Dr Monica Berry
Nanophysics and Soft Matter Group (previously Clinical Sciences, Bristol Eye Hospital)
I am interested in long, sugar-rich, chatty molecules (mucins) and their interaction with other molecules and cells. Recent work has focused on the sugar groups at the surface of a gel, which modulate bacterial and immune cell binding to that surface.
Research keywords: AFM, glycobiology, mucins, nanoparticles, ocular surface, saliva, toxicology in vitro
Tel. No.: +44 (0)117 39 40014
Featured research: Mucins | Toxicology in vitro
A short introduction to mucins
A soft mucus gel coats and protects the surfaces of wet epithelia where the body encounters its environment: the surfaces of eye, mouth, nose, respiratory and digestive systems, and more. Mucins, very large molecules whose peptide core is richly decorated with sugars, form the backbone of these mucus gels, where they interact with bacteria and viruses on the one hand, and with epithelial cells and cells of the immune system on the other.
Secreted ocular mucin imaged in HEPES buffer with NiCl2 by AFM (TJ McMaster).
The higher regions of the molecule (here darker blue) are regions of high glycosylation, and at most 1.5 nm above the mica substrate.
Along the peptide core, sugars chains are very dense in places, and sparse in others, giving a mucin the appearance of a necklace of pearls (as shown, left, for a more than 5 µm long human ocular mucin molecule imaged by Atomic Force Microscopy). Epithelial mucins come in two flavours, secreted (like the example, left), and cell surface bound. The mucin subunit of the latter (below, right) is cleaved into the overlying fluid. Mucins spanning the cell membrane convey information to the inside of the cell.
Muc4 (gift from Kermit Carraway) on graphite, imaged in HEPES buffer with NiCl2 and 0.01% Tween 20, by AFM (D Brayshaw).
Changes in mucins are associated with disease in some organs e.g. breast and colon – MUC1, the first mucin discovered, has been the focus of research for its connection with breast cancer. In very severe dry eyes there is a decrease in goblet cells, cells which synthesise, store and secrete MUC5AC.
Sugar chains, in particular the last or last few sugars in the chain, are what a microorganism sees on a mucin molecule or gel: bacteria and viruses are very choosy in their sweet epitopes. An alteration in the charge or type of sugars can have a large effect on the resident microflora.
The general structure of mucins is conserved throughout the body, yet details are tuned to the site of secretion. For example, gastric mucins have long oligosaccharide chains, while at the ocular surface sugar chains are short.
The lynch-pin of my research has been understanding how the behaviour of molecules in a complex fluid is affected by alterations in their biophysical and biochemical characteristics. The complexity of molecular behaviour has prompted collaborations with other mucineers, especially Tony Corfield, physicists(1 & 2), (sugar) biochemists(3, 4, & 5), microbiologists(6), optometrists(7), and clinicians(8, 9, & 10).
Toxicology in vitro
Organ-cultured cornea (left) and 3D corneal model (right) where epithelial cells grown on a collagen gel seeded with human corneal fibroblasts.
Marcus Radburn Smith and Berry (unpublished results)
A collaboration with the cosmetics industry on alternative methods for toxicity testing, has resulted in the development of a three-dimensional corneal model. Further to classical toxicology assays we characterised the cytokine secretion of the construct which was stable in controls and specifically altered after exposure to toxicants.
An newer interest is models to study nanoparticle toxicity in the light of their potential as a research tool and therapeutic modality.
