Dr Himaya Siddhihalu Wickrama Hewage
Adjunct Research Fellow
Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Researcher biography
I am a biochemist with a passion for exploring venom chemistry to develop medicinal tools. My main research focus is on the complex venom systems to elucidate structure-function of venom peptides for medicinal and biotechnological use. I have developed multidisciplinary state-of-the art approaches using proteo-genomics, pharmacology and behavioural studies to rapidly investigate venoms. This rational and systematic approch is used to unravel therapeutically valuable venom peptides while understanding the chemical evolution and origins of venom. Currently I am a lead scientist of the cone snail venom research program at IMB. I am deciphering new mechanisms of conotoxin diversification from ancestral species to relatively new lineages to establish evolutionary trajectories of venoms while investigating the structure and function of these highly optimised venom components as potential leads for treatment of pain.
Book Chapters
Ryu, BoMi, Himaya, S.W.A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2015). Applications of Microalgae-Derived Active Ingredients as Cosmeceuticals. Handbook of Marine Microalgae: Biotechnology Advances. (pp. 309-316) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-800776-1.00020-0
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2015). Marine nutraceuticals. Springer handbook of marine biotechnology. (pp. 995-1014) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Berlin, Germany: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-53971-8_43
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Functional proteins and peptides from fish skin. Seafood processing by-product: trends and applications. (pp. 197-205) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-9590-1_11
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Marine symbiotic microorganisms: a new dimension in natural product research. Marine microbiology: bioactive compounds and biotechnological applications. (pp. 295-306) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Wiley-VCH Verlag: Blackwell Wissenschafts-verlag Gmbh. doi: 10.1002/9783527665259.ch18
Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Marine microalgal metabolites a promising source of pharmaceuticals. Chemistry and pharmacology of naturally occurring bioactive compounds. (pp. 459-469) Boca Raton, FL USA: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b13867
Kim, Se-Kwon and Himaya, S. W. A. (2013). Edible marine invertebrates: a promising source of nutraceuticals. Marine nutraceuticals: prospects and perspectives. (pp. 243-256) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. CRC Press: CRC Press (Taylor and Francis). doi: 10.1201/b13904-18
Kim, Se-Kwon , Himaya, S. W. A. and Kang, Kyong-Hwa (2012). Sea Cucumber Saponins: Realization of Their Anticancer Effects. Marine Pharmacognosy: Trends and Applications. (pp. 119-128) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press (Taylor and Francis). doi: 10.1201/b13868-11
Kim, Se-Kwon and Himaya, S.W.A. (2012). Triterpene Glycosides from Sea Cucumbers and their Biological Activities. Marine Medicinal Foods Implications and Applications - Animals and Microbes. (pp. 297-319) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Academic Press: Academic Press (Elsevier Press). doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-416003-3.00020-2
Kim, Se-Kwon and Himaya, S. W. A. (2012). Medicinal Effects of Phlorotannins from Marine Brown Algae. Marine Medicinal Foods Implications and Applications, Macro and Microalgae . (pp. 97-109) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Waltham, MA, United States: Academic Press (Elsevier Press). doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-387669-0.00008-9
Kim, Se-Kwon, Himaya, S. W.A. and Kang, Kyong-Hwa (2012). Sea cucumber saponins: Realization of their anticancer effects. Marine Pharmacognosy: Trends and Applications. (pp. 119-127) edited by Se-Kwon Kim. Boca Raton, Fl, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b13868
Journal Articles
Rogalski, Aymeric, Himaya, S. W. A. and Lewis, Richard J. (2023). Coordinated adaptations define the ontogenetic shift from worm-to fish-hunting in a venomous cone snail. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3287, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38924-5
Himaya, S. W. A., Arkhipov, Alexander, Yum, Wai Ying and Lewis, Richard J. (2022). Comparative venomics of C. flavidus and C. frigidus and closely related vermivorous cone snails. Marine Drugs, 20 (3) 209, 209. doi: 10.3390/md20030209
Himaya, S. W.A., Jin, Ai-Hua, Hamilton, Brett, Rai, Subash K., Alewood, Paul and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Venom duct origins of prey capture and defensive conotoxins in piscivorous Conus striatus. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 13282, 13282. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91919-4
