I am a biochemist with a passion for exploring venom chemistry to develop medicinal tools. My main research focus is on the complex venom systems to elucidate structure-function of venom peptides for medicinal and biotechnological use. I have developed multidisciplinary state-of-the art approaches using proteo-genomics, pharmacology and behavioural studies to rapidly investigate venoms. This rational and systematic approch is used to unravel therapeutically valuable venom peptides while understanding the chemical evolution and origins of venom. Currently I am a lead scientist of the cone snail venom research program at IMB. I am deciphering new mechanisms of conotoxin diversification from ancestral species to relatively new lineages to establish evolutionary trajectories of venoms while investigating the structure and function of these highly optimised venom components as potential leads for treatment of pain.
Journal Article: Accelerated proteomic visualization of individual predatory venoms of Conus purpurascens reveals separately evolved predation-evoked venom cabals
Himaya, S W A, Marí, Frank and Lewis, Richard J (2018). Accelerated proteomic visualization of individual predatory venoms of Conus purpurascens reveals separately evolved predation-evoked venom cabals. Scientific reports, 8 (1) 330, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17422-x
Journal Article: Comparative Venomics Reveals the Complex Prey Capture Strategy of the Piscivorous Cone Snail Conus catus
Himaya S.W.A., Jin, Ai-Hua, Dutertre, Sebastien, Giacomotto, Jean, Mohialdeen, Hoshyar, Vetter, Irina, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2015). Comparative Venomics Reveals the Complex Prey Capture Strategy of the Piscivorous Cone Snail Conus catus. Journal of Proteome Research, 14 (10), 4372-4381. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00630
Journal Article: Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom
Jin, Ai-Hua, Vetter, Irina, Himaya, Siddhihalu W. A., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and Dutertre, Sébastien (2015). Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom. Proteomics, 15 (23-24), 4030-4040. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201500220
(2015–2018) UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Origins and Evolution of Cone Snail Venom Systems
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the venom complexity across phylogenetically distinct clades of cone snails
Characterising the evolution of defensive venom from mollusk to fish hunting cone snail lineages
Screening of a cone snail venom library across pain targets using high-throughput cell based assays
Himaya, S W A, Marí, Frank and Lewis, Richard J (2018). Accelerated proteomic visualization of individual predatory venoms of Conus purpurascens reveals separately evolved predation-evoked venom cabals. Scientific reports, 8 (1) 330, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17422-x
Himaya S.W.A., Jin, Ai-Hua, Dutertre, Sebastien, Giacomotto, Jean, Mohialdeen, Hoshyar, Vetter, Irina, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2015). Comparative Venomics Reveals the Complex Prey Capture Strategy of the Piscivorous Cone Snail Conus catus. Journal of Proteome Research, 14 (10), 4372-4381. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00630
Jin, Ai-Hua, Vetter, Irina, Himaya, Siddhihalu W. A., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and Dutertre, Sébastien (2015). Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom. Proteomics, 15 (23-24), 4030-4040. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201500220
Applications of Microalgae-Derived Active Ingredients as Cosmeceuticals
Ryu, BoMi, Himaya, S.W.A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2015). Applications of Microalgae-Derived Active Ingredients as Cosmeceuticals. Handbook of Marine Microalgae: Biotechnology Advances. (pp. 309-316) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-800776-1.00020-0
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2015). Marine nutraceuticals. Springer handbook of marine biotechnology. (pp. 995-1014) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Berlin, Germany: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-53971-8_43
Functional proteins and peptides from fish skin
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Functional proteins and peptides from fish skin. Seafood processing by-product: trends and applications. (pp. 197-205) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9590-1_11
Edible marine invertebrates: a promising source of nutraceuticals
Kim, Se-Kwon and Himaya, S. W. A. (2013). Edible marine invertebrates: a promising source of nutraceuticals. Marine nutraceuticals: prospects and perspectives. (pp. 243-256) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. CRC Press: CRC Press (Taylor and Francis). doi: 10.1201/b13904-18
Marine microalgal metabolites a promising source of pharmaceuticals