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| Author | Title | Year | Journal/Proceedings/Books | DOI/URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verey, F., Nexo, E., Greenwood, R., Berry, M. & Corfield, A.P. | Trefoil factor family peptides are increased in the saliva of children with mucositis | 2011 | Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine In Press |
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| Berry, M. | Ocular Mucins in Encyclopaedia of the Eye |
2010 | 184-193 | |
| Corfield, A. & Berry, M. | Mucin Biophysics in Encyclopaedia of Biophysics |
2010 | - | |
| Haward, S.J., Odell, J.A., Berry, M. & Hall, T. | Extensional rheology of human saliva | 2010 | Rheologica Acta Suppl. |
DOI URL |
| Baos, S., Berry, M., Heard, P., Brayshaw, D. & McMaster, T.J. | Functional Mapping of Single Molecules and Gels using Atomic Force Microscopy | 2009 | Biophysical Journal 96(3), 644a |
DOI URL |
| Berry, M., Pult, H., Purslow, C. & Murphy, P.J. | Mucins and Ocular Signs in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Contact Lens Wear | 2008 | Optometry and Vision Science 85(10), 930-938 |
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| Pult, H., Purslow, C., Berry, M. & Murphy, P.J. | Clinical tests for successful contact lens wear: their relations and predictability | 2008 | Optometry and Vision Science 85(10), E924-E929 |
DOI URL |
| Royle, L., Matthews, E., Corfield, A., Berry, M., Rudd, P.M., Dwek, R.A. & Carrington, S.D. | Glycan structures of ocular surface mucins in man, rabbit and dog display species differences | 2008 | Glycoconjugate Journal 25(8), 763-773 |
DOI |
| Round, A.N., McMaster, T.J., Miles, M.J., Corfield, A.P. & Berry, M. | The isolated MUC5AC gene product from human ocular mucin displays intramolecular conformational heterogeneity | 2007 | Glycobiology 17(6), 578-585 |
DOI |
| Berry, M. & Radburn-Smith, M. | Ocular toxicology in vitro - cell based assays | 2006 | Altex 23, 313-317 |
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| Paulsen, F. & Berry, M. | Mucins and TFF peptides of the tear film and lacrimal apparatus | 2006 | Progress in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 41(1), 1-53 |
DOI URL |
| Berry, M. & Ellingham, R. | Mucins on the ocular surface in Immunology of the lacrimal gland, tear film and ocular surface |
2005 | 79-96 | |
| Brayshaw, D., Berry, M. & McMaster, T. | Dynamic molecular resolution imaging and nanomechanical measurements of glycoprotein gels | 2005 | Biophysical Journal 88(1, Part 2 Suppl. S), 156A |
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| Roberton, A., Wiggins, R., Horner, P., Greenwood, R., Crowley, T., Fernandes, A., Berry, M. & Corfield, A. | Novel bacterial mucinase, glycosulfatase, is associated with bacterial vaginosis | 2005 | Journal of Clinical Microbiology 43(11), 5504-5508 |
DOI |
| Schafer, G., Hoffmann, W., Berry, M. & Paulsen, F. | Lacrimal gland-associated mucins. Age related production ancl their role in the pathophysiology of dry eye | 2005 | Ophthalmologe 102(2), 175-183 |
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| Aknin, M., Berry, M., Dick, A. & Khan-Lim, D. | Normal but not altered mucins activate neutrophils | 2004 | Cell and Tissue Research 318(3), 545-551 |
DOI |
| Berry, M., Brayshaw, D. & McMaster, T. | Dynamic molecular resolution imaging of preocular fluid impressions | 2004 | British Journal of Ophthalmology 88(11), 1460-1466 |
DOI |
| Berry, M., Ellingham, R. & Corfield, A. | Human preocular mucins reflect changes in surface physiology | 2004 | British Journal of Ophthalmology 88(3), 377-383 |
DOI |
| Berry, M. & Radburn-Smith, M. | Conjunctiva organ and cell culture | 2004 | Methods in Molecular Medicine 107, 325-342 |
DOI URL |
| Brayshaw, D., Berry, M. & McMaster, T. | Single molecule chemical reactions and adsorption processes observed directly with AFM | 2004 | Biophysical Journal 86(1, Part 2 Suppl. S), 155A |
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| Brayshaw, D., Berry, M. & McMaster, T. | Molecular adsorption: early stage surface exploration | 2004 | Ultramicroscopy 100(3-4), 145-151 |
DOI |
