

Dr Garry Scarlett
Biography
I studied Molecular Biology at Portsmouth and completed my undergraduate degree in 1991. I stayed in the Biophysics laboratories at Portsmouth for my postgraduate studies, working in the group of Professor Geoff Kneale on the characterisation of the gene V protein, a DNA binding protein that is important in the life cycle of the Fd bacteriophage via its role in gene regulation. After completing my PhD in 1995 I worked on unusual DNA structures formed by triplet repeat sequences in the laboratory of Dr James McClellan also in Portsmouth. In 1999 I took a new post-doctoral position in the laboratories of Professors Bob Simmons and Walter Gratzer at the Randall Institute London. I returned to Portsmouth in 2000 where I worked as a post-doctoral researcher for Dr Matt Guille, allowing me a chance to learn a new set of skills and a change of direction into the cell and developmental biology fields. I was appointed a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth in November 2004 and Associate Head in 2011.
Research interests
The main focus of the Scarlett lab research is the role of unusual nucleic acid structures in gene regulation. My lab makes use of the popular model system Xenopus laevis and employs a wide range of genetic, biochemical and biophysical assays. The lab is currently studying the role of A-form DNA in transcriptional control. My lab is also interested genetic zooarchaeology and collaborates with a number of organisations to better help understand the development of domesticated animals through history.
Research outputs
2023
DNA Manipulation and Analysis
Scarlett, G.
1 Mar 2023,
Research output: Book
Preface
Scarlett, G.
1 Mar 2023,
Research output: Chapter (peer-reviewed)
2021
Recurrent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion H69/V70 and its role in the Alpha variant B.1.1.7
Meng, B., Kemp, S. A., Papa, G., Datir, R., Ferreira, I. A., Marelli, S., Harvey, W. T., Lytras, S., Mohamed, A., Gallo, G., Thakur, N., Collier, D. A., Mlcochova, P., Robson, S. C., Loman, N. J., Connor, T. R.,
29 Jun 2021, In: Cell Reports. 35, 13, 24p., 109292
Research output: Article
Assessing transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England
Volz, E., Mishra, S., Chand, M., Barrett, J. C., Johnson, R., Geidelberg, L., Hinsley, W. R., Laydon, D. J., Dabrera, G., O’Toole, Á., Amato, R., Ragonnet-Cronin, M., Harrison, I., Jackson, B., Ariani, C. V.,
13 May 2021, In: Nature. 593, 7858, p. 266-269, 4p.
Research output: Article
Changes in symptomatology, reinfection, and transmissibility associated with the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7: an ecological study
Graham, M. S., Sudre, C. H., May, A., Antonelli, M., Murray, B., Varsavsky, T., Kläser, K., Canas, L. S., Molteni, E., Modat, M., Drew, D. A., Nguyen, L. H., Polidori, L., Selvachandran, S., Hu, C., Capdevila, J.,
1 May 2021, In: The Lancet Public Health. 6, 5, p. e335-e345, 11p.
Research output: Article
Evaluating the effects of SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation D614G on transmissibility and pathogenicity
Volz, E., Hill, V., McCrone, J. T., Price, A., Jorgensen, D., O'Toole, Á., Southgate, J., Johnson, R., Jackson, B., Nascimento, F. F., Rey, S. M., Nicholls, S. M., Colquhoun, R. M., da Silva Filipe, A.,
7 Jan 2021, In: Cell. 184, 1, p. 64-75
Research output: Article
2020
Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020
Alm, E., Broberg, E. K., Connor, T., Hodcroft, E. B., Komissarov, A. B., Maurer-Stroh, S., Melidou, A., Neher, R. A., O’toole, Á., Pereyaslov, D., Robson, S., Scarlett, G., Loveson, K., Beckett, A. H.
13 Aug 2020, In: Eurosurveillance. 25, 32, 8p.
Research output: Article