Dr Andrea Vernall, Home, Department of Chemistry

PhD BSc(Hons) (Canterbury)

Tel +64 3 479 5214
Location Science II 5n4
Email andrea.vernall@otago.ac.nz

Professional background

2006 – 2009, Research Officer, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane
2009 – 2013, Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, UK
2013 – 2020, Lecturer then Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago

Research interests

The Vernall research group focuses on the development of heterocyclic small molecules, peptidomimetics and fluorescent tools that target receptors in the human body. The motivation for developing new chemical tools is to better understand disease processes and cell signalling by studying targets implicated in various diseases and conditions. We particularly focus on developing new tools to study G protein-coupled receptors, for example adenosine and cannabinoid receptors. Other Vernall group research includes small molecule ligand development for modulating immune responses and new approaches to studying antibiotic resistance.

Teaching

CHEM 202
CHEM 205
CHEM 305
CHEM 461

Publications

Putha, L., Kok, L. K., Fellner, M., Rutledge, M. T., Gamble, A. B., Wilbanks, S. M., Vernall, A. J., & Tyndall, J. D. A. (2024). Covalent isothiocyanate inhibitors of macrophage migration inhibitory factor as potential colorectal cancer treatments. ChemMedChem. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202400394 Journal - Research Article

Payne, C. M., Baltos, J.-A., Langiu, M., Lu, C. S., Tyndall, J. D. A., Gregory, K. J., … Vernall, A. J. (2024). Development of putative bivalent dicovalent ligands for the adenosine A1 receptor. ChemBioChem. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202400242 Journal - Research Article

Payne, C., Awalt, J. K., May, L. T., Tyndall, J. D. A., Jörg, M., & Vernall, A. J. (2023). Bifunctional tools to study adenosine receptors. In V. Colotta & C. T. Supuran (Eds.), Purinergic receptors and their modulators. (pp. 179-221). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/7355_2022_154 Chapter in Book - Research

Sharma, R., Singh, S., Whiting, Z. M., Molitor, M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2023). Novel Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) low lipophilicity agonists produce distinct cAMP and arrestin signalling kinetics without bias. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 6406. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076406 Journal - Research Article

Yin, J., Sharma, R., Tyndall, J. D. A., Grimsey, N. L., & Vernall, A. J. (2023). Synthesis and characterization of a cannabinoid type 2 receptor photoactivated prodrug. ChemPhotoChem, 7, e202200291. doi: 10.1002/cptc.202200291 Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Webb, H. D. J., Finlay, D. B., Chen, S., Vernall, A. J., Sparkes, E., Banister, S. D., Rosengren, R. J., & Glass, M. (2023). Characterisation of AMB-FUBINACA metabolism and CB₁-mediated activity of its acid metabolite. Forensic Toxicology, 41, 114-125. doi: 10.1007/s11419-022-00649-3

2022

Journal - Research Article

Whiting, Z. M., Yin, J., de la Harpe, S. M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2022). Developing the Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) pharmacopoeia: Past, present, and future. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 43(9), 754-771. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.06.010

Faville, S. C., Harris-Handscomb, K., Harker, O., Mattison, S., Tamorite, H., Bristowe, J., Daly, D., Ege, R., He, H., Jones, J., McCorkindale, A., Mei, K., Monson, A., Moree, L., Perkovic, F., Rickerby, G., Robinson, J., Rudkin, F., Whibley, L., Worthington, R., Ennis, C., de la Harpe, S., Brind, T., Hopkins, A., Winefield, K., … Vernall, A. J. (2022). Open synthesis network research in an undergraduate laboratory: Development of benzoxazole amide derivatives against leishmania parasite. Journal of Chemical Education, 99, 1682-1690. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c01213

Journal - Research Other

Smoum, R., Grether, U., Karsak, M., Vernall, A. J., Park, F., Hillard, C. J., & Pacher, P. (2022). Therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 1039564. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1039564

Liddle, I., Glass, M., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2022). Covalent cannabinoid receptor ligands: Structural insight and selectivity challenges. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 497-510. doi: 10.1039/D2MD00006G

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Liddle, I., Glass, M., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2022). Covalent chromenopyrazole chemical tools for the cannabinoid type 2 receptor. In L. Wilson, H. Harcombe, P. Jayakaran, L. Burga, J. Antony, K. Morgaine, M. Garelja, A. Middleton, M. Anwar & T. Milne (Eds.), Proceedings of the 263rd Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) Meeting: PhD Student Speaker Awards. Dunedin, New Zealand: OMSRS. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/12839

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Wedlock, L., Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S. M., Vernall, A. J., & Ussher, J. E. (2022, August). The regulation of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation by bacteria. Poster session presented at the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Trinh, P. N. H., Chong, D. J. W., Leach, K., Hill, S. J., Tyndall, J. D. A., May, L. T., Vernall, A. J., & Gregory, K. J. (2021). Development of covalent, clickable probes for adenosine A₁ and A₃ receptors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64, 8161-8178. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02169

