Dr Nicole Mifsud

Group Leader
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Monash University

nicole.mifsud@monash.edu

Research Activities

My research program explores T cell-mediated immune responses. The exquisite specificity of TCR/peptide/HLA complex interactions are critical for immune reactivity involved in pathogenic control and clearance, but are also pertinent to many human disorders (i.e. autoimmunity, allergy, cancer) and therapies for end-stage disease (i.e. transplantation). However, TCR cross-reactivity is known to drive inappropriate T cell responses that contribute to human disease susceptibility and allograft rejection in transplantation. Understanding the intrinsic nature of T cells to be cross-reactive and their impact in human disease is of critical importance to provide translatable outcomes for clinical management of individual patients (personalised medicine), as well as providing a mechanistic framework for the development of immunotherapeutics. 

Key research areas:

  • Transplantation immunology
  • T cell cross-reactivity
  • Drug hypersensitivity

Techniques/Expertise

Human T cells (lines and clones)
Human DC cultures
Human T cell receptor repertoire identification
Transfection of cell lines
Immunological cellular assays
Generation of MHC/peptide class I tetramers
Flow cytometry
Protein expression and purification
Molecular biology
Immunoproteomics (RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry)

Collaborations

A/Prof Tom Kostimbos, Prof John Wilson (Lung Transplantation, Cystic Fibrosis), The Alfred Hospital
Prof Robyn O'Hehir (Drug-induced allergy), The Alfred Hospital
Prof Anthony Schwarer (Haematopoetic Malignancies), Box Hill Hospital
Dr George Grigoriadis (Haematopoietic malignancies), The Alfred Hospital, Monash Health and Translation Precinct
Prof Weisan Chen, La Trobe University
Prof Katherine Kedzierska (Influenza), PDI, University of Melbourne
Prof Frans Claas (Transplantation), Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands
A/Prof Lloyd D'Orsogna (Transplantation), Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA
Prof Alexandra Sharland (Transplantation), University of Sydney, NSW
Dr James Yun (Drug-induced allergy), Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
Prof Patrick Kwan (Drug-induced allergy), Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Alfred Hospital
A/Prof Stephanie Gras (T cell cross-reactivity), Monash University
Prof Anthony Purcell (Immunoproteomics), Monash University
Prof Linda Wooldridge (T cell cross-reactivity), Bristol University, England

Disease Models

Solid organ transplantation: lung, kidney
Haematopoietic malignancies
Drug-induced allergy

Genetically Modified Organisms

Cell lines (C1R, 721.221, K562, T2) transfected with specific HLA class I molecules

Other Lab Members

Ms Kirti Pandey (PhD student)
Ms Kerry Mullan (PhD student)
Ms Johanna Tuomisto (PhD student)
Mr Shawn Goh (PhD student)
Mr AKM Muraduzzaman (PhD student)
Ms Liesl Bramberger (PhD student)

Research Images

Other members with similar research interests

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Prof Michael Hickey

Department of Medicine - Monash Medical Centre Monash University SEE FULL PROFILE >

Dr Daniel Layton

Health and Biosecurity CSIRO SEE FULL PROFILE >

A/Prof Mandvi Bharadwaj

Department of Microbiology and Immunology University of Melbourne SEE FULL PROFILE >

Upcoming Events

  • Feb 19

    Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference 2024

    Mantra Lorne MORE INFO
  • Feb 19

    Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference 2024

    Mantra Lorne MORE INFO