, Sandra J., Deplazes, Evelyne and Mancera, Ricardo L. (2023). Influence of force field choice on the conformational landscape of rat and human islet amyloid polypeptide. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, 91 (3), 338-353. doi: 10.1002/prot.26432
2022
Journal Article
The concentration-dependent effect of hydrocortisone on the structure of model lung surfactant monolayer by using an in silico approach
Islam, Mohammad Zohurul, Hossain, Sheikh I., Deplazes, E., Luo, Zhen and Saha, Suvash C. (2022). The concentration-dependent effect of hydrocortisone on the structure of model lung surfactant monolayer by using an in silico approach. RSC Advances, 12 (51), 33313-33328. doi: 10.1039/d2ra05268g
2022
Journal Article
Vinca alkaloid binding to P-glycoprotein occurs in a processive manner
Iqbal, Shagufta, Flux, Caitlin, Briggs, Deborah A., Deplazes, Evelyne, Long, Jiansi, Skrzypek, Ruth, Rothnie, Alice, Kerr, Ian D. and Callaghan, Richard (2022). Vinca alkaloid binding to P-glycoprotein occurs in a processive manner. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes, 1864 (10) 184005, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184005
2022
Journal Article
The role of ion-lipid interactions and lipid packing in ion-induced pores and transient defects caused by phenolic compounds
Hossain, Sheikh I., Seppelt, Mathilda, Nguyen, Natalie, Stokes, Chelsea and Deplazes, Evelyne (2022). The role of ion-lipid interactions and lipid packing in ion-induced pores and transient defects caused by phenolic compounds. Biophysical Journal, 121 (18), 3520-3532. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.001
2022
Journal Article
Concentration-dependent cortisone adsorption and interaction with model lung surfactant monolayer
Islam, Mohammad Zohurul, Hossain, Sheikh I., Deplazes, Evelyne and Saha, Suvash C. (2022). Concentration-dependent cortisone adsorption and interaction with model lung surfactant monolayer. Molecular Simulation, 48 (18), 1627-1638. doi: 10.1080/08927022.2022.2113397
2022
Journal Article
Structural and biochemical characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii ZnuA
Alquethamy, Saleh, Ganio, Katherine, Luo, Zhenyao, Hossain, Sheikh I., Hayes, Andrew J., Ve, Thomas, Davies, Mark R., Deplazes, Evelyne, Kobe, Boštjan and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2022). Structural and biochemical characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii ZnuA. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 231 111787, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.111787
2022
Journal Article
The impact of chromate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa molybdenum homeostasis
Maunders, Eve A., Ngu, Dalton H. Y., Ganio, Katherine, Hossain, Sheikh I., Lim, Bryan Y. J., Leeming, Michael G., Luo, Zhenyao, Tan, Aimee, Deplazes, Evelyne, Kobe, Boštjan and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2022). The impact of chromate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa molybdenum homeostasis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13 903146, 1-19. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.903146
2022
Journal Article
Concentration-dependent effect of the steroid drug prednisolone on a lung surfactant monolayer
Islam, Mohammad Zohurul, Krajewska, Martyna, Hossain, Sheikh I., Prochaska, Krystyna, Anwar, Azraf, Deplazes, Evelyne and Saha, Suvash C. (2022). Concentration-dependent effect of the steroid drug prednisolone on a lung surfactant monolayer. Langmuir, 38 (14), 4188-4199. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02817
2022
Journal Article
The steroid mometasone alters protein containing lung surfactant monolayers in a concentration-dependent manner
Islam, Mohammad Zohurul, Hossain, Sheikh I., Deplazes, Evelyne and Saha, Suvash C. (2022). The steroid mometasone alters protein containing lung surfactant monolayers in a concentration-dependent manner. Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling, 111 108084, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.108084
2022
Journal Article
Structural basis of dimerization and nucleic acid binding of human DBHS proteins NONO and PSPC1
