Overview
Background
Dr Timothy Wells joined the Frazer Institute in 2016 as a Senior Research Fellow. His research aims to find novel methods of treating multi-drug resistant bacteria, by examing the interactions between the host immune system and Gram negative bacteria. His research largely focuses on Pseudomonas aeruginosa acute and chronic infections, espeically in people living with cystic fibrosis. Dr Wells is passionate about making his research as clinically relevant as possible, with his work previously having led to novel treatment of critically ill patients. His research uses a mixture of molecular microbiology, immunology and genomic approaches.
Availability
- Associate Professor Timothy Wells is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Biotechnology, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa
The T-Wells lab is interested in all infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa whether that be chronic lung infection, wound and joint infections, acute pneumonia, UTIs and bacteremia.
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Bacterial chronic lung infections
The T-Wells lab is interested in bacterial infections in people with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, COPD and post-lung transplant
Research impacts
Dr Wells’s original work in the field of host- pathogen interactions during chronic lung infection has led to several key insights and direct translation to the clinic.
Antibody dependent enhancement of bacterial infection: Antibodies usually protect against bacterial infection, however Dr Wells' work has identified ‘cloaking antibodies’ in patients who have Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Cloaking antibodies paradoxically prevent immune killing of patient's bacterial strains. Importantly, high titres of cloaking antibodies has been associated with worse lung function and patient outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and post-lung transplant. These antibodies are also prevelant in actue Pseduomonas infections such as bacteremia.
Novel treatment of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection: As cloaking antibodies (cAbs) protect bacteria from immune killing, we hypothesised that cAb removal would restore normal immune killing. Three patients with chronic P. aeruginosa infections and cAb, who had exhausted all standard treatment options have now been treated via plasmapheresis. This treatment removes all antibody, including cAbs from the patients. After treatment, P. aeruginosa was undetectable in all patients, inflammatory markers were normal and lung function increased. As these patients had strains displaying resistance to many antibiotics used clinically, this is a novel treatment method for multi-drug resistant infections.
Works
Search Professor Timothy Wells’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Conference Publication
Goblet cell specific anti-apoptotic role of interleukin-24 in spondyloarthritis-associated ileitis
Cameron, A., Giri, R., Begun, J., Wells, T., Bergot, A. S. and Thomas, R. (2023). Goblet cell specific anti-apoptotic role of interleukin-24 in spondyloarthritis-associated ileitis. EULAR 2023 European Congress of Rheumatology, Milan, Italy, 31 May-3 June 2023. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2023-eular.1346
2023
Conference Publication
TIGIT limits anti-bacterial immunity and is a potential target for immunotherapy
Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Wells, Timothy and McCulloch, Timothy Ryan (2023). TIGIT limits anti-bacterial immunity and is a potential target for immunotherapy. IMMUNOLOGY2023™ Meeting, Washington, DC, United States, 11 - 15 May 2023. Rockville, MD, United States: The American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.64.14
2023
Journal Article
Effects of a postbiotic, with and without a saponin-based product, on turkey performance
Chaney, Evan, Miller, Elizabeth A., Firman, Jeffrey, Binnebose, Andrea, Kuttappan, Vivek and Johnson, Timothy J. (2023). Effects of a postbiotic, with and without a saponin-based product, on turkey performance. Poultry Science, 102 (5) 102607, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102607
2023
Conference Publication
Differential regulation of natural killer cells by tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2
McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, Lam, Allie, Wong, Joshua, Kane, Lawrence P., Herold, Marco, Wells, Timothy and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2023). Differential regulation of natural killer cells by tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2. Immunology 2023™ Meeting, Washington, DC United States, 11-15 May 2023. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.210.supp.72.28
2023
Journal Article
IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study
