Dr Megan Leask

2024

Journal - Research Article

Chuah, M. H., Leask, M. P., Topless, R. K., Gamble, G. D., Sumpter, N. A., Stamp, L. K., Merriman, T. R., & Dalbeth, N. (2024). Interaction of genetic variation at ADH1B and MLXIPL with alcohol consumption for elevated serum urate level and gout among people of European ethnicity. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 26, 45. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03279-9

2023

Chapter in Book - Research

Diermeier, S. D., & Leask, M. P. (2023). History and definitions of ncRNAs. In J. Sztuba-Solinska (Ed.), Navigating non-coding RNA: From biogenesis to therapeutic application. (pp. 1-46). London, UK: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-90406-3.00002-6

Journal - Research Article

Toomata, Z., Leask, M., Krishnan, M., Cadzow, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L. K., … Merriman, T., Wilcox, P., … Murphy, R. (2023). Genetic testing for misclassified monogenic diabetes in Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand with early-onset type 2 diabetes. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1174699. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1174699

Moors, J., Krishnan, M., Sumpter, N., Takei, R., Bixley, M., Cadzow, M., Major, T. J., Phipps Green, A., Topless, R., Merriman, M., Rutledge, M., Morgan, B., … Stamp, L., Taumoepeau, M., … Wilcox, P., … McCormick, S., … Merriman, T. R., & Leask, M. (2023). A Polynesian-specific missense CETP variant alters the lipid profile. Human Genetics & Genomic Advances, 4, 100204. doi: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100204

Brandon, R., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Tweedie-Cullen, R., Smallman, K., Doherty, G., … Leask, M. P., Merriman, T. R., … Murphy, R. (2023). Stratified glucose-lowering response to vildagliptin and pioglitazone by obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in a randomized crossover trial. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13, 1091421. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1091421

Mandal, A. K., Leask, M. P., Sumpter, N. A., Choi, H. K., Merriman, T. R., & Mount, D. B. (2023). Genetic and physiological effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on human urate homeostasis. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000054

Sumpter, N. A., Takei, R., Cadzow, M., Topless, R. K. G., Phipps-Green, A. J., Murphy, R., … Major, T. J., Stamp, L. K., … Leask, M. P., … Merriman, T. R. (2023). Association of gout polygenic risk score with age at disease onset and tophaceous disease in European and Polynesian men with gout. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 75(5), 816-825. doi: 10.1002/art.42393

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Morice, M., Darroch, H., Horsfield, J., Merriman, T., & Leask, M. (2023). The regulatory landscape of metabolism in Polynesian populations. Proceedings of the Society for Developmental Biology 82nd Annual Meeting. (pp. 7). Retrieved from https://www.sdbonline.org

2022

Journal - Research Article

Lupi, A. S., Sumpter, N. A., Leask, M. P., O'Sullivan, J., Fadason, T., de los Campos, G., Merriman, T. R., … Vazquez, A. I. (2022). Local genetic covariance between serum urate and kidney function estimated with Bayesian multitrait models. Genes Genomes Genetics, 12(9), jkac158. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac158

Wang, K., Cadzow, M., Bixley, M., Leask, M. P., Merriman, M. E., Yang, Q., … Takei, R., Phipps-Green, A., Major, T. J., Topless, R., … Stamp, L. K., … Merriman, T. R. (2022). A Polynesian-specific copy number variant encompassing the MICA gene associates with gout. Human Molecular Genetics, 31(21), 3757-3768. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddac094

Journal - Research Other

Sumpter, N. A., Takei, R., Leask, M. P., Reynolds, R. J., & Merriman, T. R. (2022). Genetic association studies of the progression from hyperuricaemia to gout. Rheumatology, 61, e139-e140. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac011

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Merriman, T., Matsuo, H., Takei, R., Leask, M., Topless, R., Shirai, Y., … Cadzow, M., … Stamp, L., … Robinson, P., … Sumpter, N., Merriman, M., Phipps-Green, A., Wei, W., McCormick, S., … Major, T. (2022). A genome-wide association analysis of 2,622,830 individuals reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 74(Suppl. 9), 1678. doi: 10.1002/art.42355

