1. Michiko Sumiya PhD.
Home address: 26 Laburnum Crescent, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 1HB.
Tel: 01865-379210/ Mobile: 07528035129
Email:michikosumiya090@btinternet.com
Nationality: Japanese.
Sex: Female.
Languages: Japanese/English
UK Status: Permanent resident.
1) WORK HISTORY
 2012: Japan Consultant to Ploughshare Innovations Limited
 Identifying leads in Japan to potentially outsource and licence Ploughshare’s technologies.
 2010-2012: Patent Administrator, Scientific Writer at Oxford Biotherapeutics Limited.
 Managing patent administration, drafting parts of patent applications and carrying out FTO
(Freedom to Operate) analyses.
 2005-2010: Commercial Researcher, IP Specialist at Oxford Gene Technology IP Limited, Begbroke
Science Park, Oxford.
 Mediated licencing negotiations with Japanese companies.
 Mediated business development with Japanese companies.
 Liaised with technology transfer offices in Japan.
 Carried out competitive intelligence on third party technologies.
Managed patent administration and portfolios while the patent manager was on a maternity leave,
liaising closely with patent attorneys and inventors. Managed trademark administration.
 2003-2005: Clinical Scientist Grade B point 9, the DNA Laboratory and the Assisted Conception Unit,
Guy’s Hospital, London.
Setting up new assays for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD.
I have set up fluorescence-based single-cell PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to detect ∆F508 mutation and
intragenic linkage markers in the cystic fibrosis gene. I followed PGD cases with my colleague.
 2000-2003: Clinical Scientist Grade A, Assay and Development Laboratory, one of the CPAAccredited
Laboratories of the Haemophilia Centre, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London.
Production of various Factor VIII peptides and characterisation of anti-FVIII antibodies in congenital and
acquired haemophilia patients.
I have expressed and characterised coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) peptides in mammalian cells (COS 1,
CHO/dhfr-
and BHK) and Escherichia coli cells. I have quantitated anti-FVIII antibodies in haemophilia
patients and characterised their domain specificities using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA).
 1995-2000: Lecturer in Medicine, Division of Medicine, St. Mary’s Hospital, London.
 1990-1995: Research Associate, Department of Medicine, St. Mary’s Hospital, London.
The role of mannose binding lectin in innate immune system and susceptibility to infections.
I identified mutations in the mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene that caused low levels of serum MBL. I
subsequently set up different genotyping assays to study those polymorphisms in different population groups
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2. (both ethnic and clinical). Being the only senior member of the laboratory besides my former supervisor,
Professor Summerfield, I was responsible for the daily running of the laboratory.
I also looked at other collectin genes (pulmonary surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D) to determine whether any
polymorphisms in those genes confer susceptibility to respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) infections in infants. I
used the NCBI and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) website extensively to search
databases and carry out sequence analyses. I was also involved in creating MBL knockout mice. I also
attempted expressing MBL in insect cells using baculovirus.
 1989-1990: Instructor in Anesthesia, Department of Anethesia, Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
Boston, USA.
Identification and quantitation of sodium and potassium channels in rat sciatic nerves and spinal cords.
I set up molecular biology and cell culture techniques in the new laboratory. I prepared RNA from rat sciatic
nerves and the three sodium channels were quantitated using RT-PCR. I was able to differentiate the sodium
channels where Na III was expressed in much smaller quantity. I prepared six micron cryosections from rat
spinal cord and performed in situ hybridisation using riboprobes. Potassium channels were expressed both in the
glial cells and in the motor neuron cells.
2) COLLABORATIONS:
Internal Academic Collaborations:
 Paediadtric Department- Found association between variants in the mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene and
susceptibility to meningitis.
Department of Genital-Urinary Medicine- Investigated correlation between HIV and MBL variants.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology- Investigated correlation between miscarriage and MBL
variants.
External Academic Collaborations:
Professor Hill’s Group at Oxford (Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics) –Used over 600 of their
malaria samples to investigate the correlation between MBL and malaria.
Professor Jarvelin’s Group in Finland -Large epidemiological study to investigate the role of MBL in
bacterial infections.
