Dr Alan Aitchison

Research Fellow

BSc(Hons) (Dundee); MSc (Kent); PhD (Otago)

Tel +64 3 364 3647
Email alan.aitchison@otago.ac.nz

Dr Aitchison has expertise is in molecular biology and cell biology. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Dr Aitchison worked at Cambridge University, studying epigenetic gene regulation and in the biotech industry studying virology.

Since arriving in Christchurch, he has continued working in molecular biology in a range of settings from psychiatric diseases to leukaemia and, more recently, gut health.

His doctoral studies in Christchurch involved research into the molecular basis of early-onset colorectal cancer with an emphasis on the involvement of gut bacteria in the development of cancer. He is now continuing his interest in gut health by researching how improved nutrition may improve the lives of children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Publications

Keenan, J. I., Aitchison, A., Frizelle, F. A., & Hock, B. D. (2023). Detection of chitinase 3-like 1 in symptomatic primary care patient faecal samples is not a reliable biomarker of colonic lesions. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 24(7), 2289-2293. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2289 Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Pearson, J. F., Purcell, R. V., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2022). Detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum DNA in primary care patient stool samples does not predict progression of colorectal neoplasia. PLoS ONE, 17(6), e0269541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269541 Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A. (2020). E-cadherin and APC in early-onset colorectal cancer (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/10424 Awarded Doctoral Degree

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Day, R. C., Morrin, H. R., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2020). APC mutations are not confined to hotspot regions in early-onset colorectal cancer. Cancers, 12, 3829. doi: 10.3390/cancers12123829 Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Whitehead, M., Khan, S., Siddique, S., Ahmed, R., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2020). CDH1 gene mutation in early-onset, colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma. Pathology: Research & Practice, 216, 152912. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2020.152912 Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

2022

Journal - Research Article

2020

Journal - Research Article

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Aitchison, A. (2020). E-cadherin and APC in early-onset colorectal cancer (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/10424

2019

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Leaman, J., Pearson, J., & Frizelle, F. (2019). Faecal biomarkers do not always identify pre-cancerous lesions in patients who present in primary care with bowel symptoms. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1501), 48-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Keenan, J. I., Aitchison, A., Pearson, J. F., Frizelle, F. A., & Munday, J. S. (2019). Detection of the Bacteroides fragilis toxin gene in sheep with and without small intestinal adenocarcinoma. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 67(6), 329-332. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2019.1651233

2018

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Kahn, S., Whitehead, M., Frizelle, F., & Keenan, J. (2018). E-cadherin in early-onset colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.nzsoncology.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Swan, J., Aitchison, A., Hampton, M., & Keenan, J. (2018, September). Asprin's role in preventing e-cadherin cleavage by the carcinogenic Bacteroides Fragilis toxin. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Symposium on Infectious Disease, Wellington, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Flores, S. E., Aitchison, A., Day, A. S., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). Helicobacter pylori infection perturbs iron homeostasis in gastric epithelial cells. PLoS ONE, 12(9), e0184026. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184026

Purcell, R. V., Pearson, J., Aitchison, A., Dixon, L., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). Colonization with enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis is associated with early-stage colorectal neoplasia. PLoS ONE, 12(2), e0171602. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171602

Budd, G. R., Aitchison, A., Day, A. S., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). The effect of polymeric formula on enterocyte differentiation. Innate Immunity, 23(3), 240-248. doi: 10.1177/1753425916689333

Chae, A., Aitchison, A., Day, A. S., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). Bovine colostrum demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity in in vitro models of intestinal inflammation and infection. Journal of Functional Foods, 28, 293-298. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.11.016

Appleby, S., Pearson, J. F., Aitchison, A., Spittlehouse, J. K., Joyce, P. R., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Mean telomere length is not associated with current health status in a 50-year-old population sample. American Journal of Human Biology, 29(1), e22906. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.22906

Journal - Research Other

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., & Frizelle, F. (2017). Are young people eating their way to bowel cancer? New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1460), 90-92. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2016

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J. I., Aitchison, A., Purcell, R. V., Greenlees, R., Pearson, J. F., & Frizelle, F. A. (2016). Screening for enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in stool samples. Anaerobe, 40, 50-53. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2016.05.004

Wright, E. K., Kamm, M. A., De Cruz, P., Hamilton, A. L., Ritchie, K. J., Keenan, J. I., … Burgess, L., Aitchison, A., … Day, A. S., & Gearry, R. B. (2016). Comparison of fecal inflammatory markers in Crohn's disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 22(5), 1086-1094. doi: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000671

Aitchison, A., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2016). PCR detection of the Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin gene relies on robust primer design. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 54(1), 239-240. doi: 10.1128/jcm.02785-15

2015

Journal - Research Article

Chua, E. W., Cree, S., Barclay, M. L., Doudney, K., Lehnert, K., Aitchison, A., & Kennedy, M. A. (2015). Exome sequencing and array-based comparative genomic hybridisation analysis of preferential 6-methylmercaptopurine producers. Pharmacogenomics Journal, 15, 414-421. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2015.9

Jodczyk, S., Pearson, J. F., Aitchison, A., Miller, A. L., Hampton, M. B., & Kennedy, M. A. (2015). Telomere length measurement on the Roche LightCycler 480 platform. Genetic Testing & Molecular Biomarkers, 19(2), 63-68. doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2014.0208

2014

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Cree, S. L., Gibb, A., Miller, A. L., Doudney, K., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., Joyce, P. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2014). G-quadruplex structures and CpG methylation cause drop-out of the maternal allele in polymerase chain reaction amplification of the imprinted MEST gene promoter. PLoS ONE, 9(12), e113955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113955

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Greenlees, R., & Frizelle, F. (2014). Are toxin-producing strains of Bacteroides fragilis involved in colorectal cancer? ANZ Journal of Surgery, 84(Suppl. 1), (pp. 36). doi: 10.1111/ans.12609

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Greenlees, R., Pearson, J., & Frizelle, F. (2014, October). Are toxin-producing strains of Bacteroides fragilis involved in colorectal cancer? Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference, Tauranga, New Zealand.