Urquiaga, M., Leask, M., Sumpter, N., Maxwell, B., Lewis, S., Kelley, E. E., & Merriman, T. (2022). The prostate plays a role in serum urate levels and the risk of gout in men. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 74(Suppl. 9), 1145. doi: 10.1002/art.42355

Brandon, R., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Tweedie-Cullen, R., Smallman, K., Doherty, G., … Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., … Murphy, R. (2022). Randomised cross-over trial of vidagliptin and pioglitazone as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: Predicting Which One is Righ Here (WORTH) Study: Predicting type 2 diabetes medication response. Proceedings of the 45th New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 30). Retrieved from https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/NZSSD22/welcome.html

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Brandon, R., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Tweedie-Cullen, R., Smallman, K., Doherty, G., … Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., … Paul, R., & Murphy, R. (2022, August). Precision medicine in diabetes: Type 2 diabetes medication Which One is Right Here? (WORTH) study. Verbal presentation at the Metabolic & Cardiovascular Disease Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Chang, H. H. G., Leask, M. P., Kallingappa, P. K., Merry, T. L., Hotu, C., de Zoysa, J., … Fronius, M., … Hay, D. L., Merriman, T. R., & Davidson, A. J. (2022, August). The CALCRL receptor: A potential new genetic determinant of diabetic kidney disease in NZ. Verbal presentation at the Metabolic & Cardiovascular Disease Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Leask, M., Carleton, C., Leeke, B., Newman, T., Antoun, J., Farella, M., & Horsfield, J. (2021). Riboceine rescues auranofin-induced craniofacial defects in zebrafish. Antioxidants, 10, 1964. doi: 10.3390/antiox10121964

Leask, M. P., & Merriman, T. R. (2021). The genetic basis of urate control and gout: Insights into molecular pathogenesis from follow-up study of genome-wide association study loci. Best Practice & Research: Clinical Rheumatology, 35, 101721. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2021.101721

Mandal, A. K., Leask, M. P., Estiverne, C., Choi, H. K., Merriman, T. R., & Mount, D. B. (2021). Genetic and physiological effects of insulin on human urate homeostasis. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 713710. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.713710

Leask, M., Lovegrove, M., Romeril, A., Duncan, E., & Dearden, P. (2021). Evolution and genomic organization of the insect sHSP gene cluster and coordinate regulation in phenotypic plasticity. BMC Ecology & Evolution, 21, 154. doi: 10.1186/s12862-021-01885-8

Topless, R. K., Phipps-Green, A., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L. K., Robinson, P. C., & Merriman, T. R. (2021). Gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and the risk of death related to coronavirus disease 2019: An analysis of the UK Biobank. ACR Open Rheumatology, 3(5), 333-340. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11252

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Morice, M., Bixley, M., Cadzow, M., Major, T., Phipps-Green, A., Topless, R., Merriman, M., Merriman, T. R., Leask, M., & Horsfield, J. (2021). Replication of a Māori and Pacific-specific T2D-risk variant within JAZF1. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1547), (pp. 142). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2020

Journal - Research Article

Leask, M. P., Sumpter, N. A., Lupi, A. S., Vazquez, A. I., Reynolds, R. J., Mount, D. B., & Merriman, T. R. (2020). The shared genetic basis of hyperuricemia, gout, and kidney function. Seminars in Nephrology, 40(6), 586-599. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2020.12.002

Duncan, E. J., Leask, M. P., & Dearden, P. K. (2020). Genome architecture facilitates phenotypic plasticity in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Molecular Biology & Evolution, 37(7), 1964-1978. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaa057

Boocock, J., Leask, M., Okada, Y., Asian Genetic Epidemiology Network (AGEN) Consortium, Matsuo, H., Shi, Y., … Cadzow, M., Gosling, A. L., Major, T. J., Horsfield, J. A., … Merriman, T. R. (2020). Genomic dissection of 43 serum urate-associated loci provides multiple insights into molecular mechanisms of urate control. Human Molecular Genetics, 29(6), 923-943. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa013

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Sumpter, N., Lupi, A., Leask, M., Merriman, T., Vazquez, A., & Reynolds, R. (2020). Genomic regions jointly associated with eGFR and serum urate: Implications for shared genetic etiology of hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 72(Suppl. 10), 0661. [Abstract]

Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Merriman, T., Phipps-Green, A., Topless, R., Boocock, J., … Leaupepe, K., & Stahl, E. (2020). Polynesian-specific gout-associated frameshift variant in PRPSAP1. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 72(Suppl. 10), 0659. [Abstract]

Moors, J., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Hindmarsh, J. H., & Merriman, T. (2020). Novel CETP variant associates with increased HDL and low LDL in Polynesian populations. In A. Finigan, P. Vakaoti, R. Richards, M. Schaaf, M. Colombo, M. Taumoepeau & L. Moata'ane (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVII. (pp. 33). Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific

2019

Journal - Research Article

Panfilio, K. A., Vargas Jentzsch, I. M., Benoit, J. B., Erezyilmaz, D., Suzuki, Y., Colella, S., … Duncan, E. J., … Cridge, A. G., … Dearden, P. K., … Leask, M., … Lovegrove, M. R., … Tidswell, O., … Richards, S. (2019). Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome. Genome Biology, 20, 64. doi: 10.1186/s13059-019-1660-0

Leask, M., Dowdle, A., Salvesen, H., Topless, R., Fadason, T., Wei, W., … Marsman, J., Antony, J., … Merriman, T. R., & Horsfield, J. A. (2019). Functional urate-associated genetic variants influence expression of lincRNAs LINC01229 and MAFTRR. Frontiers in Genetics, 9, 733. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00733

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Moors, J., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Hindmarsh, J. H., & Merriman, T. (2019). Novel CETP variant associates with increased HDL and low LDL in Polynesian populations. In A. Finigan, P. Vakaoti, R. Richards & M. Schaaf (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVI. (pp. 23). Dunedin, New Zealand: The Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific

Moors, J., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Hindmarsh, J. H., & Merriman, T. (2019). Pacific-specific CETP genetic variant associates with increased HDL and low LDL in Polynesian populations. Diabetologia, 62(Suppl. 1), (pp. S574-S575). [Abstract]

2018

Journal - Research Article

Ketharnathan, S., Leask, M., Boocock, J., Phipps-Green, A. J., Antony, J., O'Sullivan, J. M., Merriman, T. R., & Horsfield, J. A. (2018). A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression. Human Molecular Genetics, 27(22), 3964-3973. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy295

Cukrov, D., Newman, T., Leask, M., Leeke, B., Sarogni, P., Patimo, A., … Horsfield, J., & Musio, A. (2018). Antioxidant treatment ameliorates phenotypic features of SMC1A-mutated Cornelia de Lange syndrome in vitro and in vivo. Human Molecular Genetics, 27(17), 3002-3011. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy203

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., Dowdle, A., Salvesen, H., Topless, R., Fadason, T., Wei, W., … Horsfield, J. (2018). Non-coding urate-associated variants function in a conserved lincrna regulatory domain that alters MAF transcription. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 70(9, Suppl.), 2238. doi: 10.1002/art.40700

Other Research Output

Leask, M. (2018, June). Decoding the regulatory landscape that is linked to urate. Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2017

Journal - Research Article

Cabout, S., Leask, M. P., Varghese, S., Yi, J., Peters, B., Conze, L. L., … Brownfield, L. (2017). The meiotic regulator JASON utilizes alternative translation initiation sites to produce differentially localized forms. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68(15), 4205-4217. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erx222

Stayner, C., Poole, C. A., McGlashan, S. R., Pilanthananond, M., Brauning, R., Markie, D., … Slobbe, L., … Parker, K., Wiles, A., … Leichter, A., Leask, M., … Jennings, M., Horsfield, J. A., Walker, R. J., & Eccles, M. R. (2017). An ovine hepatorenal fibrocystic model of a Meckel-like syndrome associated with dysmorphic primary cilia and TMEM67 mutations. Scientific Reports, 7, 1601. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01519-4

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Ketharnathan, S., Leask, M., Merriman, T., & Horsfield, J. (2017). Functional analysis of a gout-associated noncoding snp variant. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA) with the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB). 706. Retrieved from http://gen2017.w.events4you.currinda.com

Merriman, T. R., Ketharnathan, S., Boocock, J., Phipps-Green, A., Antony, J., Leask, M., … Horsfield, J. (2017). A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 69(Suppl. 10), 2897. doi: 10.1002/art.40321

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Duncan, E., Leask, M., & Dearden, P. K. (2017, September). Developmental plasticity and its impacts on the genome. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Ketharnathan, S., Leask, M., Merriman, T., & Horsfield, J. (2017, January-February). Functional analysis of gout-associated SNP variant rs1967017 upstream of PDZK1. Verbal presentation at the 18th Australia and New Zealand Zebrafish Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.

