Dr Janet Willment
Senior Research Fellow
J.Willment@exeter.ac.uk
Geoffrey Pope 324
Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter , Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
Overview
Qualifications
PhD
Career
2019 – current: Senior Research Fellow, CLES, University of Exeter
2010-2019: Research Fellow, Institute of Medicine, University of Aberdeen
2004-2009: Post-doctoral researcher, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town.
2000-2004: Post-doctoral researcher, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, UK
1998-1999: Post-doctoral researcher, Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
Links
Research group links
Research
Research interests
C-type lectin receptors
Host pathogen interactions
Innate immunology
Fungal immunology
Homeostasis
Mycoviruses
Links
Publications
Journal articles
Hatinguais R, Kay M, Salazar F, Conn DP, Williams DL, Cook PC, Willment JA, Brown GD (2023). Development of Negative Controls for Fc-C-Type Lectin Receptor Probes. Microbiol Spectr, 11(3). Abstract. Author URL.
Willment JA, Brown GD (2023). Immunity to fungi: Editorial overview. Seminars in Immunology, 66
Hatinguais R, Willment JA, Brown GD (2022). C‐type lectin receptors in antifungal immunity: Current knowledge and future developments. Parasite Immunology, 45(2).
Haji S, Ito T, Guenther C, Nakano M, Shimizu T, Mori D, Chiba Y, Tanaka M, Mishra SK, Willment JA, et al (2022). Human Dectin-1 is O-glycosylated and serves as a ligand for C-type lectin receptor CLEC-2. Elife, 11 Abstract. Author URL.
Stappers MHT, Nikolakopoulou C, Wiesner DL, Yuecel R, Klein BS, Willment JA, Brown GD (2021). Characterization of antifungal C-type lectin receptor expression on murine epithelial and endothelial cells in mucosal tissues. Eur J Immunol, 51(9), 2341-2344. Abstract. Author URL.
Neves GWP, Wong SSW, Aimanianda V, Simenel C, Guijarro JI, Walls C, Willment JA, Gow NAR, Munro CA, Brown GD, et al (2021). Complement-Mediated Differential Immune Response of Human Macrophages to Sporothrix Species Through Interaction with Their Cell Wall Peptidorhamnomannans. Frontiers in Immunology, 12
Willment JA (2021). Fc‐conjugated C‐type lectin receptors: Tools for understanding host–pathogen interactions. Molecular Microbiology, 117(3), 632-660. Abstract.
Tone K, Stappers MHT, Hatinguais R, Dambuza IM, Salazar F, Wallace C, Yuecel R, Morvay PL, Kuwano K, Willment JA, et al (2021). MelLec Exacerbates the Pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus-Induced Allergic Inflammation in Mice. Frontiers in Immunology, 12 Abstract.
Asamaphan P, Brown GD, Willment JA (2021). Quantifying Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis and Inflammatory Responses to Fungi in Immune Cells. , 2260, 155-178. Abstract.
Vendele I, Feizi T, Spyrou M, Stappers M, Brown G, Willment J, Silva L, Palma A, Chaie W, Liu Y, et al (2021). Spatial mapping of immunological epitopes in the Candida cell wall using C-type lectin probes. Access Microbiology, 3(12).
Piras M, Patruno I, Nikolakopoulou C, Willment JA, Sloan NL, Zanato C, Brown GD, Zanda M (2021). Synthesis of the Fungal Metabolite YWA1 and Related Constructs as Tools to Study MelLec-Mediated Immune Response to Aspergillus Infections †. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 86(9), 6044-6055. Abstract.
Vendele I, Willment JA, Silva LM, Palma AS, Chai W, Liu Y, Feizi T, Spyrou M, Stappers MHT, Brown GD, et al (2020). Mannan detecting C-type lectin receptor probes recognise immune epitopes with diverse chemical, spatial and phylogenetic heterogeneity in fungal cell walls. PLoS Pathog, 16(1). Abstract. Author URL.
Hatinguais R, Willment JA, Brown GD (2020). PAMPs of the fungal cell wall and mammalian PRRs. , 425, 187-223. Abstract.