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Marine microalgal metabolites a promising source of pharmaceuticals. Chemistry and pharmacology of naturally occurring bioactive compounds. (pp. 459-469) Boca Raton, FL USA: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b13867
Marine symbiotic microorganisms: a new dimension in natural product research
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Marine symbiotic microorganisms: a new dimension in natural product research. Marine microbiology: bioactive compounds and biotechnological applications. (pp. 295-306) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Wiley-VCH Verlag: Blackwell Wissenschafts-verlag Gmbh. doi: 10.1002/9783527665259.ch18
Medicinal Effects of Phlorotannins from Marine Brown Algae
Kim, Se-Kwon and Himaya, S. W. A. (2012). Medicinal Effects of Phlorotannins from Marine Brown Algae. Marine Medicinal Foods Implications and Applications, Macro and Microalgae . (pp. 97-109) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Waltham, MA, United States: Academic Press (Elsevier Press). doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-387669-0.00008-9
Sea Cucumber Saponins: Realization of Their Anticancer Effects
Kim, Se-Kwon , Himaya, S. W. A. and Kang, Kyong-Hwa (2012). Sea Cucumber Saponins: Realization of Their Anticancer Effects. Marine Pharmacognosy: Trends and Applications. (pp. 119-128) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press (Taylor and Francis). doi: 10.1201/b13868-11
Sea cucumber saponins: Realization of their anticancer effects
Kim, Se-Kwon, Himaya, S. W.A. and Kang, Kyong-Hwa (2012). Sea cucumber saponins: Realization of their anticancer effects. Marine Pharmacognosy: Trends and Applications. (pp. 119-127) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Boca Raton, Fl, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b13868
Triterpene Glycosides from Sea Cucumbers and their Biological Activities
Kim, Se-Kwon and Himaya, S.W.A. (2012). Triterpene Glycosides from Sea Cucumbers and their Biological Activities. Marine Medicinal Foods Implications and Applications - Animals and Microbes. (pp. 297-319) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Academic Press: Academic Press (Elsevier Press). doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-416003-3.00020-2
Rogalski, Aymeric, Himaya, S. W. A. and Lewis, Richard J. (2023). Coordinated adaptations define the ontogenetic shift from worm-to fish-hunting in a venomous cone snail. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3287, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38924-5
Comparative venomics of C. flavidus and C. frigidus and closely related vermivorous cone snails
Himaya, S. W. A., Arkhipov, Alexander, Yum, Wai Ying and Lewis, Richard J. (2022). Comparative venomics of C. flavidus and C. frigidus and closely related vermivorous cone snails. Marine Drugs, 20 (3) 209, 209. doi: 10.3390/md20030209
Venom duct origins of prey capture and defensive conotoxins in piscivorous Conus striatus
Himaya, S. W.A., Jin, Ai-Hua, Hamilton, Brett, Rai, Subash K., Alewood, Paul and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Venom duct origins of prey capture and defensive conotoxins in piscivorous Conus striatus. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 13282, 13282. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91919-4
Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S.W.A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten and Lewis, Richard J. (2020). Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator. Marine Drugs, 18 (7) 343, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/md18070343
Venomic interrogation reveals the complexity of Conus striolatus venom
Himaya, S.W.A., Rai, Subash K., Pamfili, Giulia, Jin, Ai-Hua, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2020). Venomic interrogation reveals the complexity of Conus striolatus venom. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 73 (4), 357-365. doi: 10.1071/ch19588
Conotoxins: chemistry and biology
Jin, Ai-Hua, Muttenthaler, Markus, Dutertre, Sebastien, Himaya, S.W.A., Kaas, Quentin, Craik, David J., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2019). Conotoxins: chemistry and biology. Chemical Reviews, 119 (21), 11510-11549. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00207
Toxicological characterization of Fukuyoa paulensis (Dinophyceae) from temperate Australia
Larsson, Michaela E., Harwood, Tim D., Lewis, Richard J., S. W. A., Himaya and Doblin, Martina A. (2019). Toxicological characterization of Fukuyoa paulensis (Dinophyceae) from temperate Australia. Phycological Research, 67 (1), 65-71. doi: 10.1111/pre.12349
Transcriptomics in pain research: insights from new and old technologies
Starobova, H., S. W. A., Himaya, Lewis, R. J. and Vetter, I. (2018). Transcriptomics in pain research: insights from new and old technologies. Molecular Omics, 14 (6), 389-404. doi: 10.1039/c8mo00181b
