Overview
Background
Biography
Jeffrey Mak (PhD) is an organic chemist at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. His publications cover a range of disciplines such as biological and medicinal chemistry, total synthesis, and physical organic chemistry. Dr Mak was selected as a Rising Star of Chemistry by the Australian Journal of Chemistry (2022).
Jeffrey Mak was awarded the Harriett Marks Bursary and a UQ University Medal before undertaking doctorate studies in natural product total synthesis with Prof. Craig Williams. This culminated in the first total synthesis of two caged diterpenes, (−)-neovibsanin G and (−)-14-epi-neovibsanin G. Next, he joined Prof. David Fairlie's group at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. He is currently active in the fields of chemical biology and drug development. He is recognised for his development of ligands that modulate mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are a newly characterised subset of immune cells important in antibacterial defence (Accounts of Chemical Research, 2021). In 2014, he was part of an Australian team that discovered the identity of the ligands that activate MAIT cells, as published in Nature, playing a key role in the chemical synthesis and characterisation of the unstable and structurally unprecedented ligands (Nature Communications, 2017). He was selected as a CAS SciFinder Future Leader by the Chemical Abstract Service (a division of the American Chemical Society, 2017). In 2018, Dr Mak was chief investigator on a UQ Early Career Researcher Grant for developing new drug leads that target MAIT cells. Other recent awards include RSC Twitter Poster Conference (Chemical Biology) 1st Prize (2018), and a CASS Travel Award (2018).
Dr Mak has lectured in the undergraduate course Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM3001, 2017-2023). He has also served as a member of the UQ Cultural Inclusion Council, and as an ACS Wikipedia Fellow to systematically improve the chemistry and scientific content on Wikipedia (2018).
Student projects
Projects in medicinal chemistry, synthesis, and chemical biology are available (depending on lab space) for enthusiastic organic chemistry students at all levels (PhD, Masters, Honours, Undergraduate). These include the design and synthesis of:
- Stable analogues of immunostimulating bacterial ligands towards vaccines and anti-cancer immunotherapies
- Chemical biology tools for exploring MAIT cell activation
- Highly selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors as new drug leads
Previous student publications:
- Mak JYW* et al. (2024) Potent Immunomodulators Developed from an Unstable Bacterial Metabolite of Vitamin B2 Biosynthesis. Angewandte Chemie, e202400632.
- Mak JYW et al. (2021) HDAC7 inhibition by phenacetyl and phenylbenzoyl hydroxamates. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (4), 2186-2204.
- Awad W, Ler GJM et al. (2020) The molecular basis underpinning the potency and specificity of MAIT cell antigens. Nature Immunology, 21 (4), 400-411.
- Ler GJM, Xu W, Mak JYW, Liu L et al. (2019) Computer modelling and synthesis of deoxy and monohydroxy analogues of a ribitylaminouracil bacterial metabolite that potently activates human T cells. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25 (68), 15594-15608.
Availability
- Dr Jeffrey Mak is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Mucosal associated invariant T cell (MAIT cell) ligands
MAIT cells play an important role in antibacterial immune defence. Unlike other T cells, MAIT cells are activated by small heterocyclic molecules. I am interested in using small molecule synthetic chemistry to develop new compounds as research tools for studying MAIT cells. This includes the development of compounds that activate MAIT cells as potential immunostimulants, components of vaccines, and immunotherapeutic agents. However, uncontrolled MAIT cell activation has also been linked to disease, so I am also interested in developing inhibitors of MAIT cell activation as potential anti-inflammatory agents for diseases such as ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. These activities contribute to my overall goal of uncovering the physiological roles and harnessing the therapeutic potential of MAIT cells.
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Drug design and development against GPCR and enzyme targets
I am interested in developing potent and selective ligands against GPCR and enzyme targets. These are highly collaborative and multidisciplinary projects involving computer aided design, chemical synthesis, in vitro bioassay, and experimental pharmacology. The aim is to use collective expertise to develop drugs as potential treatments for inflammatory disease. For example, recently, we developed best-in-class drug-like inhibitors of class IIa histone deacetylases, which are emerging targets for cancer and inflammatory disease.
Research impacts
Research tools
Dr Mak played the key role in the synthesis of the ligands 5-OP-RU and its functionally similar and stable analogue as MAIT cell research reagents (1 patent). These are currently used in twenty labs worldwide and have enabled >15 papers in the MAIT cell field.