Shojaei, Maryam, Shamshirian, Amir, Monkman, James, Grice, Laura, Tran, Minh, Tan, Chin Wee, Teo, Siok Min, Rodrigues Rossi, Gustavo, McCulloch, Timothy R., Nalos, Marek, Raei, Maedeh, Razavi, Alireza, Ghasemian, Roya, Gheibi, Mobina, Roozbeh, Fatemeh, Sly, Peter D., Spann, Kirsten M., Chew, Keng Yih, Zhu, Yanshan, Xia, Yao, Wells, Timothy J., Senegaglia, Alexandra Cristina, Kuniyoshi, Carmen Lúcia, Franck, Claudio Luciano, dos Santos, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, Noronha, Lucia de, Motamen, Sepideh, Valadan, Reza, Amjadi, Omolbanin ... Tang, Benjamin (2023). IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1060438, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1060438
2022
Conference Publication
Reduction of Salmonella Reading Using a Dairy-Originated Probiotic Bacterium, Propionibacterium Freudenreichii in Combination with a Live Attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium Vaccine in Growing Turkeys
Peichel, Claire, Manjankattil, Shijinarah, Dewi, Grace, Akhtar, Luna, Bina, Peter, Creek, Medora, Deniz, Kerem, Hobbs, John, Wichmann, Elaina, Feist, Emma, Schlosser, Mikayla, Johnson, Timothy J. J., Noll, Sally and Johny, Anup Kollanoor (2022). Reduction of Salmonella Reading Using a Dairy-Originated Probiotic Bacterium, Propionibacterium Freudenreichii in Combination with a Live Attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium Vaccine in Growing Turkeys. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac247.463
2022
Journal Article
Estimating biofuel contaminant concentration from 4D ERT with mixing models
Glaser, D. R., Henderson, R. D., Werkema, D. D., Johnson, T. J. and Versteeg, R. J. (2022). Estimating biofuel contaminant concentration from 4D ERT with mixing models. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 248 104027. doi: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104027
2022
Journal Article
CIS and TGF ‐β regulatory pathways influence immunity to bacterial infection
McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo R., Schreuder, Jaring, Belz, Gabrielle T., Wells, Timothy J. and Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes, Fernando (2022). CIS and TGF ‐β regulatory pathways influence immunity to bacterial infection. Immunology, 167 (1), 54-63. doi: 10.1111/imm.13516
2022
Journal Article
Editorial: The Interplay of Host-Microbiome-Pathogen on Infectious Diseases
Maurer, John J., Simoes-Barbosa, Augusto, Johnson, Timothy J. and Conway, Tyrrell (2022). Editorial: The Interplay of Host-Microbiome-Pathogen on Infectious Diseases. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13 924807. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.924807
2022
Journal Article
Genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Prevotella species isolated from chronic lung disease airways
Webb, Kasey A., Olagoke, Olusola, Baird, Timothy, Neill, Jane, Pham, Amy, Wells, Timothy J., Ramsay, Kay A., Bell, Scott C., Sarovich, Derek S. and Price, Erin P. (2022). Genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Prevotella species isolated from chronic lung disease airways. Microbial Genomics, 8 (2) 000754. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000754
2022
Journal Article
Inhibition of the master regulator of Listeria monocytogenes virulence enables bacterial clearance from spacious replication vacuoles in infected macrophages
Tran, Thao Thanh, Mathmann, Carmen D., Gatica-Andrades, Marcela, Rollo, Rachel F., Oelker, Melanie, Ljungberg, Johanna K., Nguyen, Tam T. K., Zamoshnikova, Alina, Kummari, Lalith K., Wyer, Orry J. K., Irvine, Katharine M., Melo-Bolívar, Javier, Gross, Annette, Brown, Darren, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Hansford, Karl A., Cooper, Matthew A., Giri, Rabina, Schreiber, Veronika, Joseph, Shannon R., Simpson, Fiona, Barnett, Timothy C., Johansson, Jörgen, Dankers, Wendy, Harris, James, Wells, Timothy J., Kapetanovic, Ronan, Sweet, Matthew J. ... Blumenthal, Antje (2022). Inhibition of the master regulator of Listeria monocytogenes virulence enables bacterial clearance from spacious replication vacuoles in infected macrophages. PLoS Pathogens, 18 (1) e1010166, e1010166. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010166
2022
Journal Article
Effect of plant-derived antimicrobials against multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg in ground Turkey
Dewi, Grace, Manjankattil, Shijinaraj, Peichel, Claire, Jia, Shiliang, Nair, Divek, Vickers, Zata, Johnson, Timothy J., Cardona, Carol, Noll, Sally and Johny, Anup Kollanoor (2022). Effect of plant-derived antimicrobials against multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg in ground Turkey. Poultry Science, 101 (3) 101581, 101581. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101581
2021
Other Outputs
Salmonella Typhimurium infection drives NK cell loss and conversion to ILC1-like cells, and CIS inhibition enhances antibacterial immunity
McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo R., Wells, Timothy J. and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2021). Salmonella Typhimurium infection drives NK cell loss and conversion to ILC1-like cells, and CIS inhibition enhances antibacterial immunity. doi: 10.1101/2021.11.29.470332
2021
Other Outputs
IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes; a multi-cohort observational study
Shojaei, Maryam, Shamshirian, Amir, Monkman, James, Grice, Laura, Tran, Minh, Tan, Chin Wee, Rossi, Gustavo Rodrigues, McCulloch, Timothy R., Nalos, Marek, Chew, Keng Yih, Zhu, Yanshan, Xia, Yao, Wells, Timothy J., Senegaglia, Alexandra Cristina, Rebelatto, Carmen Lúcia Kuniyoshi, Franck, Claudio Luciano, dos Santos, Anna Flavia Ribeiro, de Noronha, Lucia, Motamen, Sepideh, Valadan, Reza, Amjadi, Omolbanin, Gogna, Rajan, Madan, Esha, Alizadeh-Navaei, Reza, Lamperti, Liliana, Zuñiga, Felipe, Nova-Lamperti, Estefania, Labarca, Gonzalo, Knippenberg, Ben ... Tang, Benjamin (2021). IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes; a multi-cohort observational study. doi: 10.1101/2021.10.29.21265555
2021
Journal Article
Inferior outcomes in lung transplant recipients with serum Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific cloaking antibodies
Divithotawela, Chandima, Pham, Amy, Bell, Peter T., Ledger, Emma L., Tan, Maxine, Yerkovich, Stephanie, Grant, Michelle, Hopkins, Peter M., Wells, Timothy J. and Chambers, Daniel C. (2021). Inferior outcomes in lung transplant recipients with serum Pseudomonas aeruginosa specific cloaking antibodies. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 40 (9), 951-959. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2021.05.016
2021
Other Outputs
Genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Prevotella spp. isolated from chronic lung disease airways
Webb, Kasey A., Olagoke, Olusola, Baird, Timothy, Neill, Jane, Pham, Amy, Wells, Timothy J., Ramsay, Kay A., Bell, Scott C., Sarovich, Derek S. and Price, Erin P. (2021). Genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Prevotella spp. isolated from chronic lung disease airways. doi: 10.1101/2021.08.30.21262864
2021
Journal Article
Anti-LPS IgA and IgG can inhibit serum killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis
Pham, Amy, Ledger, Emma L., Coggon, Carrie F., Henderson, Ian R., Reid, David W., Bell, Scott C., Smith, Daniel J. and Wells, Timothy J. (2021). Anti-LPS IgA and IgG can inhibit serum killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis. Infection and Immunity, 89 (12) e00412-21, e0041221. doi: 10.1128/iai.00412-21
2021
Journal Article
Towards efficient immunotherapy for bacterial infection
McCulloch, Timothy R., Wells, Timothy J. and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2021). Towards efficient immunotherapy for bacterial infection. Trends in Microbiology, 30 (2), 158-169. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.05.005
2021
Journal Article
Mediation of interleukin-23 and tumor necrosis factor–driven reactive arthritis by Chlamydia-infected macrophages in SKG mice
Romand, Xavier, Liu, Xiao, Rahman, M. Arifur, Bhuyan, Zaied Ahmed, Douillard, Claire, Arora Kedia, Reena, Stone, Nathan, Roest, Dominique, Chew, Zi Huai, Cameron, Amy J., Rehaume, Linda M., Bozon, Aurélie, Habib, Mohammed, Armitage, Charles W., Nguyen, Minh Vu Chuong, Favier, Bertrand, Beagley, Kenneth, Maurin, Max, Gaudin, Philippe, Thomas, Ranjeny, Wells, Timothy J. and Baillet, Athan (2021). Mediation of interleukin-23 and tumor necrosis factor–driven reactive arthritis by Chlamydia-infected macrophages in SKG mice. Arthritis and Rheumatology, 73 (7) art.41653, 1200-1210. doi: 10.1002/art.41653
2021
Journal Article
BamA and BamD are essential for the secretion of trimeric autotransporter adhesins
Rooke, Jessica L., Icke, Christopher, Wells, Timothy J, Rossiter, Amanda E., Browning, Douglas F., Morris, Faye C., Leo, Jack C., Schütz, Monika S., Autenrieth, Ingo B., Cunningham, Adam F., Linke, Dirk and Henderson, Ian R. (2021). BamA and BamD are essential for the secretion of trimeric autotransporter adhesins. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12 628879, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.628879
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Timothy Wells is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Synergistic drugs to counteract cloaking antibodies