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S.W.A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten and Lewis, Richard J. (2020). Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator. Marine Drugs, 18 (7) 343, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/md18070343
Himaya, S.W.A., Rai, Subash K., Pamfili, Giulia, Jin, Ai-Hua, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2020). Venomic interrogation reveals the complexity of Conus striolatus venom. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 73 (4), 357-365. doi: 10.1071/ch19588
Jin, Ai-Hua, Muttenthaler, Markus, Dutertre, Sebastien, Himaya, S.W.A., Kaas, Quentin, Craik, David J., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2019). Conotoxins: chemistry and biology. Chemical Reviews, 119 (21), 11510-11549. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00207
Larsson, Michaela E., Harwood, Tim D., Lewis, Richard J., S. W. A., Himaya and Doblin, Martina A. (2019). Toxicological characterization of Fukuyoa paulensis (Dinophyceae) from temperate Australia. Phycological Research, 67 (1), 65-71. doi: 10.1111/pre.12349
Starobova, H., S. W. A., Himaya, Lewis, R. J. and Vetter, I. (2018). Transcriptomics in pain research: insights from new and old technologies. Molecular Omics, 14 (6), 389-404. doi: 10.1039/c8mo00181b
Himaya, S. W. A. and Lewis, Richard J. (2018). Venomics-accelerated cone snail venom peptide discovery. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19 (3) 788, 788. doi: 10.3390/ijms19030788
Himaya, S W A, Marí, Frank and Lewis, Richard J (2018). Accelerated proteomic visualization of individual predatory venoms of Conus purpurascens reveals separately evolved predation-evoked venom cabals. Scientific reports, 8 (1) 330, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17422-x
Larsson, Michaela E., Laczka, Olivier F., Harwood, D. Tim, Lewis, Richard J., Himaya, S. W. A., Murray, Shauna A. and Doblin, Martina A. (2018). Toxicology of Gambierdiscus spp. (Dinophyceae) from Tropical and Temperate Australian Waters. Marine Drugs, 16 (1) 7, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/md16010007
Himaya S.W.A., Jin, Ai-Hua, Dutertre, Sebastien, Giacomotto, Jean, Mohialdeen, Hoshyar, Vetter, Irina, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2015). Comparative Venomics Reveals the Complex Prey Capture Strategy of the Piscivorous Cone Snail Conus catus. Journal of Proteome Research, 14 (10), 4372-4381. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00630
Jin, Ai-Hua, Vetter, Irina, Himaya, Siddhihalu W. A., Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and Dutertre, Sébastien (2015). Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom. Proteomics, 15 (23-24), 4030-4040. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201500220
Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A., Dewapriya, Pradeep, Kim, Hak Jun and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Anti-proliferative effects of isosclerone isolated from marine fungus Aspergillus fumigatus in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Process Biochemistry, 49 (12), 2292-2298. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2014.08.016
Zhang, Chen, Chen, Xianzhen, Li, Yongxin, S. W. A., Himaya, Wu, Jie, Shi, Xiujuan, Liu, Xiaoqing and Kim, Sekwon (2014). si-RNA-mediated silencing of ADRBK1 gene attenuates breast cancer cell proliferation. Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, 29 (8), 303-309. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2014.1653
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Isolation and characterization of marine- derived Mucor sp. for the fermentative production of tyrosol. Process Biochemistry, 49 (9), 1402-1408. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2014.06.004
Ryu, BoMi, Kim, MinJeong, Himaya, S. W. A., Kang, Kyong-Hwa and Kim, Se-Kwon (2014). Statistical optimization of high temperature/pressure and ultra-wave assisted lysis of Urechis unicinctus for the isolation of active peptide which enhance the erectile function in vitro. Process Biochemistry, 49 (1), 148-153. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2013.09.019
Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S.W.A., Dewapriya, Pradeep, Zhang, Chen and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Fumigaclavine c from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus induces apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Marine Drugs, 11 (12), 5063-5086. doi: 10.3390/md11125063
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Himaya, S. W. A., Li, Yong-Xin and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Tyrosol exerts a protective effect against dopaminergic cell death in in vitro model of Parkinson's disease. Food Chemistry, 141 (2), 1147-1157. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.04.004
Pangestuti, Ratih, Ryu, BoMi, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Optimization of hydrolysis conditions, isolation, and identification of neuroprotective peptides derived from seahorse Hippocampus trimaculatus. Amino Acids, 45 (2), 369-381. doi: 10.1007/s00726-013-1510-4
Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Triterpenoids of marine origin as anti-cancer agents. Molecules, 18 (7), 7886-7909. doi: 10.3390/molecules18077886
Himaya, S.W.A., Dewapriya, Pradeep and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitory peptide attenuates Helicobacter pylori-mediated hyper proliferation in AGS enteric epithelial cells. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 269 (3), 205-214. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.03.020
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Li, Yong-Xin, Himaya, S. W. A., Pangestuti, Ratih and Kim, Se-Kwon (2013). Neoechinulin A suppresses amyloid-β oligomer-induced microglia activation and thereby protects PC-12 cells from inflammation-mediated toxicity. NeuroToxicology, 35 (1), 30-40. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.12.004
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Qian, Zhong-Ji and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Paeonol from Hippocampus kuda Bleeler suppressed the neuro-inflammatory responses in vitro via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Toxicology in Vitro, 26 (6), 878-887. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2012.04.022
Ryu, BoMi , Himaya, S. W. A. , Napitupulu, Romauli J. , Eom, Tae-Kil and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Sulfated chitooligosaccharide II (SCOS II) suppress collagen degradation in TNF-induced chondrosarcoma cells via NF-κB pathway. Carbohydrate Research, 350, 55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2011.12.028
Ahn, Byul-Nim, Kim, Jung-Ae, Himaya, S. W. A., Bak, Soon-Sun, Kong, Chang-Suk and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Chitooligosaccharides attenuate UVB-induced damages in human dermal fibroblasts. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 385 (1), 95-102. doi: 10.1007/s00210-011-0684-0
Ngo, Dai-Hung, Ryu, BoMi, Vo, Thanh-Sang, Himaya, S. W. A. and Kim, Se-Kwon (2011). Free radical scavenging and angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) skin gelatine. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 49 (5), 1110-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.09.009
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Qian, Zhong-Ji, Li, Yong and Kim, Se-Kwon (2011). 1-(5-bromo-2-hydroxy-4- methoxyphenyl) ethanone [SE1] suppresses pro-inflammatory responses by blocking NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in activated microglia. European Journal of Pharmacology, 670 (2-3), 608-616. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.09.013
Ryu, BoMi , Himaya, S. W. A. , Qian, Zhong-Ji and Kim, Se-Kwon (2011). Prevention of hydrogen peroxideinduced oxidative stress in HDF cells by peptides derived from seaweed pipefish, Syngnathus Schlegeli. Peptides, 32 (4), 639-647. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.01.009
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Qian, Zhong-Ji and Kim, Se-Kwon (2010). Sea cucumber, Stichopus japonicus ethyl acetate fraction modulates the lipopolysaccharide induced iNOS and COX-2 via MAPK signaling pathway in murine macrophages. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 30 (1), 68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2010.03.019
Conference Papers
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S. W. A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Characterization of δ-conotoxin Tx-VIA as selective T-type modulator. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
Himaya, S. W. A., Ngo, Dai-Hung, Ryu, BoMi and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Peptide isolated from Japanese flounder skin gelatin protects against cellular oxidative damage. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society. doi: 10.1021/jf302161m
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, BoMi, Ngo, Dai-Hung and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). An active peptide purified from gastrointestinal enzyme hydrolysate of Pacific cod skin gelatin attenuates angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) activity and cellular oxidative stress. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.12.020
Himaya, S. W. A., Ngo, Dai-Hung, Ryu, BoMi and Kim, Se-Kwon (2012). Protective effects of a peptide purified from gastrointestinal enzyme hydrolysate of pacific cod skin gelatin on hypertension and cellular oxidative stress. 11th International Biorelated Polymer Symposium / 243rd National Spring Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Diego Ca, Mar 25-29, 2012. AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
Himaya, S. W. A., Ryu, B. M., Qian, Z. -J., Li, Y. and Kim, S. -K. (2010). Anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of Hippocampus Kuda Bleeler derived compounds SE-1 and SE-2 on activated murine macrophages and microglial cells. 35th Congress of the Federation-of-European-Biochemical-Societies, Gothenburg Sweden, Jun 26-Jul 01, 2010. WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.