Dr. Manuela Ayee-Leong

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, UIC, Dissertation: Molecular Modeling of Endogenous and Exogenous Toxins at Phospholipid Interfaces
• M.S., Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, Thesis: Luminescent water-soluble quantum dots: Improved stability through surface functionalization
• B.A., Engineering Science - Chemistry Emphasis, Dordt University (formerly Dordt College)

EXPERIENCE & INTERESTS

Dr. Ayee-Leong has experience in both academia and industry. Her research interests combine computational & experimental techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying effects of small molecules & proteins on membrane biomechanics & cell biophysical properties, with a focus on pathogenesis. Some applications include:

• Examining molecular interactions of myelin protein zero to uncover pathophysiological mechanisms that drive Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy disease
• Investigating modulation of cellular & tissue biomechanics by oxidized lipids & sterols under hypercholesterolemic conditions
• Elucidating roles played by toxins in modulating properties of lipid layers

PUBLICATIONS

• Effective Parameters Controlling Sterol Transfer: A Time-Resolved Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study, J of Membrane Biology, 2022

• Lipoprotein-Induced Increases in Cholesterol and 7-Ketocholesterol Result in Opposite Molecular-Scale Biophysical Effects on Membrane Structure, Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2021

• Membrane modulatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids: Analysis of molecular level interactions. Current Topics in Membranes, 2021

• Membrane Stiffening in Osmotic Swelling: Analysis of Membrane Tension and Elastic Modulus. Current Topics in Membranes, 2018
• Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Kir2. 2 Interactions with an Ensemble of Cholesterol Molecules. Biophysical Journal, 2018
• Hypotonic Challenge of Endothelial Cells Increases Membrane Stiffness with No Effect on Tether Force, Biophys J, 2018
• oxLDL induces endothelial cell proliferation via Rho/ROCK/Akt/p27kip1 signaling: opposite effects of oxLDL and cholesterol loading, American J of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2017
• Molecular-Scale Biophysical Modulation of an Endothelial Membrane by Oxidized Phospholipids, Biophys J, 2017
• Differential effects of sterols on ion channels: Stereospecific Binding vs Stereospecific Response, Current Topics in Membranes, 2017
• The emerging threat of superwarfarins: history, detection, mechanisms, and countermeasures, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2016
• Paradoxical impact of cholesterol on lipid packing and cell stiffness, Frontiers in Bioscience, Landmark Edition, 2016

• Structural perturbation of a DPPC bilayer by warfarin and its bolaamphiphilic analogue: A molecular dynamics study, J Colloid & Interface Sci, 2016