Some patients infected with P. aeruginosa produce antibodies that, instead of fighting infection, actively protect P. aeruginosa from killing by the immune system. These ‘cloaking antibodies’ (cAb) target a lipopolysaccharide on the bacterial surface, known as O-antigen and form a physical barrier that stops the membrane attack complex (MAC) from reaching the bacterial outer membrane. Importantly, patients with cAb had greater disease severity and worse outcomes than patients with no cAb. Previous treatment for cAbs has focused on removal of the antibody, however a second attractive target is the infecting bacteria itself. We have recently investigated the bacterial requirements for the cloaking phenotype by creating strains with variable amounts and lengths of O-antigen expression. Serum bactericidal assays revealed that the serum-inhibition phenotype requires long and dense O-antigen We hypothesise that existing bacterial outer membrane modifying drugs can overcome the effect of cAbs, without cAb removal. This project will investigate potential synergistic drugs that could counteract cAbs, leading to bacterial killing.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to disrupt the action of cloaking antibodies in cystic fibrosis
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the gram-negative bacterial and host factors that drive sepsis outcomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate McCarthy
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating B cell responses to Pseudomonas O-Antigen
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson
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Master Philosophy
Antibody-mediated exacerbation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected chronic wounds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of Two Partner Secretion proteins in the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson, Dr Jessica Rooke
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistance in the cystic fibrosis lung
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of PlpD in the Virulence of P. aeruginosa
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson, Dr Jessica Rooke
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Master Philosophy
Antibody mediated exacerbation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected chronic wounds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving Plasmapheresis: Investigating specific removal of cloaking antibodies to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Henderson
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Doctor Philosophy
The impact of helpful and harmful immune responses on infection in the cystic fibrosis lung
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistance in the cystic fibrosis lung
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of cloaking antibodies in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistence in the cystic fibrosis lung
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in spondyloarthropathy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas, Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Autoimmune Inflammatory Arthritis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas, Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot
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Doctor Philosophy
High Mobility Group Box Family Member TOX2 in Innate Lymphoid Cell Development and Maintenance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the anti-mycobacterial activity of wollamide cyclic hexapeptides against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Antje Blumenthal
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Doctor Philosophy
Deciphering the protective program of innate and adaptive cells in pathogen infection
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gabrielle Belz
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Autoimmune Inflammatory Arthritis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas, Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistence in the cystic fibrosis lung
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Antibody-Dependent Serum Resistance of Intractable Lung Bacteria
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Dan Chambers
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Mechanisms Underpinning Antibody-Mediated Serum Resistance of Gram-Negative Bacteria
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Autoimmune Inflammatory Arthritis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas, Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the anti-mycobacterial activity of wollamide cyclic hexapeptides against Mycobacterium tuberculo sis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Antje Blumenthal
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating immunosuppression and immunotherapy in bacterial infection
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Immune functions of WNT production and signalling in the host response to infection with pathogenic E. coli.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Janin Chandra, Professor Antje Blumenthal
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Timothy Wells directly for media enquiries about:
- cystic fibrosis infections
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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