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
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
2021
Journal Article
Calcium ion binding at the lipid–water interface alters the ion permeability of phospholipid bilayers
Deplazes, Evelyne, Tafalla, Beatriu Domingo, Murphy, Christopher, White, Jacqueline, Cranfield, Charles G. and Garcia, Alvaro (2021). Calcium ion binding at the lipid–water interface alters the ion permeability of phospholipid bilayers. Langmuir, 37 (48) acs.langmuir.1c02016, 14026-14033. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02016
2021
Journal Article
Shape matters: the interaction of gold nanoparticles with model lung surfactant monolayers
Hossain, Sheikh I., Luo, Zhen, Deplazes, Evelyne and Saha, Suvash C. (2021). Shape matters: the interaction of gold nanoparticles with model lung surfactant monolayers. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 18 (183) 20210402, 1-10. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0402
2021
Journal Article
Conformation of the solute-binding protein AdcAII influences zinc uptake in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Župan, Marina L., Luo, Zhenyao, Ganio, Katherine, Pederick, Victoria G., Neville, Stephanie L., Deplazes, Evelyne, Kobe, Boštjan and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2021). Conformation of the solute-binding protein AdcAII influences zinc uptake in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11 729981, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.729981
2021
Conference Publication
Molecular dynamics study of prednisolone concentration on cholesterol based lung surfactant monolayer
Islam, M. Z., Hossain, S. I., Deplazes, E., Bhowmick, S. and Saha, S. C. (2021). Molecular dynamics study of prednisolone concentration on cholesterol based lung surfactant monolayer. International Conference on Mechanical Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 18–20 December 2019. Melville, NY, United States: A I P Publishing. doi: 10.1063/5.0037471
2021
Journal Article
A trap-door mechanism for zinc acquisition by Streptococcus pneumoniae AdcA
Luo, Zhenyao, Morey, Jacqueline R., Deplazes, Evelyne, Motygullina, Alina, Tan, Aimee, Ganio, Katherine, Neville, Stephanie L., Eleftheriadis, Nikolaos, Isselstein, Michael, Pederick, Victoria G., Paton, James C., Cordes, Thorben, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Kobe, Bostjan and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2021). A trap-door mechanism for zinc acquisition by Streptococcus pneumoniae AdcA. mBio, 12 (1) e01958-20, 1-14. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01958-20
2021
Journal Article
Phenolic compounds alter the ion permeability of phospholipid bilayers via specific lipid interactions
Hossain, Sheikh I., Saha, Suvash C. and Deplazes, Evelyne (2021). Phenolic compounds alter the ion permeability of phospholipid bilayers via specific lipid interactions. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 23 (39), 22352-22366. doi: 10.1039/d1cp03250j
2021
Journal Article
Identification and characterisation of putative drug binding sites in human ATP-binding cassette B5 (ABCB5) transporter
Tangella, Lokeswari P., Arooj, Mahreen, Deplazes, Evelyne, Gray, Elin S. and Mancera, Ricardo L. (2021). Identification and characterisation of putative drug binding sites in human ATP-binding cassette B5 (ABCB5) transporter. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 19, 691-704. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.042
2020
Journal Article
The role of structure and biophysical properties in the pleiotropic effects of statins
Murphy, Christopher, Deplazes, Evelyne, Cranfield, Charles G. and Garcia, Alvaro (2020). The role of structure and biophysical properties in the pleiotropic effects of statins. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (22) 8745, 1-29. doi: 10.3390/ijms21228745
2020
Journal Article
Structural characterization of a cation-selective, self-assembled peptide pore in planar phospholipid bilayers
Deplazes, Evelyne, Hartmann, Lissy M., Cranfield, Charles G. and Garcia, Alvaro (2020). Structural characterization of a cation-selective, self-assembled peptide pore in planar phospholipid bilayers. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 11 (19), 8152-8156. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02335
2020
Journal Article
