Associate Professor Bronwyn O'Brien
Associate Professor, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences
Core Member, Centre for Health Technologies
DipT (QUT), BAppSc (Hons) (QUT), PhD (QUT)
Email: Bronwyn.Obrien@uts.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 9514 4104
Fax: +61 2 9514 8206
Room: CB04.06.37B (map)
Mailing address: PO Box 123,
Broadway NSW 2007,
Australia
Biography
Bronwyn is a Senior Lecturer of Immunology and Associate Head in the Department of Medical & Molecular Biosciences. She is a core member of the Centre for Health Technologies (Key University Research Strength).
Bronwyn's major research interest is investigating the role of macrophages in the development of autoimmunity. She is currently conducting expression and functional studies of SLC11A1, a gene specifically expressed in antigen-presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells) that modulates the immune cell balance to influence the development of autoimmune disease. A greater understanding of the expression and function of this gene may provide novel avenues for modulating macrophage and dendritic cell function and consequently stop the development of autoimmune disease.
With funding from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Bronwyn is currently investigating the use of novel parasite antigens to prevent the initiation of autoimmunity. This work was prompted by epidemiological observations that in regions where parasitic worm infections are endemic there is a very low incidence of autoimmune disease. Our group has been able to prevent autoimmune diabetes in a rodent model using parasite secretions and we are now planning to test individual molecules within the secretions for their efficacy in preventing autoimmune disease. This project may ultimately lead to novel therapeutic strategies to prevent diabetes, and perhaps more broadly, autoimmunity per se.
Bronwyn is also conducting preliminary research to identify novel biomarkers of hypoglycaemia in exhaled air with the objective of developing a reliable, noninvasive means of detecting impending hypoglycaemia. This work was prompted by anecdotal evidence that some dogs owned by Type 1 diabetics can alert there owners to impending hypoglycaemia even when the dogs cannot see their owners. The stimulus for the dog’s behaviour is likely compounds that transit from the blood into exhaled air to provide a breath signature of hypoglycaemia.
Professional
Australasian Society for Immunology
Australian Diabetes Society
Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand
Teaching areas
Bronwyn coordinates the Immunology subjects offered by the Faculty of Science, namely Introductory Haematology & Immunology (subject number 91351) and Advanced Immunology (subject number 91401).
Research
Research interests
Bronwyn’s research area is the immunology of autoimmune disease.
Bronwyn is investigating the role of macrophages in the development of autoimmune disease, specifically type 1 (juvenile-onset, insulin-dependent) diabetes.
She is also involved in NHMRC-funded research investigating the liver-directed gene therapy of diabetes.
With funding from JDRF Bronwyn is currently investigating the use of novel parasite antigens to prevent the initiation of autoimmunity in Type 1 diabetes.
Bronwyn is also conducting preliminary research to identify novel biomarkers of hypoglycaemia in exhaled air with the objective of developing a reliable, noninvasive means of detecting impending hypoglycaemia.
Research supervision: Yes
Nicholas Archer
Promoter studies of SLC11A1, a gene that modulates macrophage function
Stephanie Dowdell
Functional studies of SLC11A1, a gene that modulates macrophage function
Katrina Norial
Macrophage phayocytic defects in Type 1 Diabetes
Projects
Selected Peer-Assessed Projects
Reversal of Diabetes in a humanised mouse
Prevention of type 1 diabetes by using a combination of two novel parasite-derived molecules
Parasite Immunomodulatory Molecules Prevent Rejection of Islet Transplants
Reversal of Diabetes in Pigs using Liver-Directed Gene Therapy
Correction of diabetes in an autoimmune model using insulin-secreting liver cells
Immunological characterization and encapsulation of a bioengineered insulin secreting liver cell
Publications
Journal Articles
Robinson, M.W., Alvarado, R., To, J., Hutchinson, A.T., Dowdell, S.N., Lund, M.E., Turnbull, L., Whitchurch, C.B., O'Brien, B., Dalton, J.P. & Donnelly, S.M. 2012, 'A helminth cathelicidin-like protein suppresses antigen processing and presentation in macrophages via inhibition of lysosomal vATPase', Faseb Journal, vol. 26, no. 11, pp. 4614-4627.
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Feller, J.M., Simpson, A.M., Nelson, M., Swan, M.A., O'Connell, P.J., Hawthorne, W.J., Tao, C.Z. & O'Brien, B. 2008, 'Growth-promoting effect of Rh(D) antibody on human pancreatic islet cells', Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 93, no. 9, pp. 3560-3567.
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O'Brien, B., Archer, N.S., Simpson, A.M., Torpy, F.R. & Nassif, N. 2008, 'Association of SLC11A1 promoter polymorphisms with the incidence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: A meta-analysis', Journal Of Autoimmunity, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 42-51.
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Ren, B., O'Brien, B., Swan, M.A., Koina, M.E., Nassif, N., Wei, M.Q. & Simpson, A.M. 2007, 'Long-term Correction Of Diabetes In Rats After Lentiviral Hepatic Insulin Gene Therapy', Diabetologia, vol. 50, no. 9, pp. 1910-1920.
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O'Brien, B., Geng, X., Orteu, C.H., Huang, Y., Ghoreishi, M., Zhang, Y., Bush, J.A., Li, G., Finegood, D.T. & Dutz, J.P. 2006, 'A deficiency in the in vivo clearance of apopototic cells is a feature of the NOD mouse', Journal of Autoimmunity, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 104-115.
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O'Brien, B., Finegood, D.T., Fieldus, W.E. & Field, C.J. 2002, 'Clearance of apoptotic beta-cells is reduced in neonatal autoimmune diabetes-prone rats', Cell Death and Differentiation, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 457-464.
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O'Brien, B., Huang, Y., Geng, X., Dutz, J.P. & Finegood, D.T. 2002, 'Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages from NOD mice is reduced', Diabetes, vol. 51, no. 8, pp. 2481-2488.
Zhang, Y., O'Brien, B., Trudeau, J., Tan, R., Santamaria, P. & Dutz, J.P. 2002, 'In situ beta cell death promotes priming of diabetogenic CD8 T lymphocytes', Journal of Immunology, vol. 168, no. 3, pp. 1466-1472.
Heczko, U., Carthy, C.M., O'Brien, B. & Finlay, B.B. 2001, 'Decreased apoptosis in the ileum and ileal Peyer's patches after infection with rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O103', Infection And Immunity, vol. 69, no. 7, pp. 4580-4589.
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O'Brien, B., Harmon, B.V., Cameron, D.P. & Allan, D.J. 2000, 'Nicotinamide prevents the development of diabetes in the cyclophosphamide-induced NOD mouse model by blocking beta cell apoptosis', Journal of Pathology, vol. 191, no. 1, pp. 86-92.
Allan, D.J., Cameron, D.P., Harmon, B.V. & O'Brien, B. 1997, 'Apoptosis is the mode of beta-cell death responsible for the development of IDDM in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse', Diabetes, vol. 46, no. 5, pp. 750-757.
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O'Brien, B., Harmon, B.V., Cameron, D.P., Allan, D.J. 1996, 'Beta cell apoptosis is responsible for the development of IDDM in the multiple low-dose streptozotocin model', Journal Of Pathology, vol. 178, pp. 176-181.
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