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Elinor Thompson

Dr Elinor Thompson BSc, MSc, PhD

Senior Lecturer, Microbiology and Plant Science

Key details

Dr Elinor Thompson

Senior Lecturer, Microbiology and Plant Science

Elinor Thompson is a microbiologist whose research has included molecular biology, developmental and cell biology, biochemistry, bioenergetics, imaging and spectroscopy, largely to explore membrane proteins but with collaborations spanning mathematical modelling and animal development.

Following BSc and MSc degrees in microbiology, she obtained her PhD in plant biology at University College London, researching the function of several proteins that were found in both photosynthetic eukaryotes and prokaryotes. This included utilising spectroscopy and molecular biology to examine how FtsH proteases influence membrane composition and photosystems of cyanobacteria and Arabidopsis.

This was followed by seven years of postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge, working on various projects in a molecular development lab, for example, investigating the roles of a family of rhomboid proteases in development and growth, and of a 'multidrug and toxin efflux' protein in the transport of flavonoids, auxin regulation, and plant fertility.

Elinor's lab at Greenwich continues to work on these proteins in a range of organisms, including plants, microorganisms and the social amoeba Dictyostelium.

Lab members and alumni

  • Dr Colin Bateman
  • Dr Billy Ferrara
  • Dale Harrison
  • Iskander Ibrahim
  • Dr Amit Prabhakar
  • Dr Mehak Rafiq
  • Mohamed Said
  • Arwa Selim
  • Dr Kevin Smyth

Biology and biomedical science Science

Responsibilities within the university

Course participation

  • Plant Sciences
  • Biotechnology
  • Cell and Microbial Biology
  • Fundamental Biology and Physiology
  • Introduction to Medical Science
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Practical and Professional Skills.

Recognition

Research / Scholarly interests
  • Plant biology
  • Membrane proteases
  • Cell-cell communication, signalling, development
  • Photosynthesis.

Techniques

  • Molecular biology
  • Bioinformatics
  • Spectroscopy (e.g., to examine behaviour of photosynthetic apparatus)
  • Confocal and electron microscopy (e.g., use of GFP, and of cryo-SEM for observation of 'live' specimens).

Dr Thompson is interested in membrane proteases and transporters and their importance in regulating comparable processes in different organisms. The various roles of rhomboid proteins have led to an interest in fertility, and cell signalling in both eukaroytes and prokaryotes.

She welcomes enquiries from potential collaborators and postgraduate students regarding relevant research projects.

Recent publications

Article

Ogunsanya, Olaide Mary , Adebisi, Moruf Ayodele, Popoola, Akinola Rasheed, Afolabi, Clement Gboyega , Oyatomi, Olaniyi , Colgan, Richard , Armitage, Andrew , Thompson, Elinor , Abberton, Michael , Ortega-Beltran, Alejandro (2024), . Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Plant Pathology . pp. 1-15 ISSN: 0032-0862 (Print), 1365-3059 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13995).

Williams, Robin S. B. , Chubb, Jonathan R., Insall, Robert, King, Jason S. , Thompson, Elinor , Pears, Catherine J. (2021), . MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Cells, 10: 3036 (11) ISSN: 2073-4409 (Print), 2073-4409 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10113036).

Di Genova, Cecilia , Sampson, Alex, Scott, Simon, Cantoni, Diego , Mayora-Neto, Martin , Bentley, Emma , Mattiuzzo, Giada , Wright, Edward , Derveni, Mariliza , Auld, Bethany (2021), . Bio-Protocol. In: , , , . Bio-Protocol, Bio-protocol, 11 (21) . pp. 1-21 ISSN: 2331-8325 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.4236).

Thompson, Elinor and , Zand, Nazanin (2020), . Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Advanced Energy Materials, 10: 2001189 (35) . pp. 1-9 ISSN: 1614-6832 (Print), 1614-6840 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202001189).

Thompson, Elinor , Bombelli, EL, Simon, Shubham, Watson, Hamish , Everard, Aldous , Schievano, Andrea , Bocchi, Stefano , Zand Fard, Nazanin , Howe, Christopher J. , Bombelli, Paolo (2020), . Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Advanced Energy Materials, 10: 2001189 (35) ISSN: 1614-6832 (Print), 1614-6840 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202001189) NB Item availability restricted.

Harrison, Dale J. A. and , Thompson, Elinor P (2020), . Oxford University Press (OUP). In: , , , . Oxford University Press (OUP), Biology Methods and Protocols, 5: bpaa011 (1) 2396-8923 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/biomethods/bpaa011).

Weinrich, Tobias , Hoh Kam, Jaimie, Ferrara, Bill T., Thompson, Elinor P. , Mitrofanis, John , Jeffery, Glen (2019), . Nature. In: , , , . Nature, Scientific Reports, 9: 13898 ISSN: 2045-2322 (Print), 2041-1723 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48383-y).

Thompson, Elinor and , Ferrara, Bill T. (2019), . Future Science. In: , , , . Future Science, BioTechniques, 66 (2) . pp. 65-71 ISSN: 0736-6205 (Print), 1940-9818 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.2144/btn-2018-0084).

Thompson, Elinor and , (2018), . Microbiology Society. In: , , , . Microbiology Society, Microbiology Today, 45 (1) . pp. 46 ISSN: 1464-0570 (Print), (doi: https://microbiologysociety.org/uploads/assets/uploaded/fb9abfd7-67a4-4a8c-9444ab98ca5b9d57.pdf).

