Mueller laboratory: Visualising the immune system in action
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Professor Scott Mueller+61 3 8344 9044
Research Overview
View Professor Mueller's latest PubMed publications listing here.
Research in the Mueller laboratory is focused on examining how effective immune responses are initiated by our bodies to fight acute and chronic viral infections and cancer. We are dissecting how the microenvironment of tissues, and the cells that make up these microenvironments (including immune cells and stromal cells) contribute both positively and negatively to the induction and maintenance of immune responses. We use state-of-the-art methods, including intravital 2-photon microscopy, to visualise immune cells and pathogens in real time, whole tissue clearing and imaging to map and quantitate immune responses and single cell sequencing to define cell heterogeneity and functions. We want to understand these fundamental cellular pathways in order to reveal new treatments for disease.
Current projects are examining how T cells get activated during infection, the roles of different dendritic cell subsets in T cell priming and the formation and functions of tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells. We are dissecting the roles of the lymphoid tissue stromal cells in the control of immune responses and cancer progression. We are also revealing new pathways by which the nervous system influences immune cell behaviour.
Movie 1: Imaging of a whole lymph node responding to infection: dendriitic cells (green) and T cells (white and purple) are visualised across the whole organ.
Staff
Dr Yannick Alexandre, Research Officer
Sapna Devi, Research Officer
Keely McDonald, Honours Student 2021
Sarah Sandford, PhD Student
Dominik Schienstock, PhD Student
Kirthana Senthil, PhD Student
Nicholas Tjangdjaja, Honours Student 2021
Collaborators
Professor Bill Heath, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne
Professor Jose Villadangos, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne
Professor Dale Godfrey, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne
Dr Peregrine Osbourne, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne
Professor Erica Fletcher, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne
Professor Robin McAllen, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
Dr Martin Stebbing, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Erica Sloan, Monash University
Professor Jane Visvader, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Gordon Smyth, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Associate Professor Irene Caminschi, Monash University
Dr Anne Fletcher, Monash University
Dr Tracy Heng, Monash University
Associate Professor Di Yu, Australian National University
Dr Steve Lee, Australian National University
Professor Shaun McColl, The University of Adelaide
Dr Iain Comerford, The University of Adelaide
Research Opportunities
This research project is available to PhD students, Honours students, Master of Biomedical Science to join as part of their thesis.
Please contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.
Research Projects
- Graduate Research Opportunites
- Lymphoid stromal cells and control of immunity to infection and cancer
- Neural regulation of immunity
- Tissue-resident memory T cells
- Priming of T cell responses to viral infection
- T cell responses in the brain during experimental cerebral malaria infection
Faculty Research Themes
Infection and Immunology, Cancer, Neuroscience
School Research Themes
Cancer in Biomedicine, Biomedical Neuroscience, Cellular Imaging & Structural Biology
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact Head of Laboratory Professor Scott Mueller
Department / Centre
Unit / Centre
Mueller laboratory: Visualising the immune system in action
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