| Brayshaw, D., Berry, M. & McMaster, T. | Reducing a polymer to its subunits as an aid to molecular mapping | 2004 | Nanotechnology 15(11), 1391-1396 |
DOI |
| Khan-Lim, D. & Berry, M. | Still confused about rose Bengal? | 2004 | Current Eye Research 29(4-5), 311-317 |
DOI |
| McMaster, T., Brayshaw, D. & Berry, M. | Unravelling glycoprotein-peptide interactions that influence mucus viscosity | 2004 | Biophysical Journal 86(1, Part 2 Suppl. S), 152A-153A |
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| Paulsen, F., Corfield, A., Hinz, M., Hoffmann, W., Schaudig, U., Thale, A. & Berry, M. | Tear outflow. Impact of mucins and TFF peptides | 2004 | Ophthalmologe 101(1), 19-24 |
DOI |
| Paulsen, F., Langer, G., Hoffmann, W. & Berry, M. | Human lacrimal gland mucins | 2004 | Cell and Tissue Research 316(2), 167-177 |
DOI |
| Round, A., Berry, M., McMaster, T., Corfield, A. & Miles, M. | Glycopolymer charge density determines conformation in human ocular mucin gene products: an atomic force microscope study | 2004 | Journal of Structural Biology 145(3), 246-253 |
DOI |
| Aknin, M., Khan-Lim, D., Dick, A. & Berry, M. | Mucins recruit leucocytes selectively | 2003 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44(Suppl. 1), 2503 |
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| Berry, M., Harris, A. & Corfield, A. | Patterns of mucin adherence to contact lenses | 2003 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44(2), 567-572 |
DOI |
| Brayshaw, D., Berry, M. & McMaster, T. | Optimisation of sample preparation methods for air imaging of ocular mucins by AFM | 2003 | Ultramicroscopy 97(1-4), 289-296 |
DOI |
| Khan-Lim, D. & Berry, M. | Still confused about Rose Bengal? | 2003 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44(Suppl. 1), 2455 |
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| Paulsen, F., Corfield, A., Hinz, M., Hoffmann, W., Schaudig, U., Thale, A. & Berry, M. | Characterization of mucins in human lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct | 2003 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44(5), 1807-1813 |
DOI |
| Berry, M., Corfield, A., Harris, A. & Lim, D. | Functional processing of ocular mucins | 2002 | Lacrimal gland, tear film, and dry eye syndromes 3: basic science and clinical relevance, Pts A & B 506, 283-288 |
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| Berry, M., Harris, A., Lumb, R. & Powell, K. | Commensal ocular bacteria degrade mucins | 2002 | British Journal of Ophthalmology 86(12), 1412-1416 |
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| Paulsen, F., Corfield, A., Gebhardt, M., Steven, P., Schaudig, U., Thale, A. & Berry, M. | Distribution of mucins in human nasolacrimal ducts | 2002 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 43(Suppl. 1), 899 |
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| Round, A., Berry, M., McMaster, T., Stoll, S., Gowers, D., Corfield, A. & Miles, M. | Heterogeneity and persistence length in human ocular mucins | 2002 | Biophysical Journal 83(3), 1661-1670 |
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| Berry, M., McMaster, T., Corfield, A. & Miles, M. | Exploring the molecular adhesion of ocular mucins | 2001 | Biomacromolecules 2(2), 498-503 |
DOI |
| Berry, M. & Jeffreys, D. | Ocular injuries from household chemicals: Early signs as predictors of recovery | 2001 | In Vitro Molecular Toxicology 14(1), 5-13 |
DOI URL |
| Khan-Lim, D., Shankar, S. & Berry, M. | Variation of mucins in dry eyes. | 2001 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 42(4, Suppl. S), 188 |
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| Berry, M., Ellingham, R. & Corfield, A. | Membrane-associated mucins in normal human conjunctiva | 2000 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 41(2), pp. 398-403 |
URL |
| Ellingham, R., Berry, M. & Corfield, A. | MUC2 and MUC5AC post-secretory mucins in normal and pathological pre-ocular gel. | 2000 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 41(4, Suppl. S), 1443B818 |
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| Khan-Lim, D., Berry, M. & Corfield, A. | Stimulated and unstimulated normal tears dissolve different mucin populations. | 2000 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 41(4, Suppl. S), 353B353 |