Valsecchi I, Stephen-Victor E, Wong SSW, Karnam A, Sunde M, Guijarro JI, de Francisco BR, Krüger T, Kniemeyer O, Brown GD, et al (2020). The role of roda-conserved cysteine residues in the aspergillus fumigatus conidial surface organization. Journal of Fungi, 6(3), 1-17. Abstract.
Tone K, Stappers MHT, Willment JA, Brown GD (2019). C-type lectin receptors of the Dectin-1 cluster: Physiological roles and involvement in disease. European Journal of Immunology, 49(12), 2127-2133. Abstract.
Bouchemal K, Wong SSW, Huang N, Willment JA, Latgé JP, Aimanianda V (2019). β-Glucan Grafted Microcapsule, a Tool for Studying the Immunomodulatory Effect of Microbial Cell Wall Polysaccharides. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 30(6), 1788-1797. Abstract.
Brunel SF, Willment JA, Brown GD, Devereux G, Warris A (2018). Aspergillus-induced superoxide production by cystic fibrosis phagocytes is associated with disease severity. ERS Monograph, 4(2). Abstract.
Brown GD, Willment JA, Whitehead L (2018). C-type lectins in immunity and homeostasis. Nature Reviews Immunology, 18(6), 374-389. Abstract.
Stappers MHT, Clark AE, Aimanianda V, Bidula S, Reid DM, Asamaphan P, Hardison SE, Dambuza IM, Valsecchi I, Kerscher B, et al (2018). Recognition of DHN-melanin by a C-type lectin receptor is required for immunity to Aspergillus. Nature, 555(7696), 382-386. Abstract.
Brunel SF, Willment JA, Brown GD, Devereux G, Warris A (2017). 79 Excessive reactive oxygen species production by cystic fibrosis phagocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus is adversely associated with number of clinical exacerbations and lung function. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 16, s84-s85.
Redelinghuys P, Whitehead L, Augello A, Drummond RA, Levesque JM, Vautier S, Reid DM, Kerscher B, Taylor JA, Nigrovic PA, et al (2016). MICL controls inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 75(7), 1386-1391. Abstract.
Kerscher B, Wilson GJ, Reid DM, Mori D, Taylor JA, Besra GS, Yamasaki S, Willment JA, Brown GD (2016). Mycobacterial receptor, Clec4d (CLECSF8, MCL), is coregulated with Mincle and upregulated on mouse myeloid cells following microbial challenge. European Journal of Immunology, 46(2), 381-389. Abstract.
Kerscher B, Dambuza IM, Christofi M, Reid DM, Yamasaki S, Willment JA, Brown GD (2016). Signalling through MyD88 drives surface expression of the mycobacterial receptors MCL (Clecsf8, Clec4d) and Mincle (Clec4e) following microbial stimulation. Microbes and Infection, 18(7-8), 505-509. Abstract.
Kerscher B, Wilson GJ, Reid DM, Yamasaki S, Willment JA, Brown GD (2015). Characterisation of the murine C-type lectin receptor CLECSF8 (MCL) reveals its expression on cells of the monocyte/neutrophil lineages and an inter-dependence with Mincle, but not Dectin-2. Journal of Inflammation, 12(Suppl 1).
Wilson GJ, Marakalala MJ, Hoving JC, Van Laarhoven A, Drummond RA, Kerscher B, Keeton R, Van De Vosse E, Ottenhoff THM, Plantinga TS, et al (2015). The C-type lectin receptor CLECSF8/CLEC4D is a key component of anti-mycobacterial immunity. Cell Host and Microbe, 17(2), 252-259. Abstract.
Plato A, Willment JA, Brown GD (2013). C-Type lectin-like receptors of the dectin-1 cluster: Ligands and signaling pathways. International Reviews of Immunology, 32(2), 134-156. Abstract.
Kerscher B, Willment JA, Brown GD (2013). The Dectin-2 family of C-type lectin-like receptors: an update. International Immunology, 25(5), 271-277. Abstract.
