Dr. Anika Mostaert
Lecturer in Nanobiology
Anika obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 1994. Having a Marine Science background, her research focused on the ultrastructure and biochemistry of algae under environmental stress. During a STA postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba Japan, she worked on chemotaxonomy of red tide algae and green picoplankton. Following a lectureship at the University of Tsukuba, Japan she moved to the USA to work in academic administration at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Dr. Mostaert returned to research in the middle of 2004 as a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin. In July 2007 she was appointed Lecturer in Nanobiology in the School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD. Her current research interests focus on the mechanical properties of natural bioadhesives at the molecular level in order to explore mechanisms of adhesive strength.
Current Research Interests
Nanomechanical properties of natural bioadhesives (marine and terrestrial algae and invertebrates) at the molecular level in order to explore mechanisms of adhesive strength. Of particular interest is the mechanical role of amyloid-like structures in natural adhesives and their biomaterial potential.
Publications
Mechanically functional amyloid fibrils in the adhesive of a marine invertebrate as reveled by raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, Mostaert, A. S., Crockett, R., Kearn, G., Cherney, I., Gazit, E., Serpell, L. C. and Jarvis, S. P., Archives of Histology and Cytology, Accepted for publication, (2009).
Characterisation of Amyloid Nanostructures in the Natural Adhesive of Unicellular Subaerial Algae, Mostaert, A. S., Giordani, C., Crockett, R., Karsten, U., Schumann, R., and Jarvis, S. P., The Journal of Adhesion, 85, 465-483, (2009).
The dispersion of SWCNT bundles on interaction with p-Terphenyl, Hedderman, T. G., Mostaert, A. S., Shanahan, A. E., and Byrne, H. J., New Carbon Materials, 24, 73-82, (2009).
Revealing molecular-level surface structure of amyloid fibrils by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy in liquid, Fukuma, T., Mostaert, A. S., Serpell, L. C., and Jarvis, S. P., Nanotechnology, 19, 384010, (2008).
Beneficial characteristics of mechanically functional amyloid fibrils evolutionarily preserved in Natural Adhesives, Mostaert, A. S. and Jarvis, S. P., Nanotechnology, 18, 0044010, (2007).
Aeroterrestrial Algae Growing on Man-Made Surfaces: What are the Secrets of their Ecological Success?, Karsten, U., Schumann, R., and Mostaert, A. Book chapter in Algae and Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments, Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology Springer, 583-597, (2007).
Functional amyloid: Mechanical strength revealed by atomic force microscopy, Jarvis, S. P., and Mostaert, A. S., GIT Imaging & Microscopy, 9, 25-28, (2007).
Nanoscale mechanical characterization of amyloid fibrils discovered in a natural adhesive, Mostaert, A. S., Higgins, M. J., Fukuma, T., Rindi, F., and Jarvis, S. P., Journal of Biological Physics, 32, 393-401, (2006).
Explanation for the Mechanical Strength of Amyloid Fibrils, Fukuma, T., Mostaert, A. S., and Jarvis, S. P., Tribology Letters, 22, 233-237, (2006).
Pigments and fatty acids of marine raphidophytes: A chemotaxonomic re-evaluation, Mostaert, A. S., Karsten, U., Hara, Y., and Watanabe, M. M., Phycological Research, 46, 213-220, (1998).
Ion compartmentation in the red alga Caloglossa leprieurii in response to salinity changes: freeze-substitution and X-ray microanalysis, Mostaert, A. S., Orlovich, D. A., and King, R. J., New Phytologist, 132, 513-519, (1996).
Osmoprotectors in some species of Japanese mangrove macroalgae, Karsten, U., Mostaert, A. S., King, R. J., Kamiya, M., and Hara, Y., Phycological Research, 44, 109-112, (1996).
Physiological responses of Caloglossa leprieurii (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) to salinity stress, Mostaert, A. S., Karsten, U., and King, R. J., Phycological Research, 43, 215-222, (1995).
Inorganic ions and mannitol in the red alga Caloglossa leprieurii (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta): response to salinity change, Mostaert, A., Karsten, U., and King, R., Phycologia, 34, 501-507, (1995).
The osmotic significance of the heteroside floridoside in the mangrove alga Catenella nipae (Rhodophyta: Gigartinales) in eastern Australia, Karsten, U., Barrow, K. D., Mostaert, A. S., and King, R. J., Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Science, 40, 239-247, (1995).
C-13 and H-1 NMR studies on digeneaside in the red alga Caloglossa leprieurii. A re-evaluation of its osmotic significance, Karsten, U., Barrow, K. D., Mostaert, A. S., King, R. J., and West, J. A., Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 32, 669-676, (1994).
Stoechospermum(Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae): a poorly known algal genus newly recorded in Australia, Phillips, J., King, R., Tanaka, J., and Mostaert, A., Phycologia, 32, 395-398, (1993).
The cell wall of the halotolerant red alga Caloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J. Agardh from freshwater and marine habitats: effects of changing salinity, Mostaert, A., and King, R., Cryptogamic Botany, 4, 40-46, (1993).
Mannitol in the red algal genus Caloglossa (Harvey) J. Agardh, Karsten, U., West, J. A., Mostaert, A. S., King, R. J., Barrow, K. D., and Kirst, G. O., Journal of Plant Physiology, 140, 292-297, (1992).
Videos
Video recorded for 'Your Science Your Say', a forum where emerging technologies are presented to the public to assess perceived risks and benefits to society. Presented at the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, July 2009, and as an online forum. Produced by Padraig Murphy, Dublin City University, and Ian Brunswick, Agtel Communications.
Irish television news programme, 'Capital D' Episode 23, broadcast on RTE One, 15th October 2009. Produced by Philip Bromwell; Presented by Anne Cassin.
Contact Details
Phone: +353-1-716-6766
Fax: +353-1-716-6777
Email: anika.mostaert-at-ucd.ie