Dr Aaron Stevens, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch

BSc, PGDipSci(Cant) PhD(Otago)

Research interests

Aaron leads the Genomic and Epigenomic Research Lab at UOW . His laboratory investigates how environmental factors including diet and immune derived oxidants (produced during inflammation and infection) can impact on human disease progression.

Visit the Genomic and Epigenomic Research Lab

Methylated cytosine is an important epigenetic regulator of gene activity and plays a dynamic process in cell growth, differentiation, migration, and overall tissue architecture. Changing the methylation patterns during DNA replication may alter gene activity and redirect cell fate, which could be an important process in understanding how genes respond to their environmental conditions and is a central question for managing health and disease. Reactive oxygen species can act as key drivers in epigenetic change. This could affect how specific proteins bind and recognise DNA and may contribute to the link between inflammation and cancer.

He also investigates how diet can alter the composition of the human gut microbiome, and the implications of this for perinatal depression.

Publications

Stevens, A. J., Kennedy, M. A., Doudney, K., Kidd, M. J. A., & Rucklidge, J. J. (2025). Potential link between copy number variation and abnormal genome wide DNA methylation profile in an individual with severe ADHD and a strong response to micronutrient treatment. Psychiatry Research Case Reports. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.psycr.2025.100254 Journal - Research Article

Seddon, A. R., MacArthur, C. P., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2024). Inflammation and DNA methylation in Alzheimer’s disease: Mechanisms of epigenetic remodelling by immune cell oxidants in the ageing brain. Redox Report, 29(1), 2428152. doi: 10.1080/13510002.2024.2428152 Journal - Research Other

Damiano, O. M., Stevens, A. J., Seddon, A. R., & Chatterjee, A. (2024). Altered DNA methylation patterns in colorectal cancer associated with immune cell oxidants. Proceedings of the 17th GeneMappers Conference. Retrieved from https://www.genemappersconference.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Picard, L. C., Rich, F., & Stevens, A. J. (2024). Epigenetic consequences of BCG-activated leukocytes on bladder cancer cells. Proceedings of the 17th GeneMappers Conference. Retrieved from https://www.genemappersconference.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Stevens, A., Seddon, A., Hampton, M., & Andrew, D. (2024). Oxidative stress induced changes in DNA methylation. Proceedings of the 17th GeneMappers Conference. Retrieved from https://www.genemappersconference.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2025

Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., Heiwari, T. M., Rich, F. J., Bradley, H. A., Gur, T. L., Galley, J. D., Kennedy, M. A., … Mulder, R. T., & Rucklidge, J. J. (2024). Randomised control trial indicates micronutrient supplementation may support a more robust maternal microbiome for women with antenatal depression during pregnancy. Clinical Nutrition. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.09.004

Seddon, A. R., Damiano, O., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2024). Widespread genomic de novo DNA methylation occurs following CD8+ T cell activation and proliferation. Epigenetics, 19(1), 2367385. doi: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2367385

Picard, L. C., Rich, F. J., Kenwright, D. N., & Stevens, A. J. (2024). Epigenetic changes associated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment in bladder cancer. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Reviews on Cancer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189123

Journal - Research Other

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Seddon, A., Das, A., Hampton, M., & Stevens, A. (2024). Understanding how immune oxidants can drive epigenetic change. European Journal of Human Genetics, 32(Suppl. 1), (pp. 720). doi: 10.1038/s41431-023-01482-x

2023

Journal - Research Article

Seddon, A. R., Das, A. B., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2023). Site-specific decreases in DNA methylation in replicating cells following exposure to oxidative stress. Human Molecular Genetics, 32(4), 632-648. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddac232

Journal - Research Other

Yan, M. P., Wee, C. E., Yen, K. P., Stevens, A., & Wai, L. K. (2023). G-quadruplex ligands as therapeutic agents against cancer, neurological disorders and viral infections. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 15(21), 1987-2009. doi: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0202

He, Z., Wilson, A., Rich, F., Kenwright, D., Stevens, A., Low, Y. S., & Thunders, M. (2023). Chromosomal instability and its effect on cell lines. Cancer Reports, e1822. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1822

