2006 – 2009, Research Officer, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane
2009 – 2013, Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, UK
2013 – 2020, Lecturer then Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago
Research interests
The Vernall research group focuses on the development of heterocyclic small molecules, peptidomimetics and fluorescent tools that target receptors in the human body. The motivation for developing new chemical tools is to better understand disease processes and cell signalling by studying targets implicated in various diseases and conditions. We particularly focus on developing new tools to study G protein-coupled receptors, for example adenosine and cannabinoid receptors. Other Vernall group research includes small molecule ligand development for modulating immune responses and new approaches to studying antibiotic resistance.
Teaching
CHEM 202
CHEM 205
CHEM 305
CHEM 461
Publications
Payne, C., Awalt, J. K., May, L. T., Tyndall, J. D. A., Jörg, M., & Vernall, A. J. (2023). Bifunctional tools to study adenosine receptors. In V. Colotta & C. T. Supuran (Eds.), Purinergic receptors and their modulators. (pp. 179-221). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/7355_2022_154
Chapter in Book - Research
Sharma, R., Singh, S., Whiting, Z. M., Molitor, M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2023). Novel Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) low lipophilicity agonists produce distinct cAMP and arrestin signalling kinetics without bias. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 6406. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076406
Journal - Research Article
Yin, J., Sharma, R., Tyndall, J. D. A., Grimsey, N. L., & Vernall, A. J. (2023). Synthesis and characterization of a cannabinoid type 2 receptor photoactivated prodrug. ChemPhotoChem, 7, e202200291. doi: 10.1002/cptc.202200291
Journal - Research Article
Webb, H. D. J., Finlay, D. B., Chen, S., Vernall, A. J., Sparkes, E., Banister, S. D., Rosengren, R. J., & Glass, M. (2023). Characterisation of AMB-FUBINACA metabolism and CB1-mediated activity of its acid metabolite. Forensic Toxicology, 41, 114-125. doi: 10.1007/s11419-022-00649-3
Journal - Research Article
Liddle, I., Glass, M., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2022). Covalent chromenopyrazole chemical tools for the cannabinoid type 2 receptor. In L. Wilson, H. Harcombe, P. Jayakaran, L. Burga, J. Antony, K. Morgaine, M. Garelja, A. Middleton, M. Anwar & T. Milne (Eds.), Proceedings of the 263rd Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) Meeting: PhD Student Speaker Awards. Dunedin, New Zealand: OMSRS. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/12839
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Smoum, R., Grether, U., Karsak, M., Vernall, A. J., Park, F., Hillard, C. J., & Pacher, P. (2022). Therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 1039564. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1039564
Journal - Research Other
Wedlock, L., Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S. M., Vernall, A. J., & Ussher, J. E. (2022, August). The regulation of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation by bacteria. Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Whiting, Z. M., Yin, J., de la Harpe, S. M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2022). Developing the Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) pharmacopoeia: Past, present, and future. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 43(9), 754-771. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.06.010
Journal - Research Article
Liddle, I., Glass, M., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2022). Covalent cannabinoid receptor ligands: Structural insight and selectivity challenges. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 497-510. doi: 10.1039/D2MD00006G
Journal - Research Other
Faville, S. C., Harris-Handscomb, K., Harker, O., Mattison, S., Tamorite, H., Bristowe, J., Daly, D., Ege, R., He, H., Jones, J., McCorkindale, A., Mei, K., Monson, A., Moree, L., Perkovic, F., Rickerby, G., Robinson, J., Rudkin, F., Whibley, L., Worthington, R., Ennis, C., de la Harpe, S., Brind, T., Hopkins, A., Winefield, K., … Vernall, A. J. (2022). Open synthesis network research in an undergraduate laboratory: Development of benzoxazole amide derivatives against leishmania parasite. Journal of Chemical Education, 99, 1682-1690. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c01213
Journal - Research Article
Trinh, P. N. H., Chong, D. J. W., Leach, K., Hill, S. J., Tyndall, J. D. A., May, L. T., Vernall, A. J., & Gregory, K. J. (2021). Development of covalent, clickable probes for adenosine A1 and A3 receptors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64, 8161-8178. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02169
Journal - Research Article
Lamichhane, R., Munro, F., Harrop, T. W. R., de la Harpe, S. M., Dearden, P. K., Vernall, A. J., McCall, J. L., & Ussher, J. E. (2021). Human liver-derived MAIT cells differ from blood MAIT cells in their metabolism and response to TCR-independent activation. European Journal of Immunology, 51, 879-892. doi: 10.1002/eji.202048830
Journal - Research Article
Singh, S., Liddle, I., Macdonald, C., Tyndall, J. D. A., Glass, M., & Vernall, A. (2021). Development of chromenopyrazole-based selective cannabinoid 2 receptor agonists. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 74, 433-442. doi: 10.1071/CH20263
Journal - Research Article
Schneider, M., Hannaway, R. F., Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S. M., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., Kettle, A. J., & Ussher, J. E. (2020). Neutrophils suppress mucosal-associated invariant T cells in humans. European Journal of Immunology, 50, 643-655. doi: 10.1002/eji.201948394