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| Berry, M., McMaster, T., Corfield, A. & Miles, M. | Ocular mucins form slender and long polymers: An atomic force microscopy study | 1999 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 40(4), 5090 |
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| Berry, M. | Eye irritation: a view from beyond the cosmetics industry in Alternatives to Animal Testing II |
1999 | - | |
| Ellingham, R., Berry, M., Stevenson, D. & Corfield, A. | Secreted human conjunctival mucus contains MUC5AC glycoforms | 1999 | Glycobiology 9(11), 1181-1189 |
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| McMaster, T., Berry, M., Corfield, A. & Miles, M. | Atomic force microscopy of the submolecular architecture of hydrated ocular mucins | 1999 | Biophysical Journal 77(1), 533-541 |
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| Berry, M., Pastis, W., Ellingham, R., Frost, L., Corfield, A. & Easty, D. | Hyaluronan in dry eye and contact lens wearers | 1998 | Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2 - Basic Science and Clinical Relevance, 438, 785-790 |
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| Berry, M., Ellingham, R. & Corfield, A. | Membrane associated mucins in human conjunctiva | 1997 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 38(4, Part 1), 751 |
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| Berry, M., Ellingham, R. & Corfield, A. | Physico-chemical characteristics of human ocular mucins | 1997 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 38(4, Part 1), 2169 |
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| Corfield, A., Carrington, S., Hicks, S., Berry, M. & Ellingham, R. | Ocular mucins: Purification, metabolism and functions | 1997 | Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 16(4), 627-656 |
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| Berry, M. & Easty, D. | The effect of 0.1% sodium hyaluronate on human corneal epithelial cells | 1996 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 37(3), 370 |
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| Berry, M., Ellingham, R. & Corfield, A. | Polydispersity of normal human conjunctival mucins | 1996 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 37(13), 2559-2571 |
URL |
| Berry, M., Ellingham, R. & Corfield, A. | Conjunctiva: Organ and Cell Culture in Human cell culture protocols |
1996 | 503-517 | |
| Ellingham, R., Berry, M. & Corfield, A. | Agarose gel electrophoresis of human tears: Mucin detected. | 1996 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 37(3), 3902 |
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| Berry, M., Gurung, A. & Easty, D. | Toxicity of antibiotics and antifungals on cultured human corneal cells - effect of mixing, exposure and concentration | 1995 | Eye 9(Part 1), 110-115 |
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| Berry, M., Corfield, A. & Easty, D. | Partial characterization of human ocular mucins | 1994 | Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 35(4), 1795 |
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| Berry, M., Easty, D. & Declercq, E. | Effect of antivirals on human corneal cells in-vitro | 1994 | Toxicology in Vitro 8(4), 727-729 |
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| Frescura, M., Berry, M., Corfield, A., Carrington, S & Easty, D. | Evidence of hyaluronan in human tears and secretions of conjunctival cultures | 1994 | Biochemical Society Transactions 22(2), S228 |
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| Berry, M. & Easty, D. | Isolated human and rabbit eye - models of corneal toxicity | 1993 | Toxicology in Vitro 7(4), 461-464 |
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| Berry, M., Easty, D. & Declercq, E. | Effects of antivirals on wound closure in vitro | 1993 | Investigations in Ophthalmology & Visual Science 34(4), 1320 |
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| Larkin, D.F., Berry, M. & Easty, D. | In vitro corneal pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba | 1991 | Eye 5(5), 560-568 |
DOI URL |