Faro-Trindade I, Willment JA, Kerrigan AM, Redelinghuys P, Hadebe S, Reid DM, Srinivasan N, Wainwright H, Lang DM, Steele C, et al (2012). Characterisation of innate fungal recognition in the lung. PLoS ONE, 7(4). Abstract.
Kerrigan AM, Navarro-Nuñez L, Pyz E, Finney BA, Willment JA, Watson SP, Brown GD (2012). Podoplanin-expressing inflammatory macrophages activate murine platelets via CLEC-2. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 10(3), 484-486.
Graham LM, Gupta V, Schafer G, Reid DM, Kimberg M, Dennehy KM, Hornsell WG, Guler R, Campanero-Rhodes MA, Palma AS, et al (2012). The C-type lectin receptor CLECSF8 (CLEC4D) is expressed by myeloid cells and triggers cellular activation through syk kinase. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(31), 25964-25974. Abstract.
Plantinga TS, Hamza OJM, Willment JA, Ferwerda B, Van De Geer NMD, Verweij PE, Matee MIN, Banahan K, O'Neill LAJ, Kullberg BJ, et al (2010). Genetic variation of innate immune genes in HIV-infected African patients with or without oropharyngeal candidiasis. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 55(1), 87-94. Abstract.
Kerrigan AM, Dennehy KM, Mourão-Sá D, Faro-Trindade I, Willment JA, Taylor PR, Eble JA, Reis E Sousa C, Brown GD (2009). CLEC-2 is a phagocytic activation receptor expressed on murine peripheral blood neutrophils. Journal of Immunology, 182(7), 4150-4157. Abstract.
Ferwerda B, Ferwerda G, Plantinga TS, Willment JA, Van Spriel AB, Venselaar H, Elbers CC, Johnson MD, Cambi A, Huysamen C, et al (2009). Human dectin-1 deficiency and mucocutaneous fungal infections. New England Journal of Medicine, 361(18), 1760-1767. Abstract.
Dennehy KM, Willment JA, Williams DL, Brown GD (2009). Reciprocal regulation of IL-23 and IL-12 following co-activation of dectin-1 and TLR signaling pathways. European Journal of Immunology, 39(5), 1379-1386. Abstract.
Willment JA, Brown GD (2008). C-type lectin receptors in antifungal immunity. Trends in Microbiology, 16(1), 27-32. Abstract.
Huysamen C, Willment JA, Dennehy KM, Brown GD (2008). CLEC9A is a novel activation C-type lectin-like receptor expressed on BDCA3<sup>+</sup> dendritic cells and a subset of monocytes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283(24), 16693-16701. Abstract.
Dennehy KM, Ferwerda G, Faro-Trindade I, Pyz E, Willment JA, Taylor PR, Kerrigan A, Tsoni SV, Gordon S, Meyer-Wentrup F, et al (2008). Syk kinase is required for collaborative cytokine production induced through Dectin-1 and Toll-like receptors. European Journal of Immunology, 38(2), 500-506. Abstract.
Taylor PR, Tsoni SV, Willment JA, Dennehy KM, Rosas M, Findon H, Haynes K, Steele C, Botto M, Gordon S, et al (2007). Dectin-1 is required for beta-glucan recognition and control of fungal infection. Nat Immunol, 8(1), 31-38. Abstract. Author URL.
Kennedy AD, Willment JA, Dorward DW, Williams DL, Brown GD, DeLeo FR (2007). Dectin-1 promotes fungicidal activity of human neutrophils. European Journal of Immunology, 37(2), 467-478. Abstract.
Willment JA, Martin DP, Palmer KE, Schnippenkoetter WH, Shepherd DN, Rybicki EP (2007). Identification of long intergenic region sequences involved in maize streak virus replication. Journal of General Virology, 88(6), 1831-1841. Abstract.
Heinsbroek SEM, Taylor PR, Rosas M, Willment JA, Williams DL, Gordon S, Brown GD (2006). Expression of functionally different dectin-1 isoforms by murine macrophages. Journal of Immunology, 176(9), 5513-5518. Abstract.
