Viral Immunology, Bioinformatics

Research Interests

• The molecular pathology and immunology of virus infection
• The virus-host interaction, particularly that involving host immune-enhancement
• The regulation of gene expression by infection and environmental influences

Representative Publications

Lidbury B.A., Rulli N.E., Suhrbier A., Smith P.N., McColl S.R., Cunningham A.L., Tarkowski A., van Rooijen N., Fraser R.J. and Mahalingam S. (2008). Macrophage-Derived Proinflammatory Factors Contribute to the Development of Arthritis and Myositis after Infection with an Arthrogenic Alphavirus. Journal of Infectious Disease, 197:1585-1593.

Shabman R.S., Morrison T.E., Moore C., White L., Suthar M.S., Hueston L., Rulli N., Lidbury B.A., Ting J.P-Y., Mahalingam S. and Heise M.T. (2007). Differential Induction of Type I IFN Responses in Myeloid Dendritic Cells by Mosquito and Mammalian cell-derived Alphaviruses. Journal of Virology, 81:237-247.

Morrison T.E., Whitmore A.C., Shabman R.S., Lidbury B.A., Mahalingam S. and Heise M.T. (2006). Characterization of Ross River virus tropism and virus-induced inflammation in a mouse model of viral arthritis and myositis. Journal of Virology, 80:737-749.

Mahalingam S. and Lidbury B.A. (2002). Suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced antiviral transcription factor (STAT1 and NF-kB) complexes by antibody-dependent enhancement of macrophage infection by Ross River virus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 99: 13819-13824.

Lidbury B.A. and Mahalingam S. (2000). The specific ablation of antiviral gene expression in macrophages by antibody-dependent enhancement of Ross River virus infection. Journal of Virology, 74: 8376-8381.

Books

Gene Profiles in Drug Design (Editors, Brett A. Lidbury & Suresh Mahalingam). CRC Press, Florida, the United States. (To be published, July 2008)

Recent Students

PhD

Nestor Ezequiel Rulli, Immunopathology of alphavirus infection

Honours

Andrew Zackary, Mouse model of Barmah Forest virus infection and disease.

Abbreviated CV

Employment History

2003 Senior Lecturer (Level C) School of Health Sciences, Division of Health, Design and Science University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601

1996 2002: Lecturer (Level B) School of Human & Biomedical Sciences, Div. of Science and Design University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601

2000 2001 & December 2004 (ongoing): Visiting Scientist Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

1998 - 2002: Visiting Fellow Division of Immunology and Genetics, John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU Canberra, ACT, 0200

Academic Degrees

1990-1993: Doctor of Philosophy (Immunobiology/Virology). John Curtin School of Medical Research, Division of Cell Biology, ANU. Thesis title: The Antiviral Role of Cytokines.

1989: Bachelor of Science (Honours, Class I). Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle (NSW). Thesis title: The Potential of West Nile Virus for Studies of the Role of MHC Antigens in Implantation.

1986-1988: Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle.

Prizes, Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

2004 Vice-Chancellors Distinction award for Research and Enterprise

2001 National Finalist for Fresh Science, ScienceNow!, Melbourne Exhibition Centre Presentation: Ross River virus tricks the immune system (with Dr S. Mahalingam)

1990-1993 Australian Postgraduate Research Award (Industrial)

1992 Australasian Society of Immunology Student Award.