Knott, Gavin J, Chong, Yee Seng, Passon, Daniel M, Liang, Xue-hai, Deplazes, Evelyne, Conte, Maria R, Marshall, Andrew C, Lee, Mihwa, Fox, Archa H and Bond, Charles S (2022). Structural basis of dimerization and nucleic acid binding of human DBHS proteins NONO and PSPC1. Nucleic Acids Research, 50 (1), 522-535. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab1216
2022
Book Chapter
Determining the Pore Size of Multimeric Peptide Ion Channels Using Cation Conductance Measures of Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes
Hartmann, Lissy M., Garcia, Alvaro, Deplazes, Evelyne and Cranfield, Charles G. (2022). Determining the Pore Size of Multimeric Peptide Ion Channels Using Cation Conductance Measures of Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes. Methods in Molecular Biology. (pp. 81-92) New York, NY: Humana Press Inc.. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1843-1_7
2022
Book Chapter
Drug meets monolayer: understanding the interactions of sterol drugs with models of the lung surfactant monolayer using molecular dynamics simulations
Hossain, Sheikh I., Islam, Mohammad Z., Saha, Suvash C. and Deplazes, Evelyne (2022). Drug meets monolayer: understanding the interactions of sterol drugs with models of the lung surfactant monolayer using molecular dynamics simulations. Methods in molecular biology. (pp. 103-121) edited by Charles G. Cranfield. New York, NY United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1843-1_9
2021
Journal Article
Theoretical and experimental comparisons of simple peptide-membrane systems; towards defining the reaction space: general discussion
Aguilar, Marie-Isabel, Al Nahas, Kareem, Barrera, Francisco N., Bassereau, Patricia, Bechinger, Burkhard, Brand, Izabella, Chattopadhyay, Amitabha, Clarke, Ronald J., Degrado, William F., Deplazes, Evelyne, Fletcher, Marcus, Fraternali, Franca, Fuchs, Patrick, Garcia-Saez, Ana J., Gilbert, Robert, Hoogenboom, Bart W., Jarin, Zack, O'Shea, Paul, Pabst, Georg, Pal, Sreetama, Sanderson, John M., Seddon, John M., Sengupta, Durba, Siegel, David P., Srivastava, Anand, Tieleman, D. Peter, Tripathy, Madhusmita, Utterström, Johanna, Vácha, Robert ... Voth, Gregory A. (2021). Theoretical and experimental comparisons of simple peptide-membrane systems; towards defining the reaction space: general discussion. Faraday Discussions, 232, 149-171. doi: 10.1039/d1fd90065j
2021
Journal Article
Peptide-membrane interactions and biotechnology; enabling next-generation synthetic biology: general discussion
Aguilar, Mibel, Bassereau, Patricia, Bastos, Margarida, Beales, Paul, Bechinger, Burkhard, Bonev, Boyan, Brand, Izabella, Chalouhi, Edward, Clarke, Ronald J., Deplazes, Evelyne, Fraternali, Franca, Fuchs, Patrick, Hoogenboom, Bart, Lund, Reidar, Mahmoudi, Najet, Milán Rodríguez, Paula, O'Shea, Paul, Pabst, Georg, Pal, Sreetama, Rice, Amy, Sanderson, John, Seddon, John, Sengupta, Durba, Siegel, David P., Srivastava, Anand, Utterström, Johanna, Vácha, Robert, Van 'T Hag, Leonie, Vijayakumar, Aishwarya and Zoranić, Larisa (2021). Peptide-membrane interactions and biotechnology; enabling next-generation synthetic biology: general discussion. Faraday Discussions, 232, 463-481. doi: 10.1039/d1fd90068d
2021
Journal Article
The interaction of steroids with phospholipid bilayers and membranes
Crowley, Jackson, Withana, Minduli and Deplazes, Evelyne (2021). The interaction of steroids with phospholipid bilayers and membranes. Biophysical Reviews, 14 (1), 163-179. doi: 10.1007/s12551-021-00918-2
2021
Journal Article
Theoretical and experimental studies of complex peptide-membrane systems: General discussion
Aguilar, Mibel, Al Nahas, Kareem, Barrera, Francisco, Bassereau, Patricia, Bastos, Margarida, Beales, Paul, Bechinger, Burkhard, Bonev, Boyan, Brand, Izabella, Chattopadhyay, Amitabha, Clarke, Ronald J., Degrado, William, Deplazes, Evelyne, Garcia Saez, Ana J., Hoogenboom, Bart, Lund, Reidar, Milán Rodríguez, Paula, O'Shea, Paul, Pabst, Georg, Pal, Sreetama, Roux, Aurélien, Sanderson, John, Semeraro, Enrico Federico, Sengupta, Durba, Siegel, David P., Van 'T Hag, Leonie, Vijayakumar, Aishwarya and Zoranić, Larisa (2021). Theoretical and experimental studies of complex peptide-membrane systems: General discussion. Faraday Discussions, 232, 256-281. doi: 10.1039/d1fd90066h
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Evelyne Deplazes is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Research Projects