2022

Journal - Research Other

Stevens, A. J., de Jong, L., & Kennedy, M. A. (2022). The dynamic regulation of G-quadruplex DNA structures by cytosine methylation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 2407. doi: 10.3390/ijms23052407

2021

Journal - Research Article

Seddon, A. R., Liau, Y., Pace, P. E., Miller, A. L., Das, A. B., Kennedy, M. A., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2021). Genome-wide impact of hydrogen peroxide on maintenance DNA methylation in replicating cells. Epigenetics & Chromatin, 14(1), 17. doi: 10.1186/s13072-021-00388-6

2020

Journal - Research Article

Heft, I. E., Mostovoy, Y., Levy-Sakin, M., Ma, W., Stevens, A. J., Pastor, S., … Kennedy, M. A., … Sikela, J. M. (2020). The driver of extreme human-specific Olduvai repeat expansion remains highly active in the human genome. Genetics, 214, 179-191. doi: 10.1534/genetics.119.302782

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Das, A. B., O'Connor, K. M., Stevens, A. J., Seddon, A. R., & Winterbourn, C. C. (2020). Immune cell oxidants inhibit DNA methylation in proliferating cells [Invited]. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Epigenetics User Group (EUG) Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go/2020-3/

2019

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., Purcell, R. V., Darling, K. A., Eggleston, M. J. F., Kennedy, M. A., & Rucklidge, J. J. (2019). Human gut microbiome changes during a 10 week randomised control trial for micronutrient supplementation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Scientific Reports, 9, 10128. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46146-3

Rucklidge, J. J., Eggleston, M. J. F., Darling, K., Stevens, A., Kennedy, M., & Frampton, C. M. (2019). Can we predict treatment response in children with ADHD to a vitamin-mineral supplement? An investigation into pre-treatment nutrient serum levels, MTHFR status, clinical correlates and demographic variables. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 89, 181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.09.007

2018

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., Rucklidge, J. J., Darling, K. A., Eggleston, M. J. F., Pearson, J. F., & Kennedy, M. A. (2018). Methylomic changes in response to micronutrient supplementation and MTHFR genotype. Epigenomics, 10(9), 1201-1214. doi: 10.2217/epi-2018-0029

Stevens, A. J., Rucklidge, J. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2018). Epigenetics, nutrition and mental health: Is there a relationship? [Review]. Nutritional Neuroscience, 21(9), 602-613. doi: 10.1080/1028415x.2017.1331524

2017

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Methylated cytosine maintains G-quadruplex structures during polymerase chain reaction and contributes to allelic dropout. Biochemistry, 56(29), 3691-3698. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00480

Stevens, A. J., Taylor, M. G., Pearce, F. G., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Allelic dropout during polymerase chain reaction due to G-quadruplex structures and DNA methylation is widespread at imprinted human loci. Genes Genomes Genetics, 7(3), 1019-1025. doi: 10.1534/g3.116.038687

Stevens, A. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Structural analysis of G-quadruplex formation at the human MEST promoter. PLoS ONE, 12(1), e0169433. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169433

2016

Journal - Research Article

Steel, O., Kraberger, S., Sikorski, A., Young, L. M., Catchpole, R. J., Stevens, A. J., … Varsani, A. (2016). Circular replication-associated protein encoding DNA viruses identified in the faecal matter of various animals in New Zealand. Infection, Genetics & Evolution, 43, 151-164. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.05.008

Stevens, A. J., Kennedy, H. L., & Kennedy, M. A. (2016). Fluorescence methods for probing G-quadruplex structure in single- and double-stranded DNA. Biochemistry, 55(26), 3714-3725. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00327

Journal - Research Other

Stevens, A. J., Appleby, S., & Kennedy, M. A. (2016). Many commercial hot-start polymerases demonstrate activity prior to thermal activation. Biotechniques, 61(6), 293-296. doi: 10.2144/000114481

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Stevens, A., Appleby, S., & Kennedy, M. (2016, August-September). Many commercial hot-start polymerases demonstrate activity prior to thermal activation. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

2015

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Stevens, A., & Kennedy, M. (2015, August-September). CpG Methylation increases G-quadruplex re-association during PCR and influences genotyping of the imprinted MEST gene promoter. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Stevens, A. J. (2015). The interaction of G-quadruplex DNA structure and cytosine methylation (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/6077

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

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.