Aaron leads the Epigenetic and Genetic Research Unit at UOW . His laboratory investigates how environmental factors including diet and immune derived oxidants (produced during inflammation and infection) can impact on human disease progression.
Methylated cytosine is an important epigenetic regulator of gene activity and plays a dynamic process in cell growth, differentiation, migration, and overall tissue architecture. Changing the methylation patterns during DNA replication may alter gene activity and redirect cell fate, which could be an important process in understanding how genes respond to their environmental conditions and is a central question for managing health and disease. Reactive oxygen species can act as key drivers in epigenetic change. This could affect how specific proteins bind and recognise DNA and may contribute to the link between inflammation and cancer.
He also investigates how diet can alter the composition of the human gut microbiome, and the implications of this for perinatal depression.
Publications
Yan, M. P., Wee, C. E., Yen, K. P., Stevens, A., & Wai, L. K. (2023). G-quadruplex ligands as therapeutic agents against cancer, neurological disorders and viral infections. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 15(21), 1987-2009. doi: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0202
Journal - Research Other
Seddon, A., Das, A., Hampton, M., & Stevens, A. (2023). Understanding how immune oxidants can drive epigenetic change. Proceedings of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) European Human Genetics Hybrid Conference. P21.003.C. Retrieved from https://www.eshg.org/home
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
He, Z., Wilson, A., Rich, F., Kenwright, D., Stevens, A., Low, Y. S., & Thunders, M. (2023). Chromosomal instability and its effect on cell lines. Cancer Reports, e1822. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1822
Journal - Research Other
Seddon, A. R., Das, A. B., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2023). Site-specific decreases in DNA methylation in replicating cells following exposure to oxidative stress. Human Molecular Genetics, 32(4), 632-648. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddac232
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., de Jong, L., & Kennedy, M. A. (2022). The dynamic regulation of G-quadruplex DNA structures by cytosine methylation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 2407. doi: 10.3390/ijms23052407
Journal - Research Other
Seddon, A. R., Liau, Y., Pace, P. E., Miller, A. L., Das, A. B., Kennedy, M. A., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2021). Genome-wide impact of hydrogen peroxide on maintenance DNA methylation in replicating cells. Epigenetics & Chromatin, 14(1), 17. doi: 10.1186/s13072-021-00388-6
Journal - Research Article
Heft, I. E., Mostovoy, Y., Levy-Sakin, M., Ma, W., Stevens, A. J., Pastor, S., … Kennedy, M. A., … Sikela, J. M. (2020). The driver of extreme human-specific Olduvai repeat expansion remains highly active in the human genome. Genetics, 214, 179-191. doi: 10.1534/genetics.119.302782
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., Purcell, R. V., Darling, K. A., Eggleston, M. J. F., Kennedy, M. A., & Rucklidge, J. J. (2019). Human gut microbiome changes during a 10 week randomised control trial for micronutrient supplementation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Scientific Reports, 9, 10128. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46146-3
Journal - Research Article
Rucklidge, J. J., Eggleston, M. J. F., Darling, K., Stevens, A., Kennedy, M., & Frampton, C. M. (2019). Can we predict treatment response in children with ADHD to a vitamin-mineral supplement? An investigation into pre-treatment nutrient serum levels, MTHFR status, clinical correlates and demographic variables. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 89, 181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.09.007
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., Rucklidge, J. J., Darling, K. A., Eggleston, M. J. F., Pearson, J. F., & Kennedy, M. A. (2018). Methylomic changes in response to micronutrient supplementation and MTHFR genotype. Epigenomics, 10(9), 1201-1214. doi: 10.2217/epi-2018-0029
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., Rucklidge, J. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2018). Epigenetics, nutrition and mental health: Is there a relationship? [Review]. Nutritional Neuroscience, 21(9), 602-613. doi: 10.1080/1028415x.2017.1331524
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Methylated cytosine maintains G-quadruplex structures during polymerase chain reaction and contributes to allelic dropout. Biochemistry, 56(29), 3691-3698. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00480
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., Taylor, M. G., Pearce, F. G., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Allelic dropout during polymerase chain reaction due to G-quadruplex structures and DNA methylation is widespread at imprinted human loci. Genes Genomes Genetics, 7(3), 1019-1025. doi: 10.1534/g3.116.038687
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Structural analysis of G-quadruplex formation at the human MEST promoter. PLoS ONE, 12(1), e0169433. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169433
Journal - Research Article
Steel, O., Kraberger, S., Sikorski, A., Young, L. M., Catchpole, R. J., Stevens, A. J., … Varsani, A. (2016). Circular replication-associated protein encoding DNA viruses identified in the faecal matter of various animals in New Zealand. Infection, Genetics & Evolution, 43, 151-164. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.05.008
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., Appleby, S., & Kennedy, M. A. (2016). Many commercial hot-start polymerases demonstrate activity prior to thermal activation. Biotechniques, 61(6), 293-296. doi: 10.2144/000114481
Journal - Research Other
Stevens, A., Appleby, S., & Kennedy, M. (2016, August-September). Many commercial hot-start polymerases demonstrate activity prior to thermal activation. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Stevens, A. J., Kennedy, H. L., & Kennedy, M. A. (2016). Fluorescence methods for probing G-quadruplex structure in single- and double-stranded DNA. Biochemistry, 55(26), 3714-3725. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00327
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J. (2015). The interaction of G-quadruplex DNA structure and cytosine methylation (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/6077
Awarded Doctoral Degree
Stevens, A., & Kennedy, M. (2015, August-September). CpG Methylation increases G-quadruplex re-association during PCR and influences genotyping of the imprinted MEST gene promoter. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Cree, S. L., Gibb, A., Miller, A. L., Doudney, K., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., Joyce, P. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2014). G-quadruplex structures and CpG methylation cause drop-out of the maternal allele in polymerase chain reaction amplification of the imprinted MEST gene promoter. PLoS ONE, 9(12), e113955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113955
Journal - Research Article
Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Macmil, S., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Miller, A. L., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., Joyce, P. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2013). Allelic-dropout during PCR of the imprinted MEST promoter caused by interaction between G-quadruplex structures and DNA methylation. Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting on G-quadruplex Nucleic Acids: From Structure to Chemistry and Biology. 83. Retrieved from http://www.g4meeting2013.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Stevens, A., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Miller, A., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M., … Kennedy, M. (2012, August). G-quadruplex DNA structures, genomic imprinting and allelic drop-out in PCR. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Miller, A. L., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2012, August). G-quadruplex DNA structures, genomic imprinting and allelic drop-out in PCR. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
