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Dr Julio Aguado Perez

Research Fellow

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
j.aguadoperez@uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 63170

Overview

Dr Julio Aguado obtained his BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Navarra, Pamplona (Spain), in 2012. He was, then, awarded a Marie Curie fellowship from the European Union to pursue his PhD under the supervision of Prof Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna. Dr Julio Aguado obtanied his PhD degree in 2018, awarded by the European School of Molecular Medicine (University of Milan) where he investigated the role of non-coding RNAs generated upon induction of DNA damage. He discovered that these RNAs containing telomere sequence are critical for both the assembly and maintenance of the DNA damage response foci at the telomeres and enable the recruitment of DNA damage factors to the damaged telomeres. This discovery published in 2017 in Nature Communications has greatly contributed to explaining how eukaryotic cells respond to life-threatening events such as the generation of DNA double-strand breaks in the genome.

More recently, he has further investigated the role of telomere dysfunction and telomeric non-coding RNAs in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), a rare premature ageing genetic disease. Cells from HGPS patients express progerin, a truncated form of Lamin A, which perturbs cellular homeostasis leading to nuclear shape alterations, genome instability, heterochromatin loss, telomere dysfunction and premature entry into cellular senescence. Dr Julio Aguado has shown that progerin-induced telomere dysfunction induces the transcription of telomeric non-coding RNAs. He has proven that their functional inhibition by sequence-specific telomeric antisense oligonucleotides prevents full DNA Damage Response (DDR) activation and premature cellular senescence in various HGPS cell systems, including HGPS patient fibroblasts and a transgenic HGPS mouse model. This recent discovery, published in 2019 in Nature Communications, demonstrates an important role for telomeric DDR activation in HGPS progeroid detrimental phenotypes in vitro and in vivo.

In the recent years, Dr Julio Aguado has collaborated with the laboratory of Prof Piero Carninci at the RIKEN Institute in Yokohama (Japan), a pioneer in RNA deep sequencing technology that has permitted the creation of comprehensive maps of mammalian transcription start sites. There he led a project together with Dr Quan Nguyen, now a group leader at the University of Queensland, which resulted in the development of a new technology to enrich for non-coding RNAs combined with next-generation RNA sequencing. This powerful technology, published in Nature Protocols, has now enabled the study and characterization of rare non-coding RNAs and their putative precursors.

Dr Julio Aguado currently works at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), where his focus is centered in the study of human ageing and its interplay with DNA damage, neurotoxicity and inflammation. He is currently a CIA on an NHMRC Ideas Grant (2001408), a University of Queensland Early Career Researcher Grant (UQECR2058457) and a holder of a Jérôme Lejeune Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Milan

Publications

  • Journal Article: The hallmarks of aging in ataxia-telangiectasia

    Aguado, Julio, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Leeson, Hannah C., Lavin, Martin F., Shiloh, Yosef and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2022). The hallmarks of aging in ataxia-telangiectasia. Ageing Research Reviews, 79 101653, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101653

  • Journal Article: Inhibition of the cGAS‐STING pathway ameliorates the premature senescence hallmarks of Ataxia‐Telangiectasia brain organoids

    Aguado, Julio, Chaggar, Harman K., Gómez‐Inclán, Cecilia, Shaker, Mohammed R., Leeson, Hannah C., Mackay‐Sim, Alan and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2021). Inhibition of the cGAS‐STING pathway ameliorates the premature senescence hallmarks of Ataxia‐Telangiectasia brain organoids. Aging Cell, 20 (9) e13468, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/acel.13468

  • Journal Article: Telomere transcription in Ageing

    Aguado, Julio, d’Adda di Fagagna, Fabrizio and Wolvetang, Ernst (2020). Telomere transcription in Ageing. Ageing Research Reviews, 62 101115, 101115. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101115

  • Journal Article: Inhibition of DNA damage response at telomeres improves the detrimental phenotypes of Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome

    Aguado, Julio, Sola-Carvajal, Agustin, Cancila, Valeria, Revêchon, Gwladys, Ong, Peh Fern, Jones-Weinert, Corey Winston, Wallén Arzt, Emelie, Lattanzi, Giovanna, Dreesen, Oliver, Tripodo, Claudio, Rossiello, Francesca, Eriksson, Maria and d’Adda di Fagagna, Fabrizio (2019). Inhibition of DNA damage response at telomeres improves the detrimental phenotypes of Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 4990, 4990. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13018-3

  • Journal Article: Target-enrichment sequencing for detailed characterization of small RNAs

    Nguyen, Quan, Aguado, Julio, Iannelli, Fabio, Suzuki, Ana Maria, Rossiello, Francesca, D'Adda Di Fagagna, Fabrizio and Carninci, Piero (2018). Target-enrichment sequencing for detailed characterization of small RNAs. Nature Protocols, 13 (4), 768-786. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2018.001

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Publications

Featured Publications

Journal Article

  • Deconstructing heterogeneity of replicative senescence in human mesenchymal stem cells at single cell resolution

    Taherian Fard, Atefeh, Leeson, Hannah C., Aguado, Julio, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Power, Dominique, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Zheng, Huiwen, Nelson, Christopher B., Soheilmoghaddam, Farhad, Glass, Nick, Dharmaratne, Malindrie, Watson, Ebony R., Lu, Jennifer, Martin, Sally, Pickett, Hilda A., Cooper-White, Justin, Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Mar, Jessica C. (2023). Deconstructing heterogeneity of replicative senescence in human mesenchymal stem cells at single cell resolution. GeroScience, 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00829-y

  • Cellular senescence and premature aging in Down Syndrome

    Peng, Lianli, Baradar, Alireza A., Aguado, Julio and Wolvetang, Ernst (2023). Cellular senescence and premature aging in Down Syndrome. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 212 111824, 111824. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111824

  • Noncoding RNA of Zika virus affects interplay between Wnt-signaling and pro-apoptotic pathways in the developing brain tissue

    Slonchak, Andrii, Chaggar, Harman, Aguado, Julio, Wolvetang, Ernst and Khromykh, Alexander A. (2023). Noncoding RNA of Zika virus affects interplay between Wnt-signaling and pro-apoptotic pathways in the developing brain tissue. Viruses, 15 (5) 1062, 1062. doi: 10.3390/v15051062

  • Zika virus noncoding RNA cooperates with the viral protein NS5 to inhibit STAT1 phosphorylation and facilitate viral pathogenesis

    Slonchak, Andrii, Wang, Xiaohui, Aguado, Julio, Sng, Julian D. J., Chaggar, Harman, Freney, Morgan E., Yan, Kexin, Torres, Francisco J., Amarilla, Alberto A., Balea, Rickyle, Setoh, Yin Xiang, Peng, Nias, Watterson, Daniel, Wolvetang, Ernst, Suhrbier, Andreas and Khromykh, Alexander A. (2022). Zika virus noncoding RNA cooperates with the viral protein NS5 to inhibit STAT1 phosphorylation and facilitate viral pathogenesis. Science Advances, 8 (48) eadd8095, eadd8095. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.add8095

  • SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein

    Albornoz, Eduardo A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Parker, Sandra, Li, Xaria X., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Aguado, Julio, Zamora, Adriana Pliego, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Nias Y. G., Sng, Julian D. J., Saima, Fatema Tuj, Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Paramitha, Devina, Parry, Rhys, Avumegah, Michael S., Isaacs, Ariel, Lo, Martin W., Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Bradshaw, Daniella, Salinas-Rebolledo, Constanza, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Munro, Trent P., Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Young, Paul R., Stacey, Katryn J. ... Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Molecular Psychiatry, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0

  • The hallmarks of aging in ataxia-telangiectasia

    Aguado, Julio, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Leeson, Hannah C., Lavin, Martin F., Shiloh, Yosef and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2022). The hallmarks of aging in ataxia-telangiectasia. Ageing Research Reviews, 79 101653, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101653

  • Nucleocapsid specific diagnostics for the detection of divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants

    Isaacs, Ariel, Amarilla, Alberto A., Aguado, Julio, Modhiran, Naphak, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Baradar, Alireza A., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, McMillan, Nigel A. J., Muller, David A., Young, Paul R., Woodruff, Trent M., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Chappell, Keith J. and Watterson, Daniel (2022). Nucleocapsid specific diagnostics for the detection of divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 926262, 926262. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926262

  • Exploring aging interventions in human brain organoids

    Aguado, Julio and Wolvetang, Ernst J (2022). Exploring aging interventions in human brain organoids. Aging, 14 (4), 1592-1593. doi: 10.18632/aging.203925

  • Inhibition of the cGAS‐STING pathway ameliorates the premature senescence hallmarks of Ataxia‐Telangiectasia brain organoids

    Aguado, Julio, Chaggar, Harman K., Gómez‐Inclán, Cecilia, Shaker, Mohammed R., Leeson, Hannah C., Mackay‐Sim, Alan and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2021). Inhibition of the cGAS‐STING pathway ameliorates the premature senescence hallmarks of Ataxia‐Telangiectasia brain organoids. Aging Cell, 20 (9) e13468, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/acel.13468

  • Klotho inhibits neuronal senescence in human brain organoids

    Shaker, Mohammed R., Aguado, Julio, Chaggar, Harman Kaur and Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2021). Klotho inhibits neuronal senescence in human brain organoids. npj Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, 7 (1) 18, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41514-021-00070-x

  • Telomere transcription in Ageing

    Aguado, Julio, d’Adda di Fagagna, Fabrizio and Wolvetang, Ernst (2020). Telomere transcription in Ageing. Ageing Research Reviews, 62 101115, 101115. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101115

  • Inhibition of DNA damage response at telomeres improves the detrimental phenotypes of Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome

    Aguado, Julio, Sola-Carvajal, Agustin, Cancila, Valeria, Revêchon, Gwladys, Ong, Peh Fern, Jones-Weinert, Corey Winston, Wallén Arzt, Emelie, Lattanzi, Giovanna, Dreesen, Oliver, Tripodo, Claudio, Rossiello, Francesca, Eriksson, Maria and d’Adda di Fagagna, Fabrizio (2019). Inhibition of DNA damage response at telomeres improves the detrimental phenotypes of Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 4990, 4990. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13018-3

  • From "cellular" RNA to "smart" RNA: multiple roles of RNA in genome stability and beyond

    Michelini, Flavia, Jalihal, Ameya P., Francia, Sofia, Meers, Chance, Neeb, Zachary T., Rossiello, Francesca, Gioia, Ubaldo, Aguado, Julio, Jones-Weinert, Corey, Luke, Brian, Biamonti, Giuseppe, Nowacki, Mariusz, Storici, Francesca, Carninci, Piero, Walter, Nils G. and di Fagagna, Fabrizio d'Adda (2018). From "cellular" RNA to "smart" RNA: multiple roles of RNA in genome stability and beyond. Chemical Reviews, 118 (8), 4365-4403. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00487

  • Target-enrichment sequencing for detailed characterization of small RNAs

    Nguyen, Quan, Aguado, Julio, Iannelli, Fabio, Suzuki, Ana Maria, Rossiello, Francesca, D'Adda Di Fagagna, Fabrizio and Carninci, Piero (2018). Target-enrichment sequencing for detailed characterization of small RNAs. Nature Protocols, 13 (4), 768-786. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2018.001

  • DNA damage response inhibition at dysfunctional telomeres by modulation of telomeric DNA damage response RNAs

    Rossiello, Francesca, Aguado, Julio, Sepe, Sara, Iannelli, Fabio, Nguyen, Quan, Pitchiaya, Sethuramasundaram, Carninci, Piero and Di Fagagna, Fabrizio d’Adda (2017). DNA damage response inhibition at dysfunctional telomeres by modulation of telomeric DNA damage response RNAs. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 13980, 13980. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13980

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ORCID: 0000-0002-1841-4741

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