Lamichhane, R., Munro, F., Harrop, T. W. R., de la Harpe, S. M., Dearden, P. K., Vernall, A. J., McCall, J. L., & Ussher, J. E. (2021). Human liver-derived MAIT cells differ from blood MAIT cells in their metabolism and response to TCR-independent activation. European Journal of Immunology, 51, 879-892. doi: 10.1002/eji.202048830

Singh, S., Liddle, I., Macdonald, C., Tyndall, J. D. A., Glass, M., & Vernall, A. (2021). Development of chromenopyrazole-based selective cannabinoid 2 receptor agonists. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 74, 433-442. doi: 10.1071/CH20263

2020

Journal - Research Article

Schneider, M., Hannaway, R. F., Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S. M., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., Kettle, A. J., & Ussher, J. E. (2020). Neutrophils suppress mucosal-associated invariant T cells in humans. European Journal of Immunology, 50, 643-655. doi: 10.1002/eji.201948394

Lamichhane, R., Galvin, H., Hannaway, R. F., de la Harpe, S. M., Munro, F., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., McCall, J. L., Husain, M., & Ussher, J. E. (2020). Type I interferons are important co-stimulatory signals during T cell receptor mediated human MAIT cell activation. European Journal of Immunology, 50, 178-191. doi: 10.1002/eji.201948279

2019

Journal - Research Article

Lamichhane, R., Schneider, M., de la Harpe, S. M., Harrop, T. W. R., Hannaway, R. F., Dearden, P. K., Kirman, J. R., Tyndall, J. D. A., Vernall, A. J., & Ussher, J. E. (2019). TCR- or cytokine-activated CD8⁺ mucosal-associated invariant T cells are rapid polyfunctional effectors that can coordinate immune responses. Cell Reports, 28(12), 3061-3076.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.054

Singh, S., Oyagawa, C. R. M., Macdonald, C., Grimsey, N. L., Glass, M., & Vernall, A. J. (2019). Chromenopyrazole-based high affinity, selective fluorescent ligands for cannabinoid type 2 receptor. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 10, 209-214. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00597

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Singh, S., Oyagawa, C. R. M., Grimsey, N. L., Tyndall, J. D. A., Glass, M., & Vernall, A. J. (2019, August-September). Chromenopyrazole-based chemical tools to study cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2018

Journal - Research Article

Cooper, A. G., Oyagawa, C. R. M., Manning, J. J., Singh, S., Hook, S., Grimsey, N. L., Glass, M., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2018). Development of selective, fluorescent cannabinoid type 2 receptor ligands based on a 1,8-naphthyridin-2-(1H)-one-3-carboxamide scaffold. MedChemComm, 9(12), 2055-2067. doi: 10.1039/c8md00448j

Oyagawa, C. R. M., de la Harpe, S. M., Saroz, Y., Glass, M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2018). Cannabinoid Receptor 2 signalling bias elicited by 2,4,6-trisubstituted 1,3,5-triazines. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 1202. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01202

Singh, S., Cooper, S. L., Glenn, J. R., Beresford, J., Percival, L. R., Tyndall, J. D. A., … Vernall, A. J. (2018). Synthesis of novel (benzimidazolyl)isoquinolinols and evaluation as adenosine A1 receptor tools. RSC Advances, 8(29), 16362-16369. doi: 10.1039/C7RA13148H

Cooper, A. G., MacDonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2018). Alkyl indole-based cannabinoid type 2 receptor tools: Exploration of linker and fluorophore attachment. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 145, 770-789. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.076

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Putha, L., Kok, L. K., Chen, K., Sagatova, A. A., Wilbanks, S. M., Gamble, A. B., Vernall, A. J., & Tyndall, J. D. (2018, August). New isothiocyanates: Covalent inhibitors of macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S., Harrop, T., Vernall, A., Tyndall, J., Dearden, P., Kirman, J., & Ussher, J. E. (2018, August). Differential regulation of MR1- and cytokine stimulated MAIT cells. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) and Australasian Society for Immunology New Zealand Branch (ASI-NZ) Joint Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Cooper, A., Singh, S., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2017). Chemical tools for studying lipid-binding class A G protein-coupled receptors. Pharmacological Reviews, 69(3), 316-353. doi: 10.1124/pr.116.013243

Rizwan, S. B., & Vernall, A. J. (2017). To prohibit or regulate psychoactive substances: Has New Zealand got the right approach? BMJ, 356, j1195. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j1195

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Cooper, A., Macdonald, C., Manning, J., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J., & Vernall, A. (2017, September). Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Poster session presented at the 19th RSC/SCI Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, Cambridge, UK.

Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S., Harrop, T., Vernall, A., Tyndall, J., Dearden, P., Kirman, J., & Ussher, J. (2017, November). Differences in the effector function of MR1- and cytokine stimulated MAIT cells. Poster session presented at the 10th International CD1-MR1 Workshop, Napa, USA.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Ussher, J., Williams, T., Lamichhane, R., de la Harpe, S., Tyndall, J., & Vernall, A. (2017, November). Bacteria license antigen presenting cells for MR1-mediated MAIT cell activation. Verbal presentation at the 10th International CD1-MR1 Workshop, Napa, USA.

Oyagawa, C. R. M., de la Harpe, S., Woodhouse, B. J., Glass, M., Vernall, A. J., & Grimsey, N. L. (2017, September). Utilising novel ligands to investigate an unusual trafficking phenotype: Agonist-induced surface upregulation of cannabinoid receptor 2. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists New Zealand Section (ASCEPT-NZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Singh, S., Glenn, J. R., Hill, S. J., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016). Illuminating the life of A₁ adenosine receptor. Proceedings of the Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices, Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/d4/index.html

Cooper, A. G., Macdonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016). Development of tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor: Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of fluorescent ligands and intermediates. Proceedings of the Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices, Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/d4/index.html

Cooper, A. G., Macdonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016). Development of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Proceedings of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists and the Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (ASCEPT-MPGPCR) Joint Scientific Meeting. 709. Retrieved from http://www.asceptasm.com/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Cooper, A. G., Macdonald, C., Glass, M., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016, August-September). Development of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Poster session presented at the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry, Manchester, UK.

Singh, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. J. (2016, August-September). Development of selective fluorescent ligands for A₁ adenosine receptor as pharmacological tools. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Stoddart, L. A., Vernall, A. J., Briddon, S. J., Kellam, B., & Hill, S. J. (2015). Direct visualisation of internalization of the adenosine A₃ receptor and localization with arrestin3 using a fluorescent agonist. Neuropharmacology, 98, 68-77. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.04.013

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Singh, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. (2015). Development of selective fluorescent ligands for A1AR as pharmacological tools. Proceedings of the Diagnostic Drug Device Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.regonline.com.au/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1758070

Cooper, A., Hook, S., Tyndall, J. D. A., & Vernall, A. (2015). Development of fluorescent ligands as tools for studying the cannabinoid type 2 receptor. Proceedings of the Diagnostic Drug Device Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.regonline.com.au/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1758070

2014

Journal - Research Article

Vernall, A. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2014). The evolving small-molecule fluorescent-conjugate toolbox for Class A GPCRs. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(5), 1073-1084. doi: 10.1111/bph.12265

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Kellam, B., & Hill, S. J. (2014). New fluorescent antagonists for the histamine H₁-receptor. Proceedings of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) and the Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (MPGPCR) Joint Scientific Meeting. (pp. 115). Retrieved from http://www.asceptasm.com/

2013

Journal - Research Article

Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Ng, H. W., Laughton, C. A., Doughty, S. W., … Kellam, B. (2013). Conversion of a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist into A₃-selective high affinity fluorescent probes using peptide-based linkers. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 11(34), 5673-5682. doi: 10.1039/c3ob41221k

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2013). Fluorescent probes as drug discovery tools. Proceedings of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) Conference. Retrieved from http://apsa-online.org/home.html

2012

Journal - Research Article

Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2012). Highly potent and selective fluorescent antagonists of the human adenosine A₃ receptor based on the 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one scaffold. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 55(4), 1771-1782. doi: 10.1021/jm201722y

Stoddart, L. A., Vernall, A. J., Denman, J. L., Briddon, S. J., Kellam, B., & Hill, S. J. (2012). Fragment screening at adenosine-A3 receptors in living cells using a fluorescence-based binding assay. Chemistry & Biology, 19(9), 1105-1115. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.07.014

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vernall, A., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2012). Highly potent and selective fluorescent antagonist of the adenosine A3 receptor: Use as an imaging tool. Proceedings of the 243rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition. Retrieved from http://abstracts.acs.org/chem/243nm/program/view.php

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Vernall, A. J., Stoddart, L. A., Briddon, S. J., Hill, S. J., & Kellam, B. (2012, December). Conversion of non-selective adenosine receptor ligands to subtype selective higher affinity fluorescent probes using peptide-based linkers. Poster session presented at the Seventh Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-coupled Receptors International Meeting, Melbourne, Australia.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Vernall, A. J., Cassidy, P., & Alewood, P. F. (2009). A single α-helical turn stabilized by replacement of an internal hydrogen bond with a covalent ethylene bridge. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 48(31), 5675-5678. doi: 10.1002/anie.200901059

2008

Journal - Research Article

Vernall, A. J., Ballet, S., & Abell, A. D. (2008). Cross-metathesis and ring-closing metathesis reactions of amino acid-based substrates. Tetrahedron, 64(18), 3980-3997. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2008.02.043