Marshall ASJ, Willment JA, Pyz E, Dennehy KM, Reid DM, Dri P, Gordon S, Wong SYC, Brown GD (2006). Human MICL (CLEC12A) is differentially glycosylated and is down-regulated following cellular activation. European Journal of Immunology, 36(8), 2159-2169. Abstract.
Graham LM, Tsoni SV, Willment JA, Williams DL, Taylor PR, Gordon S, Dennehy K, Brown GD (2006). Soluble Dectin-1 as a tool to detect β-glucans. Journal of Immunological Methods, 314(1-2), 164-169. Abstract.
Rogers LA, Dubos C, Surman C, Willment J, Cullis IF, Mansfield SD, Campbell MM (2005). Comparison of lignin deposition in three ectopic lignification mutants. New Phytologist, 168(1), 123-140. Abstract.
Dubos C, Willment J, Muggins D, Grant GH, Campbell MM (2005). Kanamycin reveals the role played by glutamate receptors in shaping plant resource allocation. Plant Journal, 43(3), 348-355. Abstract.
Rogers LA, Dubos C, Cullis IF, Surman C, Poole M, Willment J, Mansfield SD, Campbell MM (2005). Light, the circadian clock, and sugar perception in the control of lignin biosynthesis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 56(416), 1651-1663. Abstract.
Willment JA, Marshall AS, Reid DM, Williams DL, Wong SYC, Gordon S, Brown GD (2005). The human β-glucan receptor is widely expressed and functionally equivalent to murine Dectin-1 on primary cells. European Journal of Immunology, 35(5), 1539-1547. Abstract.
Marshall ASJ, Willment JA, Lin HH, Williams DL, Gordon S, Brown GD (2004). Identification and characterization of a novel human Myeloid inhibitory c-type lectin-like receptor (MICL) that is predominantly expressed on granulocytes and monocytes. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 279(15), 14792-14802. Author URL.
Taylor PR, Brown GD, Herre J, Williams DL, Willment JA, Gordon S (2004). The Role of SIGNR1 and the β-Glucan Receptor (Dectin-1) in the Nonopsonic Recognition of Yeast by Specific Macrophages. Journal of Immunology, 172(2), 1157-1162. Abstract.
Herre J, Willment JA, Gordon S, Brown GD (2004). The role of dectin-1 in antifungal immunity. Critical Reviews in Immunology, 24(3), 193-203. Abstract.
Willment JA, Lin H-H, Reid DM, Taylor PR, Williams DL, Wong SYC, Gordon S, Brown GD (2003). Dectin-1 Expression and Function Are Enhanced on Alternatively Activated and GM-CSF-Treated Macrophages and Are Negatively Regulated by IL-10, Dexamethasone, and Lipopolysaccharide. The Journal of Immunology, 171(11), 6297-6297.
Willment JA, Lin HH, Reid DM, Taylor PR, Williams DL, Wong SYC, Gordon S, Brown GD (2003). Dectin-1 Expression and Function Are Enhanced on Alternatively Activated and GM-CSF-Treated Macrophages and Are Negatively Regulated by IL-10, Dexamethasone, and Lipopolysaccharide. Journal of Immunology, 171(9), 4569-4573. Abstract.
Brown GD, Herre J, Williams DL, Willment JA, Marshall ASJ, Gordon S (2003). Dectin-1 mediates the biological effects of β-glucans. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 197(9), 1119-1124. Abstract.
Willment JA, Lin HH, Reid DM, Taylor PR, Williams DL, Wong SYC, Gordon S, Brown GD (2003). Erratum: Dectin-1 Expression and Function Are Enhanced on Alternatively Activated and GM-CSF-Treated Macrophages and Are Negatively Regulated by IL-10, Dexamethasone, and Lipopolysaccharide (Journal of Immunology (2003) 171 (4569-4573)). Journal of Immunology, 171(11).
Willment JA, Martin DP, Van der Walt E, Rybicki EP (2002). Biological and genomic sequence characterization of Maize streak virus isolates from wheat. Phytopathology, 92(1), 81-86. Abstract.
