Mr Jesse Goyette

Mr Jesse Goyette

Senior Lecturer
Medicine & Health
School of Biomedical Sciences

Dr Jesse Goyette received his PhD in the School of Medical Sciences at UNSW Sydney in 2009, and was awarded a Nuffield Medical Fellowship to continue his post-doctoral training at Oxford University. From 2011-2016 he worked together with Prof Anton van der Merwe to develop a generic ligand system for investigating immune receptor function and patenting an algorithm for analysing tethered signalling reactions using surface plasmon resonance with Dr Omer Dushek. In 2016, he returned to Australia, working briefly as a senior post-doc in the EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Sciences. He now leads the Lymphocyte Signalling Group in Single Molecule Sciences. Jesse takes an interdisciplinary approach to his research and employs biochemical, biophysical and advanced imaging approaches to investigating molecular signalling pathways in T cells.

Phone
+61-2-9385 8956
Location
Level 3, Lowy Cancer Research Building Gate 9, High Street UNSW
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Laine RF; Heil HS; Coelho S; Nixon-Abell J; Jimenez A; Wiesner T; Martínez D; Galgani T; Régnier L; Stubb A; Follain G; Webster S; Goyette J; Dauphin A; Salles A; Culley S; Jacquemet G; Hajj B; Leterrier C; Henriques R, 2023, 'High-fidelity 3D live-cell nanoscopy through data-driven enhanced super-resolution radial fluctuation', Nature Methods, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41592-023-02057-w
    Journal articles | 2023
    Yang Y; Fan S; Webb JA; Ma Y; Goyette J; Chen X; Gaus K; Tilley RD; Gooding JJ, 2023, 'Electrochemical fluorescence switching of enhanced green fluorescent protein', Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 237, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2023.115467
    Journal articles | 2022
    Farrell MV; Nunez AC; Yang Z; Pérez-Ferreros P; Gaus K; Goyette J, 2022, 'Protein-PAINT: Superresolution microscopy with signaling proteins', Science Signaling, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.abg9782
    Journal articles | 2022
    Goyette J; Depoil D; Yang Z; Isaacson SA; Allard J; van der Merwe PA; Gaus K; Dustin ML; Dushek O, 2022, 'Dephosphorylation accelerates the dissociation of ZAP70 from the T cell receptor', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2116815119
    Journal articles | 2022
    Lim HJ; Wubben JM; Garcia CP; Cruz-Gomez S; Deng J; Mak JYW; Hachani A; Anderson RJ; Painter GF; Goyette J; Amarasinghe SL; Ritchie ME; Roquilly A; Fairlie DP; Gaus K; Rossjohn J; Villadangos JA; McWilliam HEG, 2022, 'A specialized tyrosine-based endocytosis signal in MR1 controls antigen presentation to MAIT cells', Journal of Cell Biology, 221, http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202110125
    Journal articles | 2022
    Nieves DJ; Pandzic E; Gunasinghe SD; Goyette J; Owen DM; Justin Gooding J; Gaus K, 2022, 'The T cell receptor displays lateral signal propagation involving non-engaged receptors', Nanoscale, 14, pp. 3513 - 3526, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1nr05855j
    Journal articles | 2021
    Clemens L; Kutuzov M; Bayer KV; Goyette J; Allard J; Dushek O, 2021, 'Determination of the molecular reach of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1', Biophysical Journal, 120, pp. 2054 - 2066, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2021.03.019
    Journal articles | 2021
    Feher K; Graus MS; Coelho S; Farrell MV; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2021, 'K-Neighbourhood Analysis: A Method for Understanding SMLM Images as Compositions of Local Neighbourhoods', Frontiers in Bioinformatics, 1, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fbinf.2021.724127
    Journal articles | 2021
    Gaus K; Gooding JJ; Wang W; Ma Y; Bonaccorsi S; Cong VT; Pandzic E; Yang Z; Goyette J; Lisi F; Tilley RD, 2021, 'Investigating spatial heterogeneity of nanoparticles movement in live cells with pair-correlation microscopy and phasor analysis', Analytical Chemistry, 93, pp. 3803 - 3812, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04285
    Journal articles | 2021
    Gunasinghe SD; Peres NG; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2021, 'Biomechanics of T Cell Dysfunctions in Chronic Diseases', Frontiers in Immunology, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.600829
    Journal articles | 2021
    Laxman P; Ansari S; Gaus K; Goyette J, 2021, 'The Benefits of Unnatural Amino Acid Incorporation as Protein Labels for Single Molecule Localization Microscopy', Frontiers in Chemistry, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.641355
    Journal articles | 2020
    Farrell MV; Webster S; Gaus K; Goyette J, 2020, 'T Cell Membrane Heterogeneity Aids Antigen Recognition and T Cell Activation', Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.00609
    Journal articles | 2020