The Institute of Child Health (London) – Study of molecular basis for opsonic defect.
Industrial Collaboration:
 Roche Molecular Systems -We developed a strip assay based on multiplex PCR that enabled us to screen
simultaneously 9 variants in the MBL gene and 6 variants in the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and β genes.
I learned the principals of quality assurance.
3) GRANTS:
1996-1999: A project grant from the Wellcome Trust. “ Preparation of mannose binding protein (MBP) knockout
mice reconstituted with normal and mutant MBP genes.”, held jointly with Professor J.A.
Summerfield (Principal Grant Holder) and Dr. P. Sobieszczuk.
1998-1999: A start up fund from the Birth Defects Foundation. “Genetic susceptibility to severe respiratory
infections”.
1998-2000: A project grant from the Wellcome Trust. “Genetic epidemiology of bacterial infections; role of
mannose binding protein and tumour necrosis factor gene polymorphisms.” held jointly with
Professors J.A. Summerfield (Principal grant holder), M-R. Jarvelin, M. Levin, P. Elliot.
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3. 4) TECHNICAL SKILLS:
Genetical Techniques: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [single cell PCR (singlex, duplex, triplex, quaduplex and
semi-duplex), multiplex PCR for Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) gene, allele-specific PCR, asymetric PCR
to produce single-stranded DNA for sequencing, RT-PCR], designing oligonucleotide primers for PCR and
optimising PCR conditions, use of ABI3100 for genescan analyses, restriction fragment length polymorphism
(RFLP) analyses, Southern blotting, dot blotting, microsatellite analyses, mini- and maxi-preparations of plasmid
DNA, DNA sequencing of PCR products and plasmids using automated DNA sequencer (ABI371) and manual
sequencing, agarose gel electrophoreses, extraction of DNA from blood, tissues and paraffin sections, RNA
extraction from cell cultures and tissue samples.
Molecular Biology Techniques: In situ hybridisation, making riboprobes from plasmids, electroporation,
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, subcloning of PCR products/ restriction-digested DNA fragments into different
vectors [E. coli vector using ligation independent cloning kit (Stratagene), pUC, pBR322, M13], expression of
peptides in mammalian cells and E. coli cells, silver staining and ethidium bromide staining of gels.
Biochemical Techniques: Purification of peptides/proteins using AKTA Prime (Amersham Bioscience), HPLC,
FPLC, TRFIA (time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay), western blotting, ELISA, biotin labelling of monoclonal
antibody, peptide mapping.
Cell Culture Techniques: Single buccal cell collection, disaggregation of blastomeres from whole embryos,
culturing mammalian cells and growing bacterial cells.
5) TEACHING ACTIVITIES: Supervision
PhD students [Tim Carter (Department of Medicine), Florence Christofi (Department of Cardiology)]. I was
closely involved with Tim’s project, which was to construct MBL knockout mice. As a result, MBL homozygous
knockout mice were constructed. Flora was looking at expressions of angiotensin and enthothelin in lung and heart
of guinea pigs.
Clinical fellows (Noel Baxter and Clare Tower from Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department): I helped them with
their MD projects in looking at association between MBL variants and recurrent miscarriage/ prematurity.
Four medical students doing intercalated BSc: I helped them with their BSc projects. Two of them were looking at
MBL variants in association with meningococcal diseases in the Gambian populations. Two others were from the
Cardiology Department who needed to apply molecular biology techniques for their BSc projects.
An undergraduate (Amanda Little from Imperial College) and A level pupils (Westminster School) who visited
us over the summer holidays: I showed them how to do PCR and run agarose gels and how to interpret the results. I
refrained from showing them any experiments that involved radioactive materials for safety reasons.
Lecture series: I have given lectures on “Structure and function of prokaryotic cells” and “Regulation of gene
expressions.” for the MSc course “The Molecular and Biology and Pathology of Viruses” that was
organised by the Division of Medicine at St. Mary’s.
6) EDUCATION:
1990: PhD degree in Biochemistry from University of Cambridge, UK.
1985-1989: Postgraduate studies: University of Cambridge.
Cloning and DNA sequencing of the XylF xylose binding protein transport system in Escherichia coli.