The projects we work on are at the interface of physical chemistry, structural biology, biophysics and biomedical/biomolecular sciences. These projects are suitable for students with a background in any of these disciplines.
Our research combines computer simulations and biophysical chemistry experiments to study biomolecular systems with a particular focus on understanding how small molecules interact with biological membranes. We aim to use the knowledge and tools from our research to help develop new pharmaceuticals or understand fundamental processes such as membrane permeation. In addition, we are interested in studying the structure and function of proteins.
The following are some of our current projects that are suitable for 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate students, Honours or Masters students. Feel free to contact me for more information and also with your own research ideas. We always aim to adapt the project to the student’s interests, background knowledge and skills.
- Understanding the interaction of antifungal peptides with model and fungal membranes (wet-lab and simulation projects available)
- How do viroporin peptides form pores in membranes? (wet-lab and simulation projects available)
- How do steroids alter the structure and fluidity of cell membranes? (wet-lab and simulation projects available)
- How do small peptides target specific lipids in the membranes? How can we use this to develop new molecular probes and drugs? (simulation projects available)
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Research Projects
The projects we work on are at the interface of physical chemistry, structural biology, biophysics and biomedical/biomolecular sciences. These projects are suitable for students with a background in any of these disciplines.
Our research combines biophysical chemistry experiments and computer simulations to understand how small molecules interact with biological membranes. We aim to use the knowledge and tools from our research to help develop new pharmaceuticals or understand fundamental processes such as membrane permeation. In addition, we are interested in studying the structure and function of proteins.
The following are some of our current projects that are suitable for 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate students, Honours or Masters students. Feel free to contact me for more information and also with your own research ideas. We always aim to adapt the project to the student’s interests, background knowledge and skills.
- Understanding the interaction of antifungal peptides with model and fungal membranes (wet-lab and simulation projects available)
- Developing ex-vivo membrane models that better capture drug-membrane interactions. (wet-lab and simulation projects available)
- How do steroids alter the structure and fluidity of cell membranes? (wet-lab and simulation projects available)
- What drives the haemolytic activity of antimicrobial peptides? (wet-lab projects available)
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing a cell-free, structural model of fungal cell walls
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterising the membrane interactions and cytotoxic activity of the anti-fungal peptide Lactofungin
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
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Doctor Philosophy
The structural basis of cell specificity in ABC toxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting alterations in cell membrane biophysics for disease intervention
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Megan O'Mara
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Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Physicochemical Drivers of Biomolecular Self-Assembly though Multiscale Simulations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher, Professor Megan O'Mara
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Doctor Philosophy
Using advanced imaging technologies to study cellular recognition by bacterial toxins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and design of novel antimicrobials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Megan O'Mara
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Evelyne Deplazes directly for media enquiries about:
- chemistry
- drug development
- PhD student supervision
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