    Goyette J; Depoil D; Yang Z; Isaacson S; Allard J; van der Merwe A; Gaus K; Dustin M; Dushek O, 2020, 'Regulated unbinding of ZAP70 at the T cell receptor by kinetic avidity', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.12.945170
    Journal articles | 2020
    Hilzenrat G; Pandžić E; Yang Z; Nieves DJ; Goyette J; Rossy J; Ma Y; Gaus K, 2020, 'Conformational States Control Lck Switching between Free and Confined Diffusion Modes in T Cells', Biophysical Journal, 118, pp. 1489 - 1501, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2020.01.041
    Journal articles | 2020
    Ma Y; Lim Y; Benda A; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2020, 'Clustering of CD3ζ is sufficient to initiate T cell receptor signaling', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.17.953463
    Journal articles | 2020
    Ma Y; Lim YJ; Benda A; Lou J; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2020, 'Clustering of the ζ-chain can initiate t cell receptor signaling', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103498
    Journal articles | 2020
    Sreenivasan VKA; Graus MS; Pillai RR; Yang Z; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2020, 'Influence of FRET and fluorescent protein maturation on the quantification of binding affinity with dual-channel fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy', Biomedical Optics Express, 11, pp. 6137 - 6153, http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/BOE.401056
    Journal articles | 2019
    Denham EM; Barton MI; Black SM; Bridge MJ; de Wet B; Paterson RL; Anton van der Merwe P; Goyette J, 2019, 'A generic cell surface ligand system for studying cell–cell recognition', PLoS Biology, 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000549
    Journal articles | 2019
    Feher K; Halstead JM; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2019, 'Can single molecule localization microscopy detect nanoclusters in T cells?', Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 51, pp. 130 - 137, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.05.019
    Journal articles | 2019
    Goyette J; Nieves DJ; Ma Y; Gaus K, 2019, 'How does T cell receptor clustering impact on signal transduction?', Journal of Cell Science, 132, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.226423
    Journal articles | 2019
    Pérez-Ferreros P; Gaus K; Goyette J, 2019, 'Tethered signaling in inhibitory immune receptors', Frontiers in Physics, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2018.00158
    Journal articles | 2019
    Zhang Y; Clemens L; Goyette J; Allard J; Dushek O; Isaacson SA, 2019, 'The Influence of Molecular Reach and Diffusivity on the Efficacy of Membrane-Confined Reactions', Biophysical Journal, 117, pp. 1189 - 1201, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2019.08.023
    Journal articles | 2018
    Hilzenrat G; Pandžić E; Yang Z; Nieves D; Goyette J; Rossy J; Gaus K, 2018, 'Conformational states control Lck switching between free and confined diffusion modes in T cells', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/446732
    Journal articles | 2017
    Goyette J; Gaus K, 2017, 'Mechanisms of protein nanoscale clustering', Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 44, pp. 86 - 92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ceb.2016.09.004
    Journal articles | 2017
    Goyette J; Salas CS; Coker-Gordon N; Bridge M; Isaacson SA; Allard J; Dushek O, 2017, 'Biophysical assay for tethered signaling reactions reveals tether-controlled activity for the phosphatase SHP-1', Science Advances, 3, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1601692
    Journal articles | 2017
    Ma Y; Poole K; Goyette J; Gaus K, 2017, 'Introducing membrane charge and membrane potential to T cell signaling', Frontiers in Immunology, 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01513
    Journal articles | 2017
    Ma Y; Yamamoto Y; Nicovich PR; Goyette J; Rossy J; Gooding JJ; Gaus K, 2017, 'A FRET sensor enables quantitative measurements of membrane charges in live cells (vol 35, pg 363, 2017)', NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY, 35, pp. 481 - 481, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt0517-481e
    Journal articles | 2017
    Ma Y; Yamamoto Y; Nicovich PR; Goyette J; Rossy J; Gooding JJ; Gaus K, 2017, 'A FRET sensor enables quantitative measurements of membrane charges in live cells', Nature Biotechnology, 35, pp. 363 - 370, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3828
    Journal articles | 2016
    Freeman SA; Goyette J; Furuya W; Woods EC; Bertozzi CR; Bergmeier W; Hinz B; Van Der Merwe PA; Das R; Grinstein S, 2016, 'Integrins Form an Expanding Diffusional Barrier that Coordinates Phagocytosis', Cell, 164, pp. 128 - 140, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.11.048
    Journal articles | 2015
    Lim HS; Cordoba SP; Dushek O; Goyette J; Taylor A; Rudd CE; Van Der Merwe PA, 2015, 'Costimulation of IL-2 production through CD28 is dependent on the size of its ligand', Journal of Immunology, 195, pp. 5432 - 5439, http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1500707
