Michelle Wykes
Associate Professor | Group Leader
+61 7 3362 0429michelle.wykes@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Associate Professor Michelle Wykes and her Molecular Immunology Group studies the immunology behind several diseases. Their research initially focussed on understanding the role dendritic cells play in the pathogenesis of malaria and now apply novel insight gained into understanding cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. They have found novel functions for Programmed cell death-1 ligand 2 (expressed on dendritic cells) in regulating immunity. More recently, their focus has shifted to developing novel immunotherapies.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
2017-present: Group Leader, Molecular Immunology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
2012–2017: Team Head, QIMR Berghofer
2013–2016: ARC Future Fellow
2012–2013: Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Queensland
2010–2012: Smart Future Fellow (Senior Level) QIMR Berghofer
2008–2010: Assistant Lab Head, QIMR Berghofer
2001–2008: Senior Research Officer, QIMR Berghofer
1999–2000: Team Leader, Cellular Interaction Team, Brisbane, Mater Medical Research Institute
1996–1999: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford
1993–1996: Department of Immunology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Investigating the role of checkpoint inhibitors in the pathogenesis of malaria and the role of dendritic cells in the chronicity of malaria.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- development of a novel biologic immunotherapy for cancer
- identified that dendritic cells, which are the sentinel of immunity, take up proteins (pathogens), package them into vesicles of native proteins, and transfer these proteins to naïve B cells to initiate antibody responses and isotype switching of B cells
- identified that dendritic cells had a role in initiating immunological tolerance
- showed dendritic cells and follicular dendritic cells express a novel ligand for CD38 which mediate their maturation and expansion respectively, and signaling this ligand in vivo, with soluble CD38 can more than double the life span of immunological B cell memory
- identified expression of CD154 on B cells. This study explained gaps in our understanding of B cell activation
- showed that long term protection by memory B cells and long lived plasma cells specific for the malaria vaccine underwent apoptosis following infection. This finding would explain why >40 clinical trials for various malaria vaccines, which were based on B cell-mediated protection, would have failed in the field
- the strain of Plasmodium causing malaria determines the capacity of dendritic cells to initiate immune responses resulting in a dichotomy of the phenotype and function of dendritic cells between lethal and non-lethal malaria
- plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) are a novel cell for Plasmodium survival and replication which provides a niche to escape immune–surveillance and permit chronicity of the disease. This is the first major advance on our understanding of the blood-stage Plasmodium life cycle since the 1950s
- identified CD8 T cells are required for sterile immunity against malaria but Programmed cell death-1 mediates a loss of these cells leading to chronic or recrudescent malaria
- identified CD8 T cells are required for long term protection against malaria but Programmed cell death-1 mediates a loss of these cells
- programmed cell death-1 Ligand 2 (PD-L2) has a regulatory role in mediating immunity
- identified that dendritic cells, which are the sentinel of immunity, take up proteins (pathogens), package them into vesicles of native proteins, and transfer these proteins to naïve B cells to initiate antibody responses and isotype switching of B cells
- identified that dendritic cells had a role in initiating immunological tolerance
- showed dendritic cells and follicular dendritic cells express a novel ligand for CD38 which mediate their maturation and expansion respectively, and signaling this ligand in vivo, with soluble CD38 can more than double the life span of immunological B cell memory
- identified expression of CD154 on B cells. This study explained gaps in our understanding of B cell activation
- showed that long term protection by memory B cells and long lived plasma cells specific for the malaria vaccine underwent apoptosis following infection. This finding would explain why >40 clinical trials for various malaria vaccines, which were based on B cell-mediated protection, would have failed in the field
- the strain of Plasmodium causing malaria determines the capacity of dendritic cells to initiate immune responses resulting in a dichotomy of the phenotype and function of dendritic cells between lethal and non-lethal malaria
- plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) are a novel cell for Plasmodium survival and replication which provides a niche to escape immune–surveillance and permit chronicity of the disease. This is the first major advance on our understanding of the blood-stage Plasmodium life cycle since the 1950s
- identified CD8 T cells are required for sterile immunity against malaria but Programmed cell death-1 mediates a loss of these cells leading to chronic or recrudescent malaria
- identified CD8 T cells are required for long term protection against malaria but Programmed cell death-1 mediates a loss of these cells
- programmed cell death-1 Ligand 2 (PD-L2) has a regulatory role in mediating immunity
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
1990-current: Australian Society of Immunology
2010–current: Australian Society of Parasitology
AWARDS RECOGNITION
2015: Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow, USA National Academy of Science
2013: Future Fellowship, Australian Research Council
2010: Smart Future Fellowship, Queensland State Government
2009: Griffith University Encouragement Award
2007: Ross Hohnen Award for research excellence (2006). Award for best research proposal: ‘Evaluation of the protective potential of J8-specific T and B cells in protection against S. pyogenes infection’
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1993: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
1986: Bachelor of Science (Hons), University of Western Australia