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of biphenylglyoxamide-based small molecular antimicrobial peptide mimics as antibacterial agents
Yu, Tsz Tin, Kuppusamy, Rajesh, Yasir, Muhammad, Hassan, Md. Musfizur, Alghalayini, Amani, Gadde, Satyanarayana, Deplazes, Evelyne, Cranfield, Charles, Willcox, Mark D. P., Black, David StC and Kumar, Naresh (2020). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of biphenylglyoxamide-based small molecular antimicrobial peptide mimics as antibacterial agents. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (18) 6789, 1-38. doi: 10.3390/ijms21186789
2020
Journal Article
Role of ion-phospholipid interactions in zwitterionic phospholipid bilayer ion permeation
Deplazes, Evelyne, Tafalla, Beatriu Domingo, Cranfield, Charles G. and Garcia, Alvaro (2020). Role of ion-phospholipid interactions in zwitterionic phospholipid bilayer ion permeation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 11 (15), 6353-6358. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c01479
2020
Journal Article
Label-free, real-time phospholipase-A isoform assay
Garcia, Alvaro, Deplazes, Evelyne, Aili, Samira, Padula, Matthew P., Touchard, Axel, Murphy, Christopher, Lankage, Upeksha Mirissa, Nicholson, Graham M., Cornell, Bruce and Cranfield, Charles G. (2020). Label-free, real-time phospholipase-A isoform assay. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 6 (8), 4714-4721. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00632
2020
Journal Article
Molecular dynamics simulation of small molecules interacting with biological membranes
Martinotti, Carlo, Ruiz-Perez, Lanie, Deplazes, Evelyne and Mancera, Ricardo L. (2020). Molecular dynamics simulation of small molecules interacting with biological membranes. ChemPhysChem: a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry, 21 (14), 1486-1514. doi: 10.1002/cphc.202000219
2020
Journal Article
Revisiting the interaction of melittin with phospholipid bilayers: the effects of concentration and ionic strength
Sabapathy, Thiru, Deplazes, Evelyne and Mancera, Ricardo L. (2020). Revisiting the interaction of melittin with phospholipid bilayers: the effects of concentration and ionic strength. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (3) 746, 746. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030746
2020
Journal Article
Effect of H3O+ on the structure and dynamics of water at the interface with phospholipid bilayers
Deplazes, Evelyne, Sarrami, Farzaneh and Poger, David (2020). Effect of H3O+ on the structure and dynamics of water at the interface with phospholipid bilayers. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 124 (8) acs.jpcb.9b10169, 1361-1373. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b10169
2019
Journal Article
The unusual conformation of cross‐strand disulfide bonds is critical to the stability of β‐hairpin peptides
Deplazes, Evelyne, Chin, Yanni K.‐Y., King, Glenn F. and Mancera, Ricardo L. (2019). The unusual conformation of cross‐strand disulfide bonds is critical to the stability of β‐hairpin peptides. Proteins, 88 (3) prot.25828, 485-502. doi: 10.1002/prot.25828
2019
Journal Article
Competing for the same space: protons and alkali ions at the interface of phospholipid bilayers
Deplazes, Evelyne, White, Jacqueline, Murphy, Christopher, Cranfield, Charles G. and Garcia, Alvaro (2019). Competing for the same space: protons and alkali ions at the interface of phospholipid bilayers. Biophysical Reviews, 11 (3), 483-490. doi: 10.1007/s12551-019-00541-2
2018
Journal Article
The effect of H3O+ on the membrane morphology and hydrogen bonding of a phospholipid bilayer
Deplazes, Evelyne, Poger, David, Cornell, Bruce and Cranfield, Charles G. (2018). The effect of H3O+ on the membrane morphology and hydrogen bonding of a phospholipid bilayer. Biophysical Reviews, 10 (5), 1371-1376. doi: 10.1007/s12551-018-0454-z
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 small molecule inhibitors to control transcription factor redistribution
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christian Nefzger
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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
Developing a cell-free, structural model of fungal cell walls
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
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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
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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