    Journal articles | 2014
    Goyette J; Allard J; Dushek O; van der Merwe A, 2014, 'Measuring Compressional Resistance in Large Surface Molecules', BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 106, pp. 235A - 235A, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.1380
    Journal articles | 2013
    Chung Y; Goyette JD; Tedla NT; Hsu KK; Geczy C, 2013, 'S100A12 Suppresses Pro-inflammatory, but Not Pro-Thrombotic Functions of Serum Amyloid A', PLoS ONE, 8, pp. Article numbere62372, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062372
    Journal articles | 2013
    Raftery MJ; Yan WX; Goyette JD; Thomas PS; Geczy C; Gomes L, 2013, 'S100A8 and S100A9-oxidant scavengers in inflammation', Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 58, pp. 170 - 186, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.12.012
    Journal articles | 2012
    Dushek O; Goyette J; van der Merwe PA, 2012, 'Non-catalytic tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors', Immunological Reviews, 250, pp. 258 - 276, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/imr.12008
    Journal articles | 2010
    Lim SY; Raftery MJ; Goyette JD; Geczy C, 2010, 'S-Glutathionylation Regulates Inflammatory Activities of S100A9', The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285, pp. 14377 - 14388
    Journal articles | 2009
    Geczy CL; Goyette J; Lim SY; Hsu K, 2009, 'Inflammation-associated S100 proteins: new mechanisms that regulate function', AMINO ACIDS, 37, pp. 77 - 77, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000267823800262&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2009
    Goyette JD; Yan W; Yamen E; Chung YM; Lim SY; Hsu KK; Rahimi F; Di Girolamo N; Song C; Jessup W; Kockx M; Bobryshev YV; Freedman BS; Geczy C, 2009, 'Pleiotropic roles of s100A12 in coronary atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture', Journal of Immunology, 183, pp. 593 - 603
    Journal articles | 2009
    Lim SY; Raftery MJ; Goyette JD; Hsu KK; Geczy C, 2009, 'Oxidative modifications of S100 proteins: functional regulation by redox', Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 86, pp. 577 - 587
    Journal articles | 2008
    Conrad D; Goyette JD; Thomas PS, 2008, 'Proteomics as a method for early detection of cancer: A review of proteomics, exhaled breath condensate, and lung cancer screening', Journal of General Internal Medicine, 23, pp. 78 - 84, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0411-1
    Journal articles | 2008
    Yan W; Armishaw C; Goyette JD; Yang Z; Cai H; Alewood P; Geczy C, 2008, 'Mast cell and monocyte recruitment by S100A12 and its hinge domain', The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283, pp. 13035 - 13043, http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M710388200
    Journal articles | 2007
    Cai H; Song C; Endoh I; Goyette JD; Jessup W; Freedman SB; McNeil HP; Geczy C, 2007, 'Serum amyloid A induces monocyte tissue factor', Journal of Immunology, 178, pp. 1852 - 1860
    Journal articles | 2006
    Shepherd CE; Goyette JD; Utter V; Rahimi F; Yang Z; Geczy C; Halliday GM, 2006, 'Inflammatory S100A9 and S100A12 proteins in Alzheimer's disease', Neurobiology of Aging, 27, pp. 1554 - 1563
    Journal articles | 2004
    Ravasi T; Hsu K; Goyette J; Schroder K; Yang Z; Rahimi F; Miranda LP; Alewood P; Hume D; Geczy C, 2004, 'Probing the S100 protein family through genomic and functional analysis', Genomics, 84, pp. 10 - 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2004.02.002
  • Preprints | 2022
    Laine RF; Heil HS; Coelho S; Nixon-Abell J; Jimenez A; Galgani T; Stubb A; Follain G; Webster S; Goyette J; Culley S; Jacquemet G; Hajj B; Leterrier C; Henriques R, 2022, High-fidelity 3D live-cell nanoscopy through data-driven enhanced super-resolution radial fluctuation, , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.07.487490
    Preprints | 2020
    Clemens L; Kutuzov M; Bayer KV; Goyette J; Allard J; Dushek O, 2020, Determination of the molecular reach of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1, , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.04.283341
    Preprints | 2019
    Denham EM; Barton MI; Black SM; Bridge MJ; Wet BD; Paterson RL; der Merwe PAV; Goyette J, 2019, A generic cell surface ligand system for studying cell-cell recognition, , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/546846
    Preprints | 2018
    Zhang Y; Clemens L; Goyette J; Allard J; Dushek O; Isaacson SA, 2018, The influence of molecular reach and diffusivity on the efficacy of membrane-confined reactions, , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/439430
    Conference Papers | 2017