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4. I purified periplasmic xylose binding protein from E. coli by inducing the protein and growing the cells in the
presence of D-xylose, using HPLC and FPLC columns. I cloned the genes coding for the XylF high affinity
transport system using ColE1 hybrid plasmids and oligonucleotides derived from the N-terminal sequence of the
purified protein. Genes were identified by Southern blotting and subcloned into suitable vectors. Random shotgun
cloning and manual sequencing using the Sequenase Kit (USB) were performed. Using the DNA analysis program,
contigs of 250-500 bp length were assembled into one entire sequence of >3600 bp. Hydrophobicity plots, dot plots
and sequence alignments were done on the translated amino acid sequence. The sequence revealed an ATP binding
protein (XylG), which showed extensive homologies with the multidrug resistance protein and other ATP binding
proteins in mammalian cells, indicating functional importance of ATP binding proteins.
1985: BSc degree in Biochemistry from University of Tokyo, Japan.
1981-1985: Undergraduate studies: University of Tokyo.
BSc Project: Production and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against apo-E.
I did my BSc project at the Tokyo University Hospital. I learned western blotting using gradient gels and
participated in producing monoclonal antibodies against Apo-E. I also spent two weeks at Tsukuba where I learned
molecular biology first hand.
7) PUBLICATIONS:
Primary papers:
1. The D-xylose binding protein of Escherichia coli. Sumiya M, Henderson PJF (1989) Biochem. Transac. 17:
553-4.
2. Molecular genetics of a novel receptor protein for D-xylose, encoded by the gene xylF, in Escherichia coli.
Sumiya M, Davis EO, Packman LC, McDonald TP, Henderson PJF. (1995) Receptors and Channels 3: 117-28.
3. Molecular basis of opsonic defect in immunodeficient children. Sumiya M, Super M, Tabona P, Levinsky RJ,
Arai T, Turner MW, Summerfield JA. (1991) Lancet 337: 1569-70.
4. Identical point mutation leading to low levels of mannose binding protein and poor C3b mediated opsonisation in
Chinese and Caucasian populations. Lipscombe RJ, Lau YL, Levinsky RJ, Sumiya M, Summerfield JA, Turner
MW. (1992) Immunology Letters 32: 2153-58.
5. High frequency in African and non-African populations of independent mutations in the mannose binding protein
genes. Lipscombe RJ, Sumiya M, Hill AVS, Levinsky RJ, Summerfield JA, Turner MW. (1992) Human Mol.
Genet. 1: 709-15.
6. Mutations in the human mannose binding protein gene: their frequencies in three distinct populations and
relationship to serum levels of the protein. Turner MW, Lipscombe RJ, Levinsky RJ, Lau YL, Hill AVS,
Summerfield JA, Sumiya M. (1993) Immunodeficiency 4: 285-287.
7. Mannose binding protein gene mutations associated with unusual and severe infections in adults. Summerfield
JA, Ryder S, Sumiya M, Thursz M, Gorchein A, Monteil MA, Turner MW. (1995)
Lancet 345: 886-9.
8. Distinct physicochemical characteristics of human mannose binding protein (MBP) expressed by individuals of
differing genotype.
Lipscombe RJ, Sumiya M, Summerfield JA, Turner MW. (1995) Immunology 85: 660-7.
9. Mutations in the human mannose binding protein gene: Frequencies in several population groups. Lipscombe RJ,
Beatty DW, Ganczakowski M, Goddard EA, Jenkins T, Lau YL, Spurdle AB, Sumiya M, Summerfield JA,
Turner MW. (1996) Eur. J. Hum. Genet. 4: 13-19.
10. Mutation of gene for mannose-binding protein associated with chronic hepatitis B viral infection. Thomas HC,
Foster GR, Sumiya M, McIntosh D, Jack DL, Turner MW, Summerfield, JA. (1996) Lancet 348: 1417-9.
11. Association of mutations in mannose binding protein gene with childhood infection in consecutive hospital
series. Summerfield JA, Sumiya M, Levin M, Turner MW. (1997) British Medical Journal 314: 1229-32.