Book section

Milledge, John J. , Thompson, Elinor P., Sauvetre, Andre, Schroeder, Pater , Harvey, Patricia (2019), . Elsevier. In: , , In: Charis M. Galanakis, Evita Agrafioti (eds.), Sustainable Water and Wastewater Processing. Elsevier, . pp. 239-278 . ISBN: 9780128161708 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816170-8.00008-9) NB Item availability restricted.

Conference item

Ademola, Oluwaseyi , Ferrara, Bill T., Hopkins, Richard, Thompson, Elinor (2024), . In: Horticultural Science: From Discovery to Application, 26th - 27th Mar, 2024, Reading , . , (doi: https://www.aab.org.uk/event/horticultural-science-from-discovery-to-application/) NB Item availability restricted.

Ogunsanya, Olaide , Afolabi, Clement, Colgan, Richard, Armitage, Andrew , Thompson, Elinor , Ortega-beltran, Alejandro , Abberton, Michael (2023), . In: Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2023, 17th - 20th April 2023, Birmingham International Convention Centre , . , (doi: https://microbiologysociety.org/event/annual-conference/annual-conference-2023.html).

Ademola, Oluwaseyi , Duvenage, Francois, Selim, Arwa, Ferrara, Bill T. , Hopkins, Richard , Thompson, Elinor (2023), . In: SEB annual conference, 4th - 7th July 2023, Edinburgh , . , (doi: https://www.sebiology.org/events/seb-centenary-conference-2023.html).

Selim, Arwa , Ferrara, Bill T., Thompson, Elinor (2023), . In: Annual Conference Microbiology Society 2023, 17th - 20th April 2023, Birmingham , . , (doi: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/4939/submissions/458075/form/view).

Selim, Arwa and , Thompson, Elinor (2022), . In: 17th International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes (ISPP2022), 21st - 25th August 2022, Liverpool , . , (doi: https://ispp2022.com/programme/).

Ferrara, Bill T. and , Thompson, Elinor (2022), . In: Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2022, 4th - 7th April 2022, Belfast , . , (1st) (doi: https://microbiologysociety.org/event/annual-conference/annual-conference-2022.html).

Said, Mohamed , Thompson, Elinor, Everett, Jeremy (2021), . Biochemical Society - British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA). In: Metabolism of Ageing, 06 - 08 Sep 2021, online In: Cathy Slack, James Brown (eds.), A JOINT BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY & BSRA ONLINE CONFERENCE: Metabolism of Ageing 6-8 September 2021 ONLINE. Biochemical Society - British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA), Aston University, UK / Trustee, British Society for Research on Ageing (doi: https://bsra.org.uk/bsra-biochemical-society-metabolism-of-ageing-meeting/) NB Item availability restricted.

Said, Mohamed , Thompson, Elinor, Everett, Jeremy (2019), . The Genetics Society. In: UK C.elegans meeting, 16th September 2019, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College Rd, London, UK , UK C.elegans Meeting London 16 September 2019 Proceedings. The Genetics Society, (doi: http://p35-preview.runhosting.com/londonelegans2019.co.uk/) NB Item availability restricted.

Harrison, Dale and , Thompson, Elinor (2019), . 18th International Workshop on Plant Membrane Biology. In: 18th International Workshop on Plant Membrane Biology, 07 - 12 Jul 2019, Glasgow, Scotland , 18th International Workshop on Plant Membrane Biology. 18th International Workshop on Plant Membrane Biology, (doi: http://iwpmb2019.psrg.org.uk/).

Ferrara, Billy and , Thompson, Elinor (2018), . Microbiology Society. In: Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2018, , , Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2018. Microbiology Society, . pp. 302-302 (doi: ).

Thompson, Elinor and , Harrison, Dale (2018), . Microbiology Society. In: Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2018, , , Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2018. Microbiology Society, . pp. 94-94 (doi: ).

Ibrahim, Iskander , Blunskyte, Modesta, Thompson, Elinor (2017), . In: Plastid Preview, 4-5 September 2017, University of Cambridge , . , (doi: http://www.phyconet.org.uk/event/plastid-preview-2017) NB Item availability restricted.

Ferrara, Bill T. and , Thompson, Elinor (2017), . In: Dictyostelium UK Annual Meeting: A Spring Odyssey, 30-31 March 2017, London , . , (doi: ).

Thompson, Elinor and , Ibrahim, Iskander (2016), . In: 3rd International Conference on Plant Proteases: Plant Proteases: from roles in life and death to understanding regulation and action., 10-12 April 2016, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK , . , (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Thompson, Elinor and , Ferrara, Billy (2016), . In: The Microbiology Society annual conference, 21-24 March 2016, Liverpool, UK , . , (doi: http://www.microbiologysociety.org/events/annual-conferences/index.cfm/annual-conference-2016) NB Item availability restricted.

Conference proceedings

Ferrara, Bill T. , Saleh, Salma Mounir, Thompson, Elinor (2020), . Microbiology Society. In: , , , Access Microbiology. Microbiology Society, London, UK , 2 (7a) 2516-8290 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0194).

Thompson, Elinor and , Rafiq, Mehak (2019), . Microbiology Society. In: , , , Access Microbiology. Microbiology Society, London , 1 (doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1099/acmi.ac2019.po0269).

Ibrahim, Iskander , Richards, Jack, Rickard, Abigail, Thompson, Elinor (2016), . Royal Society. In: , , , Royal Society Discussion meeting Enhancing photosynthesis in crop plants: targets for improvement. Royal Society, (doi: https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2016/10/enhancing-photosynthesis/).