Venomics-accelerated cone snail venom peptide discovery
Himaya, S. W. A. and Lewis, Richard J. (2018). Venomics-accelerated cone snail venom peptide discovery. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19 (3) 788, 788. doi: 10.3390/ijms19030788
Himaya, S W A, Marí, Frank and Lewis, Richard J (2018). Accelerated proteomic visualization of individual predatory venoms of Conus purpurascens reveals separately evolved predation-evoked venom cabals. Scientific reports, 8 (1) 330, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17422-x
Toxicology of Gambierdiscus spp. (Dinophyceae) from Tropical and Temperate Australian Waters
Larsson, Michaela E., Laczka, Olivier F., Harwood, D. Tim, Lewis, Richard J., Himaya, S. W. A., Murray, Shauna A. and Doblin, Martina A. (2018). Toxicology of Gambierdiscus spp. (Dinophyceae) from Tropical and Temperate Australian Waters. Marine Drugs, 16 (1) 7, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/md16010007
Himaya S.W.A., Jin, Ai-Hua, Dutertre, Sebastien, Giacomotto, Jean, Mohialdeen, Hoshyar, Vetter, Irina, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2015). Comparative Venomics Reveals the Complex Prey Capture Strategy of the Piscivorous Cone Snail Conus catus. Journal of Proteome Research, 14 (10), 4372-4381. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00630
Jin, Ai-Hua, Vetter, Irina, Himaya, Siddhihalu W. A., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and Dutertre, Sébastien (2015). Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom. Proteomics, 15 (23-24), 4030-4040. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201500220
Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A., Dewapriya, Pradeep, Kim, Hak Jun and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Anti-proliferative effects of isosclerone isolated from marine fungus Aspergillus fumigatus in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Process Biochemistry, 49 (12), 2292-2298. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2014.08.016
si-RNA-mediated silencing of ADRBK1 gene attenuates breast cancer cell proliferation
Zhang, Chen, Chen, Xianzhen, Li, Yongxin, S. W. A., Himaya, Wu, Jie, Shi, Xiujuan, Liu, Xiaoqing and Kim, Sekwon (2014). si-RNA-mediated silencing of ADRBK1 gene attenuates breast cancer cell proliferation. Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, 29 (8), 303-309. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2014.1653
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Isolation and characterization of marine- derived Mucor sp. for the fermentative production of tyrosol. Process Biochemistry, 49 (9), 1402-1408. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2014.06.004
Ryu, BoMi, Kim, MinJeong, Himaya, S. W. A., Kang, Kyong-Hwa and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Statistical optimization of high temperature/pressure and ultra-wave assisted lysis of Urechis unicinctus for the isolation of active peptide which enhance the erectile function in vitro. Process Biochemistry, 49 (1), 148-153. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2013.09.019
Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S.W.A., Dewapriya, Pradeep, Zhang, Chen and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Fumigaclavine c from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus induces apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Marine Drugs, 11 (12), 5063-5086. doi: 10.3390/md11125063
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Himaya, S. W. A., Li, Yong-Xin and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Tyrosol exerts a protective effect against dopaminergic cell death in in vitro model of Parkinson's disease. Food Chemistry, 141 (2), 1147-1157. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.04.004
Pangestuti, Ratih, Ryu, BoMi, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Optimization of hydrolysis conditions, isolation, and identification of neuroprotective peptides derived from seahorse Hippocampus trimaculatus. Amino Acids, 45 (2), 369-381. doi: 10.1007/s00726-013-1510-4
Triterpenoids of marine origin as anti-cancer agents
Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Triterpenoids of marine origin as anti-cancer agents. Molecules, 18 (7), 7886-7909. doi: 10.3390/molecules18077886
Himaya, S.W.A., Dewapriya, Pradeep and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitory peptide attenuates Helicobacter pylori-mediated hyper proliferation in AGS enteric epithelial cells. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 269 (3), 205-214. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.03.020
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A., Pangestuti, Ratih and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Neoechinulin A suppresses amyloid-β oligomer-induced microglia activation and thereby protects PC-12 cells from inflammation-mediated toxicity. NeuroToxicology, 35 (1), 30-40. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.12.004