12. Mannose binding protein deficiency is not associated with increased susceptibility to malaria, hepatitis B
carriage nor tuberculosis in Africans. Bellamy R, Ruwende C, McAdams K, Thursz M, Sumiya M, Summerfield
JA, Gilbert SC, Corrah T, Kwiatkowski D, Whittle HC, Hill AVS. (1998) Quarterly Journal of Medicine 91: 13-
8.
13. Mannose binding protein in HIV-seropositive patients does not contribute to disease progression or bacterial
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5. infections. McBride MO, Fischer PB, Sumiya M, McClure MO, Turner MW, Skinner CJ, Weber, JN,
Summerfield JA. (1998) Internatl. J. STD & AIDS 9: 683-8.
14. Association of variants of the gene for mannose-binding lectin with susceptibility to meningococcal disease.
Hibberd ML, Sumiya M, Summerfield JA, Booy R, Levin M and the Meningococcal Research Group. (1999)
Lancet 353: 1049-53.
15. Recurrent miscarriage and variant alleles of mannose binding lectin, tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin
alpha genes. Baxter N, Sumiya M, Cheng S, Erlich H, Regan L, Simons A, Summerfield JA. (2001) Clin. Exp.
Immunol.126: 529-34.
Reviews:
1. Mannose-binding protein, genetic variants and the risk of infection. Sumiya M, Summerfield JA. (1996) Quarterly
Journal of Medicine (Editorial) 89: 723-6.
2. The role of collectins in host defence. Sumiya M, Summerfield JA. (1997) Seminar in Liver Diseases 17: 311-8.
8) MEETINGS ATTENDED:
 Clinical Molecular Genetics Society 2004 (Newcastle) Oral presentation.
 XIX Congress of International Society for Thombosis and Haemostasis (Birmingham, 2003) Poster
presentation.
 Factor VIII Meeting @ Liverpool (2002)
 XVIII Congress of International Society for Thombosis and Haemostasis (Paris, 2001).
 Molecular Medicine” meeting (Berlin
 Meetings organised by the Biochemical Society (1991-1998).
 Meetings organised by the Society for General Microbiology (1986-1988)
 Membrane Transport Meeting at Banff, Canada (1986). Poster presentation.
 Atherosclerosis Meeting , Japan (1984). Oral presentation.
 Talks at Departmental seminars.
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6. infections. McBride MO, Fischer PB, Sumiya M, McClure MO, Turner MW, Skinner CJ, Weber, JN,
Summerfield JA. (1998) Internatl. J. STD & AIDS 9: 683-8.
14. Association of variants of the gene for mannose-binding lectin with susceptibility to meningococcal disease.
Hibberd ML, Sumiya M, Summerfield JA, Booy R, Levin M and the Meningococcal Research Group. (1999)
Lancet 353: 1049-53.
15. Recurrent miscarriage and variant alleles of mannose binding lectin, tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin
alpha genes. Baxter N, Sumiya M, Cheng S, Erlich H, Regan L, Simons A, Summerfield JA. (2001) Clin. Exp.
Immunol.126: 529-34.
Reviews:
1. Mannose-binding protein, genetic variants and the risk of infection. Sumiya M, Summerfield JA. (1996) Quarterly
Journal of Medicine (Editorial) 89: 723-6.
2. The role of collectins in host defence. Sumiya M, Summerfield JA. (1997) Seminar in Liver Diseases 17: 311-8.
8) MEETINGS ATTENDED:
 Clinical Molecular Genetics Society 2004 (Newcastle) Oral presentation.
 XIX Congress of International Society for Thombosis and Haemostasis (Birmingham, 2003) Poster
presentation.
 Factor VIII Meeting @ Liverpool (2002)
 XVIII Congress of International Society for Thombosis and Haemostasis (Paris, 2001).
 Molecular Medicine” meeting (Berlin
 Meetings organised by the Biochemical Society (1991-1998).
 Meetings organised by the Society for General Microbiology (1986-1988)
 Membrane Transport Meeting at Banff, Canada (1986). Poster presentation.
 Atherosclerosis Meeting , Japan (1984). Oral presentation.
 Talks at Departmental seminars.
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