Journal - Research Article
Lamichhane, R., Galvin, H., Hannaway, R. F., de la Harpe, S. M., Munro, F., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., McCall, J. L., Husain, M., & Ussher, J. E. (2020). Type I interferons are important co-stimulatory signals during T cell receptor mediated human MAIT cell activation. European Journal of Immunology, 50, 178-191. doi: 10.1002/eji.201948279
Journal - Research Article
Singh, S., Oyagawa, C. R. M., Grimsey, N. L., Tyndall, J. D. A., Glass, M., & Vernall, A. J. (2019, August-September). Chromenopyrazole-based chemical tools to study cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Lamichhane, R., Schneider, M., de la Harpe, S. M., Harrop, T. W. R., Hannaway, R. F., Dearden, P. K., Kirman, J. R., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., & Ussher, J. E. (2019). TCR- or cytokine-activated CD8+ mucosal-associated invariant T cells are rapid polyfunctional effectors that can coordinate immune responses. Cell Reports, 28(12), 3061-3076.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.054
Journal - Research Article
Singh, S., Oyagawa, C. R. M., Macdonald, C., Grimsey, N. L., Glass, M., & Vernall, A. J. (2019). Chromenopyrazole-based high affinity, selective fluorescent ligands for cannabinoid type 2 receptor. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 10, 209-214. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00597
Journal - Research Article
Putha, L., Kok, L. K., Chen, K., Sagatova, A. A., Wilbanks, S. M., Gamble, A. B., Vernall, A. J., & Tyndall, J. D. (2018, August). New isothiocyanates: Covalent inhibitors of macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Cooper, A. G., Oyagawa, C. R. M., Manning, J. J., Singh, S., Hook, S., Grimsey, N. L., Glass, M., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2018). Development of selective, fluorescent cannabinoid type 2 receptor ligands based on a 1,8-naphthyridin-2-(1H)-one-3-carboxamide scaffold. MedChemComm, 9(12), 2055-2067. doi: 10.1039/c8md00448j
Journal - Research Article
Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S., Harrop, T., Vernall, A., Tyndall, J., Dearden, P., Kirman, J., & Ussher, J. E. (2018, August). Differential regulation of MR1- and cytokine stimulated MAIT cells. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) and Australasian Society for Immunology New Zealand Branch (ASI-NZ) Joint Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Oyagawa, C. R. M., de la Harpe, S. M., Saroz, Y., Glass, M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2018). Cannabinoid Receptor 2 signalling bias elicited by 2,4,6-trisubstituted 1,3,5-triazines. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 1202. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01202
Journal - Research Article
Singh, S., Cooper, S. L., Glenn, J. R., Beresford, J., Percival, L. R., Tyndall, J. D. A., … Vernall, A. J. (2018). Synthesis of novel (benzimidazolyl)isoquinolinols and evaluation as adenosine A1 receptor tools. RSC Advances, 8(29), 16362-16369. doi: 10.1039/C7RA13148H
Journal - Research Article
Cooper, A. G., MacDonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2018). Alkyl indole-based cannabinoid type 2 receptor tools: Exploration of linker and fluorophore attachment. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 145, 770-789. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.076
Journal - Research Article
Cooper, A., Macdonald, C., Manning, J., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J., & Vernall, A. (2017, September). Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Poster session presented at the 19th RSC/SCI Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, Cambridge, UK.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S., Harrop, T., Vernall, A., Tyndall, J., Dearden, P., Kirman, J., & Ussher, J. (2017, November). Differences in the effector function of MR1- and cytokine stimulated MAIT cells. Poster session presented at the 10th International CD1-MR1 Workshop, Napa, USA.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Ussher, J., Williams, T., Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S., Tyndall, J., & Vernall, A. (2017, November). Bacteria license antigen presenting cells for MR1-mediated MAIT cell activation. Verbal presentation at the 10th International CD1-MR1 Workshop, Napa, USA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Oyagawa, C. R. M., de la Harpe, S., Woodhouse, B. J., Glass, M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2017, September). Utilising novel ligands to investigate an unusual trafficking phenotype: Agonist-induced surface upregulation of cannabinoid receptor 2. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists New Zealand Section (ASCEPT-NZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Cooper, A., Singh, S., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2017). Chemical tools for studying lipid-binding class A G protein-coupled receptors. Pharmacological Reviews, 69(3), 316-353. doi: 10.1124/pr.116.013243
Journal - Research Article
Rizwan, S. B., & Vernall, A. J. (2017). To prohibit or regulate psychoactive substances: Has New Zealand got the right approach? BMJ, 356, j1195. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1195
Journal - Research Article