Selected talks
- ACS National Meeting and Exposition (Rising Stars in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology), New Orleans, USA, 2024
- RACI National Congress, Brisbane, 2022
- Invited: ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging Legacy and Scientific Summit, Yarra Valley, Australia, 2021
- Invited: 8th Heron Conference on Reactive Intermediates and Unusual Molecules, Uluru, Australia, 2019
- Invited: Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Brisbane, May, 2019
- IUPAC International Conference on Organic Synthesis, Florence, Italy, 2018 (sponsored by CASS Travel Award)
- 254th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, Washington D.C., USA, 2017 (sponsored by CAS SciFinder Future Leaders)
Selected awards
Dr Mak has received >10 awards/honours since 2007, including:
- Australian Journal of Chemistry - Rising Star of Chemistry (2022)
- Jo Underhill IMB Art Award (2019)
- CASS Travel Award (2018)
- RSC Twitter Poster Conference (Chemical Biology) 1st Prize (2018)
- CAS SciFinder Future Leader (2017)
- RACI Centenary Congress Best Science Communication Prize (2017)
- Brisbane Biological and Organic Chemistry Symposium Best Talk (2011)
- UQ University Medal (2007)
Works
Search Professor Jeffrey Mak’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
A divergent transcriptional landscape underpins the development and functional branching of MAIT cells
Koay, H-. F., Su, S., Amann-Zalcenstein, D., Daley, S. R., Comerford, I., Miosge, L., Whyte, C. E., Konstantinov, I. E., d'Udekem, Y., Baldwin, T., Hickey, P. F., Berzins, S. P., Mak, J. Y. W., Sontani, Y., Roots, C. M., Sidwell, T., Kallies, A., Chen, Z., Nüssing, S., Kedzierska, K., Mackay, L. K., McColl, S. R., Deenick, E. K., Fairlie, D. P., McCluskey, J., Goodnow, C. C., Ritchie, M. E., Belz, G. T., Naik, S. H. ... Godfrey, D. I. (2019). A divergent transcriptional landscape underpins the development and functional branching of MAIT cells. Science Immunology, 4 (41) eaay6039, eaay6039. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aay6039
2019
Journal Article
IL-23 costimulates antigen-specific MAIT cell activation and enables vaccination against bacterial infection
Wang, Huimeng, Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Shi, Mai, D'Souza, Criselle, Pediongco, Troi J., Cao, Hanwei, Kostenko, Lyudmila, Lim, Xin Yi, Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Meehan, Bronwyn S., Zhu, Tianyuan, Wang, Bingjie, Zhao, Zhe, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Teng, Michele W. L., Rossjohn, Jamie, Yu, Di, de St Groth, Barbara Fazekas, Lovrecz, George, Lu, Louis, McCluskey, James, Strugnell, Richard A., Corbett, Alexandra J. and Chen, Zhenjun (2019). IL-23 costimulates antigen-specific MAIT cell activation and enables vaccination against bacterial infection. Science Immunology, 4 (41) eaaw0402, eaaw0402. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aaw0402
2019
Journal Article
Computer modelling and synthesis of deoxy and monohydroxy analogues of a ribitylaminouracil bacterial metabolite that potently activates human T cells
Ler, Geraldine J. M., Xu, Weijun, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Liu, Ligong, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Fairlie, David P (2019). Computer modelling and synthesis of deoxy and monohydroxy analogues of a ribitylaminouracil bacterial metabolite that potently activates human T cells. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25 (68) chem.201903732, 15594-15608. doi: 10.1002/chem.201903732
2019
Journal Article
MAIT cells upregulate α4β7 in response to acute simian immunodeficiency virus/simian HIV infection but are resistant to peripheral depletion in pigtail macaques
Juno, Jennifer A., Wragg, Kathleen M., Amarasena, Thakshila, Meehan, Bronwyn S., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Liu, Ligong, Fairlie, David P., McCluskey, James, Eckle, Sidonia B. G. and Kent, Stephen J. (2019). MAIT cells upregulate α4β7 in response to acute simian immunodeficiency virus/simian HIV infection but are resistant to peripheral depletion in pigtail macaques. The Journal of Immunology, 202 (7), ji1801405-2120. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801405
2019
Conference Publication
IL-23 co-stimulation drives antigen-specific MAIT cell activation and enables vaccination against bacterial infection
Wang, H., Kjer-Nielsen, L., Shi, M., Souza, D. C., Pediongco, T., Cao, H., Kostenko, L., Lim, X., Eckle, S., Meeha, B., Wang, B., Zhu, T., Mak, J., Fairlie, D., Teng, M., Rossjohn, J., Yu, D., Groth, B., McCluskey, J., Strugnell, R., Corbett, A. and Chen, Z. (2019). IL-23 co-stimulation drives antigen-specific MAIT cell activation and enables vaccination against bacterial infection. 17th International Congress of Immunology (IUIS), Beijing, China, 19-23 October, 2019. Weinheim, Germany: WILEY. doi: 10.1002/eji.201970400
2018
Journal Article