    Goyette J; Salas CS; Gordon NC; Bridge M; Isaacson S; Allard J; Dushek O, 2017, 'Tethered signalling reactions on immune receptors', in EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS, SPRINGER, SCOTLAND, British Biophys Soc, Edinburgh, pp. S108 - S108, presented at 19th IUPAB Congress / 11th EBSA Congress, SCOTLAND, British Biophys Soc, Edinburgh, 16 July 2017 - 20 July 2017, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000416406200189&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Preprints | 2016
    Goyette J; Solis Salas C; Coker-Gordon N; Bridge M; Isaacson SA; Allard J; Dushek O, 2016, Biophysical assay for tethered signaling reactions reveals tether-controlled activity for the phosphatase SHP-1, , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/063776
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Paterson R; Denham E; Goyette J; van der Merwe PA, 2016, 'A novel two-ligand system to analyse signal integration by non-catalytic tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors', in EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, AUSTRALIA, Melbourne, pp. 1196 - 1196, presented at International Congress of Immunology (ICI), AUSTRALIA, Melbourne, 21 August 2016 - 26 August 2016, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000383610402805&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Denham E; Goyette J; van der Merwe P, 2015, 'A systematic investigation on the mechanism of non-catalytic tyrosine phosphorylated receptor triggering', in JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS, LA, New Orleans, presented at Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists (IMMUNOLOGY), LA, New Orleans, 08 May 2015 - 12 May 2015, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000379404504320&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2014
    Denham EM; Goyette J; van der Merwe PA, 2014, 'A systematic investigation on the mechanism of non-catalytic tyrosine phosphorylated receptor triggering', in IMMUNOLOGY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, pp. 118 - 118, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000345702600342&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Lim H-S; Cordoba S-P; Goyette J; van der Merwe A, 2013, 'CD80 dimensions are important for T cell co-stimulation', in JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS, HI, Honolulu, presented at 100th Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists, HI, Honolulu, 03 May 2013 - 07 May 2013, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000322987101145&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2011
    Chung YM; Lim SY; Goyette J; Hsu K; Tedla N; Geczy CL, 2011, 'S100A12 SUPPRESSES PROINFLAMMATORY BUT NOT PROTHROMBOTIC FUNCTIONS OF SERUM AMYLOID A ON MONOCYTES/MACROPHAGES', in INFLAMMATION RESEARCH, BIRKHAUSER VERLAG AG, FRANCE, Paris, pp. 217 - 217, presented at 10th World Congress on Inflammation, FRANCE, Paris, 25 June 2011 - 29 June 2011, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000291358900598&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2008
    Goyette JD; Yan WX; Lim SY; Di Girolamo N; Geczy C, 2008, 'Does S100A12 activate mast cells and monocytes/macrophages via rage?', in Cytokine, Academic Press Ltd Elsevier Science Ltd, London, England, pp. 293 - 294, presented at Cytokine
    Conference Papers | 2005
    Rahimi F; Goyette J; Raftery MJ; Shepherd CE; Halliday GM; Geczy C, 2005, 'S100A9, an inflammation-associated calcium-binding protein, is a binding partner for various redox-regulating proteins in familial Alzheimer's disease', in Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands, pp. S298 - S298, presented at XVIIIth World Congress of Neurology, Sydney, 05 November 2005 - 11 November 2005
    Conference Posters | 2005
    Rahimi F; Goyette JD; Shepherd CE; Halliday GM; Geczy C; Raftery M, 2005, 'S100A9, an inflammation-associated calcium-binding protein, is a binding partner for various redox-regulating proteins in familial Alzheimer's disease', Sydney, AUSTRALIA, Vol. 238, pp. S298 - S298, presented at 18th World Congress of Neurology, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 05 November 2005 - 11 November 2005, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000235088002393&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a
    Conference Papers | 2005
    Shepherd CE; Goyette J; Utter V; Rahimi F; Yang Z; Geczy C; Halliday GM, 2005, 'Inflammatory S100A9 and S100A12 proteins in Alzheimer's disease', in Proceedings of Aust Neuroscience Society, 25th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Perth, WA, pp. 131 - 131, presented at 25th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Perth, WA, 30 January 2005 - 02 February 2005
    Conference Papers | 2004
    Goyette J; Shepherd CE; Halliday GM; Geczy C, 2004, 'S100 proteins in Alzheimer's disease', in Australian Health and Medical Research Congress, Australian Health and Medical Research Congress 2004, Sydney, Convention & Exhibition Centre, pp. 206 - 206, presented at Australian Health and Medical Research Congress 2004, Sydney, Convention & Exhibition Centre, 21 November 2004 - 26 November 2004