Brown GD, Taylor PR, Reid DM, Willment JA, Williams DL, Martinez-Pomares L, Wong SYC, Gordon S (2002). Dectin-1 is a major β-glucan receptor on macrophages. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 196(3), 407-412. Abstract.
Taylor PR, Brown GD, Reid DM, Willment JA, Martinez-Pomares L, Gordon S, Wong SYC (2002). The β-glucan receptor, dectin-1, is predominantly expressed on the surface of cells of the monocyte/macrophage and neutrophil lineages. Journal of Immunology, 169(7), 3876-3882. Abstract.
Willment JA, Martin DP, Rybicki EP (2001). Analysis of the diversity of African streak mastreviruses using PCR-generated RFLPs and partial sequence data. Journal of Virological Methods, 93(1-2), 75-87. Abstract.
Willment JA, Gordon S, Brown GD (2001). Characterization of the Human β-Glucan Receptor and its Alternatively Spliced Isoforms. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276(47), 43818-43823. Abstract.
Schnippenkoetter WH, Martin DP, Willment JA, Rybicki EP (2001). Forced recombination between distinct strains of Maize streak virus. Journal of General Virology, 82(12), 3081-3090. Abstract.
Martin DP, Willment JA, Billharz R, Velders R, Odhiambo B, Njuguna J, James D, Rybicki EP (2001). Sequence diversity and virulence in Zea mays of Maize streak virus isolates. Virology, 288(2), 247-255. Abstract. Author URL.
Schnippenkoetter WH, Martin DP, Hughes FL, Fyvie M, Willment JA, James D, von Wechmar MB, Rybicki EP (2001). The relative infectivities and genomic characterisation of three distinct mastreviruses from South Africa. Arch Virol, 146(6), 1075-1088. Abstract. Author URL.
Martin DP, Willment JA, Rybicki EP (1999). Evaluation of maize streak virus pathogenicity in differentially resistant Zea mays genotypes. Phytopathology, 89(8), 695-700. Abstract.
Chapters
Nikolakopoulou C, Willment JA, Brown GD (2020). C-Type Lectin Receptors in Antifungal Immunity. In (Ed) Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1-30. Abstract.
Willment JA, Brown GD (2018). CLEC7A. In (Ed) Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, Springer Nature, 1154-1161.
Asamaphan P, Willment JA, Brown GD (2016). Dectin-1 (CLEC7A, BGR, CLECSF12). In (Ed) C-Type Lectin Receptors in Immunity, 51-63. Abstract.
Willment JA, Brown GD (2012). CLEC7A. In (Ed) Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, Springer Nature, 425-431.
Willment JA, Gordon S, Brown GD (2003). Detection and Control of Fungi by Macrophages: the Role of Carbohydrates and Antifungal Agents. In (Ed) The Macrophage as Therapeutic Target, Springer Nature, 459-478.
Conferences
Neves GWP, Caetana N, Willment J, Munro C, Gow N, Brown G, Lopes-Bezerra L (2018). A new receptor is involved in the uptake of Sporothrix spp. by human macrophages. Author URL.
Stappers MHT, Clark AE, Aimanianda V, Bidula S, Reid DM, Asamaphan P, Hardison SE, Dambuza IM, Valsecchi I, Kerscher B, et al (2018). Recognition of DHN-melanin by the C-type lectin, MelLec, is required for protective immunity to Aspergillus fumigatus. Author URL.
Dennehy KM, Willment JA, Williams DL, Brown GD (2008). Reciprocal regulation of IL-23 and IL-12 following co-activation of Dectin-1/Syk and Toll-like receptor/MyD88 signaling pathways. Author URL.
Willment JA, Marshall AS, Gordon S, Brown GD (2005). Characterisation of the human β-glucan receptor. Author URL.
Heinsbroek SE, Taylor PR, Rosas M, Willment JA, Gordon S, Brown GD (2005). Dectin-1 isoforms in mice are functionally different. Author URL.