Cooper, A. G., Macdonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016, August-September). Development of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Poster session presented at the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry, Manchester, UK.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Singh, S., Glenn, J. R., Hill, S. J., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016). Illuminating the life of A1 adenosine receptor. Proceedings of the Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices, Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/d4/index.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Cooper, A. G., Macdonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016). Development of tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor: Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of fluorescent ligands and intermediates. Proceedings of the Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices, Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/d4/index.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Cooper, A. G., Macdonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016). Development of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Proceedings of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists and the Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (ASCEPT-MPGPCR) Joint Scientific Meeting. 709. Retrieved from http://www.asceptasm.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Singh, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016, August-September). Development of selective fluorescent ligands for A1 adenosine receptor as pharmacological tools. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Singh, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. (2015). Development of selective fluorescent ligands for A1AR as pharmacological tools. Proceedings of the Diagnostic Drug Device Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.regonline.com.au/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1758070
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Cooper, A., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. (2015). Development of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying the cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Proceedings of the Diagnostic Drug Device Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.regonline.com.au/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1758070
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Stoddart, L. A., Vernall, A. J., Briddon, S. J., Kellam, B., & Hill, S. J. (2015). Direct visualisation of internalization of the adenosine A3 receptor and localization with arrestin3 using a fluorescent agonist. Neuropharmacology, 98, 68-77. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.04.013
Journal - Research Article
Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Kellam, B., & Hill, S. J. (2014). New fluorescent antagonists for the histamine H1-receptor. Proceedings of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) and the Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (MPGPCR) Joint Scientific Meeting. (pp. 115). Retrieved from http://www.asceptasm.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Vernall, A. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2014). The evolving small-molecule fluorescent-conjugate toolbox for Class A GPCRs. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(5), 1073-1084. doi: 10.1111/bph.12265
Journal - Research Article
Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2013). Fluorescent probes as drug discovery tools. Proceedings of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) Conference. Retrieved from http://apsa-online.org/home.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Ng, H. W., Laughton, C. A., Doughty, S. W., … Kellam, B. (2013). Conversion of a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist into A3-selective high affinity fluorescent probes using peptide-based linkers. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 11(34), 5673-5682. doi: 10.1039/c3ob41221k
Journal - Research Article
Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2012, December). Conversion of non-selective adenosine receptor ligands to subtype selective higher affinity fluorescent probes using peptide-based linkers. Poster session presented at the Seventh Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-coupled Receptors International Meeting, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Vernall, A., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2012). Highly potent and selective fluorescent antagonist of the adenosine A3 receptor: Use as an imaging tool. Proceedings of the 243rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition. Retrieved from http://abstracts.acs.org/chem/243nm/program/view.php
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2012). Highly potent and selective fluorescent antagonists of the human adenosine A3 receptor based on the 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one scaffold. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 55(4), 1771-1782. doi: 10.1021/jm201722y
Journal - Research Article
Stoddart, L. A., Vernall, A. J., Denman, J. L., Briddon, S. J., Kellam, B., & Hill, S. J. (2012). Fragment screening at adenosine-A3 receptors in living cells using a fluorescence-based binding assay. Chemistry & Biology, 19(9), 1105-1115. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.07.014
Journal - Research Article
Vernall, A. J., Cassidy, P., & Alewood, P. F. (2009). A single α-helical turn stabilized by replacement of an internal hydrogen bond with a covalent ethylene bridge. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 48(31), 5675-5678. doi: 10.1002/anie.200901059
Journal - Research Article
Vernall, A. J., Ballet, S., & Abell, A. D. (2008). Cross-metathesis and ring-closing metathesis reactions of amino acid-based substrates. Tetrahedron, 64(18), 3980-3997. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2008.02.043
Journal - Research Article