MAIT cells protect against pulmonary Legionella longbeachae infection
Wang, Huimeng, D’Souza, Criselle, Lim, Xin Yi, Kostenko, Lyudmila, Pediongco, Troi J., Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Meehan, Bronwyn S., Shi, Mai, Wang, Nancy, Li, Shihan, Liu, Ligong, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Iwakura, Yoichiro, Gunnersen, Jennifer M., Stent, Andrew W., Godfrey, Dale I., Rossjohn, Jamie, Westall, Glen P., Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Strugnell, Richard A., McCluskey, James, Corbett, Alexandra J., Hinks, Timothy S. C. and Chen, Zhenjun (2018). MAIT cells protect against pulmonary Legionella longbeachae infection. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 3350, 3350. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05202-8
2018
Conference Publication
Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon
Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark, Ormerod, Kate, Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart, Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel, Robb, Renee, Henden, Andrea, Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate, Lantz, Olivier J., Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey, Fairlie, David, Clouston, Andrew, McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven, Hugenholtz, Phil and Hill, Geoff (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon. Immunology 2018™ Meeting, Austin, TX United States, 4-8 May 2018. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.15
2018
Journal Article
An overview on the identification of MAIT cell antigens
Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Corbett, Alexandra J., Chen, Zhenjun, Liu, Ligong, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Godfrey, Dale I., Rossjohn, Jamie, Fairlie, David P., McCluskey, James and Eckle, Sidonia B. G. (2018). An overview on the identification of MAIT cell antigens. Immunology and Cell Biology, 96 (6), 573-587. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12057
2018
Journal Article
Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control GVHD within the colon
Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark D., Ormerod, Kate L., Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart D., Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel D., Robb, Renee J., Henden, Andrea S., Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate H., Lantz, Olivier, Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Clouston, Andrew D., McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven W., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control GVHD within the colon. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128 (5), 1919-1936. doi: 10.1172/JCI91646
2018
Journal Article
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Augment Immunopathology and Gastritis in Chronic Helicobacter pylori Infection
D'Souza, Criselle, Pediongco, Troi, Wang, Huimeng, Scheerlinck, Jean-Pierre Y., Kostenko, Lyudmila, Esterbauer, Robyn, Stent, Andrew W., Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Meehan, Bronwyn S., Strugnell, Richard A., Cao, Hanwei, Liu, Ligong, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Lovrecz, George, Lu, Louis, Fairlie, David P., Rossjohn, Jamie, McCluskey, James, Every, Alison L., Chen, Zhenjun and Corbett, Alexandra J. (2018). Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Augment Immunopathology and Gastritis in Chronic Helicobacter pylori Infection. Journal of Immunology, 200 (5), 1901-1916. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701512
2018
Conference Publication
Stereoelectronic effects on dienophile separation influence the Diels–Alder synthesis of molecular clefts
Stoermer, Martin J., Wickramasinghe, Wasantha A., Byriel, Karl A., Hockless, David C. R., Skelton, Brian W., Sobolev, Alexandre N., White, Alan H., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W. and Fairlie, David P. (2018). Stereoelectronic effects on dienophile separation influence the Diels–Alder synthesis of molecular clefts. 2018 Royal Society of Chemistry Twitter Conference, London, United Kingdom (held online), 6-7 March 2018. London, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry.
2018
Conference Publication
Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon
Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark, Ormerod, Kate, Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart, Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel, Robb, Renee, Henden, Andrea, Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate, Lantz, Olivier J., Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey, Fairlie, David, Clouston, Andrew, McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven, Hugenholtz, Phil and Hill, Geoff (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon. Immunology Meeting, Austin Tx, 4-8 May 2018. Bethesda, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists.