2013

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Macmil, S., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Miller, A. L., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., Joyce, P. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2013). Allelic-dropout during PCR of the imprinted MEST promoter caused by interaction between G-quadruplex structures and DNA methylation. Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting on G-quadruplex Nucleic Acids: From Structure to Chemistry and Biology. 83. Retrieved from http://www.g4meeting2013.com/

2012

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Stevens, A., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Miller, A., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M., … Kennedy, M. (2012, August). G-quadruplex DNA structures, genomic imprinting and allelic drop-out in PCR. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Miller, A. L., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2012, August). G-quadruplex DNA structures, genomic imprinting and allelic drop-out in PCR. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Doudney, K., Harley, J. A., Pearson, J. F., Miller, A., Aitchison, A., Kennedy, M. A., Porter, R. J., Elmslie, J. L., & Joyce, P. R. (2009). Upstream genetic variant near INSIG2, influences response to carnitine supplementation in bipolar patients with valproate-induced weight gain. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 21(3), 133-140. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2009.00379.x

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Doudney, K., Harley, J. A., Pearson, J. F., Miller, A., Aitchison, A., Kennedy, M. A., Porter, R. J., Elmslie, J. L., & Joyce, P. R. (2009). Upstream genetic variant near INSIG2 is associated with adipose metabolism in bipolar patients with valproate induced weight gain. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Carney Pharmacogenomics Symposium. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/otago019049.pdf

2008

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A. A., Veerakumarasivam, A., Vias, M., Kumar, R., Hamdy, F. C., Neal, D. E., & Mills, I. G. (2008). Promoter methylation correlates with reduced Smad4 expression in advanced prostate cancer. Prostate, 68(6), 661-674. doi: 10.1002/pros.20730

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Robertson, M., Jewell, U., Moon, S. Y., Aitchison, A., McDonald, M., Robertson, S., & Morris, C. M. (2008, August-September). Molecular characterisation by array CGH of a mosaic constitutional karyotype showing supernumerary ring chromosomes: A clinical case study. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Robertson, M., Jewell, U., Moon, S. Y., Aitchison, A., McDonald, M., Robertson, S., & Morris, C. M. (2008, May). Molecular characterisation of a mosaic karyotype showing supernumerary dicentric ring chromosome and a supernumerary marker reveals chromosome band 4q12 origin. Poster session presented at the 4th International DECIPHER Symposium, Hinxton, UK.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Warren, A., Neal, D., & Rabbitts, P. (2007). RASSF1A promoter methylation is frequently detected in both pre-malignant and non-malignant microdissected prostatic epithelial tissues. Prostate, 67(6), 638-644. doi: 10.1002/pros.20475

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Robertson, M., Jewell, U., Moon, S. Y., Aitchison, A., McDonald, M., Taylor, J. C., Robertson, S., & Morris, C. M. (2007). Molecular characterisation of a mosaic karyotype showing supernumerary dicentric ring chromosome and a supernumerary marker reveals chromosome band 4_q12 origin. Proceedings of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 109). Retrieved from http://www.hgsa.com.au/images/UserFiles/Attachments/Posters.pdf

Gough, S. M., Aitchison, A., Ganly, P., Spearing, R., & Morris, C. M. (2007). Hs.568769 is disrupted by a novel t(5;10) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and may be an alternate transcript of the 3'overlapping DNTT(TdT) gene. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 98th Annual Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.aacrmeetingabstracts.org/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Gough, S., Jewell, U., Aitchison, A., Ganly, P., & Morris, C. (2007, August). A novel gene and TdT(DNTT) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Poster session presented at the 17th Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2006

Journal - Research Article

Onwuegbusi, B. A., Aitchison, A., Chin, S.-F., Kranjac, T., Mills, I., Huang, Y., … Fitzgerald, R. C. (2006). Impaired transforming growth factor β signalling in Barrett's carcinogenesis due to frequent SMAD4 inactivation. Gut, 55(6), 764-774. doi: 10.1136/gut.2005.076430

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Benjes, S. M., Walker, L. C., Aitchison, A., Ganly, P. S., Spearing, R. L., & Morris, C. M. (2006). DNA sequence features of additional partner chromosome-BCR junction fragments associated with complex BCR-ABL_I rearrangements of CML. Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Human Genetics. Retrieved from http://www.ichg2006.com/abstract/788.htm

2004

Journal - Research Article

Xian, J., Aitchison, A., Bobrow, L., Corbett, G., Pannell, R., Rabbitts, T., & Rabbitts, P. (2004). Targeted disruption of the 3p12 gene, Dutt1/Robo1, predisposes mice to lung adenocarcinomas and lymphomas with methylation of the gene promoter. Cancer Research, 64, 6432-6437. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-2561

1999

Journal - Research Article

Khosla, S., Aitchison, A., Gregory, R., Allen, N. D., & Feil, R. (1999). Parental allele-specific chromatin configuration in a boundary-imprinting-control element upstream of the mouse H19 gene. Molecular & Cellular Biology, 19(4), 2556-2566.

1998

Journal - Research Article

Dean, W., Bowden, L., Aitchison, A., Klose, J., Moore, T., Meneses, J. J., … Feil, R. (1998). Altered imprinted gene methylation and expression in completely ES cell-derived mouse fetuses: Association with aberrant phenotypes. Development, 125, 2273-2282.