Leask, M., Horsfield, J., & Merriman, T. (2017, January-February). A zebrafish system for the functional characterisation of genomic variants. Verbal presentation at the 18th Australia and New Zealand Zebrafish Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Panfilio, K. A., Vargas Jentzsch, I. M., Benoit, J. B., Erezyilmaz, D., Suzuki, Y., Colella, S., … Cridge, A. G., … Dearden, P. K., … Leask, M., … Lovegrove, M. R., … Richards, S. (2017). Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome. bioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/201731

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Carleton, C., Leeke, B., Leask, M., Farella, M., Antoun, J., & Horsfield, J. (2016). A novel model for exploring the causes and treatments of craniofacial birth defects. Proceedings of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute Research Symposium. (pp. 17). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/news/otago621026

Newman, T., Leeke, B., Carleton, C., Leask, M., Hampton, M., & Horsfield, J. (2016). How zebrafish can help understand craniofacial biology. Proceedings of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute Research Symposium. (pp. 16-17). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/news/otago621026

2015

Journal - Research Article

Sadd, B. M., Barribeau, S. M., Bloch, G., de Graaf, D. C., Dearden, P., Elsik, C. G., … Cridge, A. G., … Duncan, E., … Irvine, F., … Leask, M., Lockett, G. A., … Nair, A., … Blommaert, J., … Worley, K. C. (2015). The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization. Genome Biology, 16, 76. doi: 10.1186/s13059-015-0623-3

Cridge, A. G., Leask, M. P., Duncan, E. J., & Dearden, P. K. (2015). What do studies of insect polyphenisms tell us about nutritionally-triggered epigenomic changes and their consequences? Nutrients, 7(3), 1787-1797. doi: 10.3390/nu7031787

2014

Journal - Research Other

Macaulay, E. C., Donovan, E. L., Leask, M. P., Bloomfield, F. H., Vickers, M. H., Dearden, P. K., … and on behalf of the Gravida International College Summit Team. (2014). The importance of early life in childhood obesity and related diseases: A report from the 2014 Gravida Strategic Summit. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, 5(6), 398-407. doi: 10.1017/S2040174414000488

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Dearden, P., Leask, M., & Duncan, E. (2014). Phenotypic plasticity and epigenetics in the honeybee ovary. Proceedings of the 5th European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology Meeting. (pp. 120-121). Retrieved from http://evodevo2014.univie.ac.at/

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Leask, M. (2014). Phenotypic plasticity and epigenetics in the honeybee ovary (PhD). University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4888

2013

Journal - Research Article

Duncan, E. J., Leask, M. P., & Dearden, P. K. (2013). The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome encodes two divergent early developmental programs. Developmental Biology, 377, 262-274. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.01.036

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Leask, M. (2013, August). Developmental plasticity in the honeybee ovary. Verbal presentation at the University of Canterbury Māori Postgraduate Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2012

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Duncan, E. J., O'Neill, M., Leask, M. P., & Dearden, P. K. (2012, November). Phenotypic plasticity in the pea aphid: Do the same molecular mechanisms underpin plasticity in different species? Verbal presentation at the Gravida Annual Science Symposium: What Makes the Best Start for a Healthy Life? Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Leask, M. P., Duncan, E. J., & Dearden, P. K. (2012, November). Epigenetics in the honeybee ovary. Verbal presentation at the Gravida Annual Science Symposium: What Makes the Best Start for a Healthy Life? Palmerston North, New Zealand.

2010

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Leask, M. (2010, November). Developmental plasticity in the honeybee ovary. Verbal presentation at the Genetics Otago Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.