Microbiology and Immunology

Jenny Elliman

Jenny Elliman

Daniel Browne

Daniel Browne

Hillary Vanderven

Hillary Vanderven

Jessica Watt

Jessica Watt

Ellen Ariel

Ellen Ariel

Subir Sarker

Subir Sarker

Catherine Rush

Catherine Rush

Yaoqin Hong

Yaoqin Hong

Assessment of cytotoxicity induced by novel pMHC bi-specific antibodies in vitro (Old ID 27757)
Hillary Vanderven
14 Jul 2022 - 25 Jul 2023
Optimisation and performance of in vitro cell-binding and cytotoxicity assays to assess the capacity of novel bi-specific peptide-MHC (pMHC) antibodies to bind and/or cause killing of peptide-pulsed and influenza-infected cells in vitro.
Artificial Intelligence driven novel ear tag for critical cattle health monitoring
Subir Sarker
11 Feb 2026 - 10 Feb 2027
The overarching aim of this project is to develop and validate a wearable ear tag for cattle that integrates photoplethysmography (PPG) and temperature sensors to enable continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cardiovascular and thermal health parameters. The system will measure real-time changes in blood volume using optical PPG principles, allowing for the estimation of heart rate, pulse wave characteristics, and vascular dynamics, along with body temperature. By capturing PPG waveform features such as anacrotic/dicrotic peaks, heart rate variability, and systolic-diastolic timing, this tool will support early indications of physiological stress, fever, or emerging illness, which can significantly impact animal welfare, productivity, and farm profitability. The data will be transmitted wirelessly to a cloud platform for visualization and alert generation through a user-friendly mobile app. The project currently stands at technology readiness level 3. Over the 12-month duration, the project aims to advance the system to TRL 4 through expanded testing, integration with cloud-based platforms, and refinement of algorithms for commercial on-farm use.
Generation of novel peptide-MHC antibody therapies to combat seasonal and pandemic potential influenza virus (Old ID 28968)
Hillary Vanderven
27 Mar 2023 - 31 Dec 2027
Influenza pandemics have caused significant morbidity and mortality throughout history. The 1918 influenza pandemic resulted in 25-50 million deaths globally. Myrio Therapeutics is a Melbourne-based company leading the development of antibodies directed to peptide-MHC (pMHC) targets. Myrio’s competitive edge is provided by a patented Retained Display (ReD) discovery platform allowing rapid isolation of high affinity human single chain antibodies, which are readily converted into different therapeutic formats. Myrio has identified several first-in-class antibodies against highly conserved influenza virus peptides presented on common human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) for further testing in vitro and in vivo in mice.
Tilapia Biocontrol Project. (Old ID 27044)
Ellen Ariel
01 Jul 2020 - 31 Oct 2022
Determine the susceptibility of two tilapia species present in Australian waterways (O. mossambicus and T. mariae ) to TiLV and demonstrate the efficacy of TiLV as a potential biocontrol agent for tilapia in Australia.
Resistance to inundation in green turtle eggs (Old ID 21938)
Ellen Ariel
01 Dec 2014 - 30 Nov 2017
The experiments will compare the susceptibility of green turtle eggs to inundation during different stages of their development.
Establishing Baseline Health Assessment Criteria for Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) (Old ID 22137)
Ellen Ariel
01 Dec 2014 - 30 Nov 2018
The first part of this project is to optimise procedures involved in assessing turtle health. The second part is to collect data for reference ranges. The third part is to analyse influence of age, location, season, sex and exertion on the results of the assessment. The ultimate output of this project is a robust and obje3ctive method for assessing turtle health, with will facilitate diagnosis and treatment of sick animals and enable assessment of population health of green turtles.
Tilapia Biocontrol Project. (Old ID 27262)
Ellen Ariel
02 Nov 2020 - 31 Oct 2021
Determine the susceptibility of two tilapias species present in Australian waterways (O. mossambicus and T. mariae) to TiLV and demonstrate the efficacy of TiLV as a potential biocontrol agent for tilapia in Australia.
The role of non-neutralising ADCC antibodies in the treatment of human influenza B virus (IBV) infection with anti-influenza hyperimmune immunoglobulin (Flu-IVIG) (Old ID 26827)
Hillary Vanderven
01 May 2020 - 30 Apr 2021
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and other Fc-mediated antibody functions are increasingly recognised as potential mediators of influenza immunity. However, a definitive role for ADCC antibodies during severe human influenza infection remains unclear. The INSIGHT006 study (NCT02287467) provides a unique platform to examine the impact of neutralising and non-neutralising ADCC antibodies, delivered by Flu-IVIG, on outcomes of severe human influenza.
HOT NORTH - Pilot Project - Round 4 - Cooking smoke and indoor air pollution : Impaired immunity to Tuberculosis at Australian's northern border? (Old ID 25026)
Catherine Rush
01 Sep 2018 - 30 Jun 2020
Middle Fly region of PNG has very high rates of TB and pre-existing lung disease may play a significant role in the acquisition and development of TB disease. Our study will determine the burden and characteristics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and investigate the resultant lung immune response defects in this community. In doing so we will build local capacity in lung function testing and laboratory analysis and optimise a pipeline of sample analysis of lung immune responses from PNG to JCU, Townsville. Such information will complement existing TB programmes in South Fly region of the Western Province.
Research Vessel for Shallow Water Capture (Old ID 23069)
Ellen Ariel
11 Nov 2016 - 11 Nov 2017
An inflatable lifeguard vessel with fibreglass bottom is a great help for catching sea turtles in shallow inshore areas. The inflatable sides makes for greater safety for both turtle and catcher. Sick turtles tend to prefer shallow water.

Burkholderia pseudomallei triggers altered inflammatory profiles in a whole-blood model of type 2 diabetes-melioidosis comorbidity

Use of biomarkers to identify therapy targets and diagnostic markers for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Influence of temperature and exposure time on the infectivity of Bohle iridovirus, a ranavirus

Bacteriophage adenine methyltransferase: a life cycle regulator? Modelled using Vibrio harveyi myovirus like

Circulating bone marrow derieved osteo-progenitors in vasculature contributes towards vascular calcification

Everolimus limits aortic aneurysm in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse by downregulating C-C chemokine receptor 2 positive monocytes

Endogenous Brevidensovirus-like elements in Cherax quadricarinatus: friend or foe?

Melioidosis in animals

Growth, osmoregulatory responses and changes to the lipid and fatty acid composition of organs from the mud crab, Scylla errata, over a road salinity range

Teaching driving research: a case study using a novel microsporidium found in western king prawns off the Townsville coast

  • 2013
  • Researchers:Jenny Elliman
Title: Wildlife Diseases Association
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2022
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Australasian Society for Virology
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Synthetic Biology Australasia
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2017
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Australian Society for Microbiology
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: American Society for Microbiology
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Microbiology Specialist, Institutional Biosafety Committee, La Trobe University
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Research Committee, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: The Science and Art Image Committee, La Trobe University
Reseracher: Subir Sarker (Associate Professor, Microbiology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
End Date: 01 Jan 2021
Title: American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Reseracher: Catherine Rush (Associate Professor)