Jesse Goyette wants to understand exactly how T cells transmit signals to initiate an immune response. How does the T cell receptor work? What does a T cell need to be activated?

By making modifications to the signalling machinery, Jesse teases apart the function of individual components of the T cell receptor complex. T cells bearing modified receptors are imaged using super resolution microscopy, so we can see how molecules interact during a signalling event. 

Jesse aims to identify which elements are essential for generating a robust T cell response, and figure out how each influence the properties of a T cell signal. 

As T cells migrate through our bodies they continuously encounter antigen presenting cells and must be able to discriminate between foreign and self-antigens – initiating adaptive immune responses to the former, while remaining tolerant to the latter. The decision of a T cell to become activated or remain quiescent has important consequences and inappropriate reactions can lead to autoimmunity, whereas a lack of response leads to an inability to control infections or precancerous cells. A T cell’s decision-making process is encoded in the molecular language of proximal signalling reactions, which are integrated together to result in phenotypic responses such as cytokine production, differentiation, proliferation and release of cytotoxic granules.

Our research investigates the molecular mechanisms allowing signalling from multiple cell surface receptors to be integrated and result in different functional outcomes. To probe these mechanisms we use a combination of biochemical and biophysical techniques, such as recombinant protein production and surface plasmon resonance, together with advanced microscopy techniques such as total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) and single particle tracking. Our approach also makes use of mathematical models, which are trained with information from our experimental results, to make predictions about outcomes of signalling processes that can in turn be used to guide future experimental work.

Understanding proximal signalling processes opens possibilities for manipulating the function of T cells and altering the outcome of inappropriate activation (in the case of autoimmune disease) or inappropriate tolerance (in the case of chronic viral infections or cancer).

My Research Supervision

Supervising 6 PhD students