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Qian, Zhong-Ji and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Paeonol from Hippocampus kuda Bleeler suppressed the neuro-inflammatory responses in vitro via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Toxicology in Vitro, 26 (6), 878-887. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2012.04.022
Ryu, BoMi , Himaya, S. W. A. , Napitupulu, Romauli J. , Eom, Tae-Kil and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Sulfated chitooligosaccharide II (SCOS II) suppress collagen degradation in TNF-induced chondrosarcoma cells via NF-κB pathway. Carbohydrate Research, 350, 55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2011.12.028
Chitooligosaccharides attenuate UVB-induced damages in human dermal fibroblasts
Ahn, Byul-Nim, Kim, Jung-Ae, Himaya, S. W. A., Bak, Soon-Sun, Kong, Chang-Suk and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Chitooligosaccharides attenuate UVB-induced damages in human dermal fibroblasts. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 385 (1), 95-102. doi: 10.1007/s00210-011-0684-0
Ngo, Dai-Hung, Ryu, BoMi, Vo, Thanh-Sang, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2011). Free radical scavenging and angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) skin gelatine. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 49 (5), 1110-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.09.009
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Qian, Zhong-Ji, Li, Yong and Kim, Se-Kwon (2011). 1-(5-bromo-2-hydroxy-4- methoxyphenyl) ethanone [SE1] suppresses pro-inflammatory responses by blocking NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in activated microglia. European Journal of Pharmacology, 670 (2-3), 608-616. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.09.013
Ryu, BoMi , Himaya, S. W. A. , Qian, Zhong-Ji and Kim, Se-Kwon (2011). Prevention of hydrogen peroxideinduced oxidative stress in HDF cells by peptides derived from seaweed pipefish, Syngnathus Schlegeli. Peptides, 32 (4), 639-647. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.01.009
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Qian, Zhong-Ji and Kim, Se-Kwon (2010). Sea cucumber, Stichopus japonicus ethyl acetate fraction modulates the lipopolysaccharide induced iNOS and COX-2 via MAPK signaling pathway in murine macrophages. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 30 (1), 68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2010.03.019
Characterization of δ-conotoxin Tx-VIA as selective T-type modulator
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S. W. A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Characterization of δ-conotoxin Tx-VIA as selective T-type modulator. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
Peptide isolated from Japanese flounder skin gelatin protects against cellular oxidative damage
Himaya, S. W. A., Ngo, Dai-Hung, Ryu, BoMi and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Peptide isolated from Japanese flounder skin gelatin protects against cellular oxidative damage. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society. doi: 10.1021/jf302161m
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Ngo, Dai-Hung and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). An active peptide purified from gastrointestinal enzyme hydrolysate of Pacific cod skin gelatin attenuates angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) activity and cellular oxidative stress. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.12.020
Himaya, S. W. A., Ngo, Dai-Hung, Ryu, BoMi and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Protective effects of a peptide purified from gastrointestinal enzyme hydrolysate of pacific cod skin gelatin on hypertension and cellular oxidative stress. 11th International Biorelated Polymer Symposium / 243rd National Spring Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Diego Ca, Mar 25-29, 2012. AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, B. M., Qian, Z. -J., Li, Y. and Kim, S. -K. (2010). Anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of Hippocampus Kuda Bleeler derived compounds SE-1 and SE-2 on activated murine macrophages and microglial cells. 35th Congress of the Federation-of-European-Biochemical-Societies, Gothenburg Sweden, Jun 26-Jul 01, 2010. WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.
(2015–2018) UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Origins and Evolution of Cone Snail Venom Systems
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Unravelling the venom complexity across phylogenetically distinct clades of cone snails
Characterising the evolution of defensive venom from mollusk to fish hunting cone snail lineages
Screening of a cone snail venom library across pain targets using high-throughput cell based assays
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