2017
Journal Article
Stereoelectronic Effects on Dienophile Separation Influence the Diels–Alder Synthesis of Molecular Clefts
Stoermer, Martin J., Wickramasinghe, Wasantha A., Byriel, Karl A., Hockless, David C. R., Skelton, Brian W., Sobolev, Alexandre N., White, Allan H., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W. and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Stereoelectronic Effects on Dienophile Separation Influence the Diels–Alder Synthesis of Molecular Clefts. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2017 (45), 6793-6796. doi: 10.1002/ejoc.201701319
2017
Journal Article
Drugs and drug-like molecules can modulate the function of mucosal-associated invariant T cells
Keller, Andrew N., Eckle, Sidonia B. G., Xu, Weijun, Liu, Ligong, Hughes, Victoria A., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Meehan, Bronwyn S., Pediongco, Troi, Birkinshaw, Richard W., Chen, Zhenjun, Wang, Huimeng, D'Souza, Criselle, Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Gherardin, Nicholas A., Godfrey, Dale I., Kostenko, Lyudmila, Corbett, Alexandra J., Purcell, Anthony W., Fairlie, David P., McCluskey, James and Rossjohn, Jamie (2017). Drugs and drug-like molecules can modulate the function of mucosal-associated invariant T cells. Nature Immunology, 18 (4), 402-411. doi: 10.1038/ni.3679
2017
Conference Publication
Vitamin B2 related molecules that activate T cells
Mak, Jeffrey, Xu, Weijun, Reid, Robert, Corbett, Alexandra, Meehan, Bronwyn, Wang, Huimeng, Chen, Zhenjun, Rossjohn, Jamie, McCluskey, James, Liu, Ligong and Fairlie, David (2017). Vitamin B2 related molecules that activate T cells. 254th National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS) on Chemistry's Impact on the Global Economy, Washington DC, USA, 20-24 August 2017. Washington DC, USA: American Chemical Society.
2017
Book Chapter
Thiazoles in peptides and peptidomimetics
Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Xu, Weijun and Fairlie, David P. (2017). Thiazoles in peptides and peptidomimetics. Peptidomimetics I. (pp. 235-266) edited by William D. Lubell. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/7081_2015_176
2016
Journal Article
PAR2 modulators derived from GB88
Yau, Mei-Kwan, Liu, Ligong, Suen, Jacky Y., Lim, Junxian, Lohman, Rink-Jan, Jiang, Yuhong, Cotterell, Adam J., Barry, Grant D., Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Vesey, David A., Reid, Robert C. and Fairlie, David P. (2016). PAR2 modulators derived from GB88. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 7 (12), 1179-1184. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00306
2016
Conference Publication
Drugs/drug analogues modulate MAIT cell function in an MR1-dependent manner
Eckle, S. B. G., Keller, A. N., Xu, W., Meehan, B., Pediongco, T., Liu, L., Hughes, V. A., Mak, J. Y. W., Birkinshaw, R. W., Chen, Z., Wang, H., D'Souza, C., Kostenko, L., Corbett, A. J., Purcell, A. W., Fairlie, D. P., Rossjohn, J. and McCluskey, J. (2016). Drugs/drug analogues modulate MAIT cell function in an MR1-dependent manner. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - VCH. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
2016
Conference Publication
MAIT cells: Friend or Foe in recognising microbial vitamin metabolites presented by the MHC-I-related molecule MR1
McCluskey, J., Corbett, A. J., Eckle, S. B. G., Chen, Z., Wang, H., Sun, S., D'Souza, C., Kostenko, L., Reantragoon, R., Meehan, B., Birkinshaw, R. W., Liu, L., Patel, O., Mahony, J., Cao, H., Jackson, D., Williamson, N. A., Strugnell, R. A., Mak, J. Y. W., Van Sinderen, D., Fairlie, D. P., Kjer-Nielsen, L., Godfrey, D., I and Rossjohn, J. (2016). MAIT cells: Friend or Foe in recognising microbial vitamin metabolites presented by the MHC-I-related molecule MR1. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, August 21-26, 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
2016
Conference Publication
Common drugs modulate mucosal-associated invariant T cell function
Keller, A. N., Eckle, S. B. G., Xu, W., Liu, L., Hughes, V. A., Mak, J., Meehan, B., Pediongco, T., Birkinshaw, R. W., Chen, Z., Wang, H., Souza, C., Kostenko, L., Corbett, A. J., Purcell, A. W., Fairlie, D. P., McCluskey, J. and Rossjohn, J. (2016). Common drugs modulate mucosal-associated invariant T cell function. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Germany: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jeffrey Mak is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Design and synthesis of novel Major histocompatibility complex class I-Related protein ligands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
-
Doctor Philosophy
New strategies in heterocyclic chemistry for drug discovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discovering novel anticancer drugs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tim Hill, Professor David Fairlie
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel chemical approaches to drugs that selectively target immune cells
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel activators and inhibitors of innate immune cells
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
Completed supervision
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2020
Master Philosophy
Structure-function relationships of a ribityl uracil T-cell antigen
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Jeffrey Mak directly for media enquiries about:
- chemical bonds
- chemicals
- chemistry
- compounds
- drug design
- drug discovery
- drugs
- medicinal chemistry
- natural products
- organic chemistry
- reactions
- synthetic chemistry
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