Mueller laboratory: Visualising the immune system in action

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.