Overview
Background
Prof Katharina Ronacher obtained an MSc degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Vienna (Austria). Thereafter, she was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Austrian Ministry of Science and Technology to complete a PhD at the University of Cape Town (South Africa). She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Stellenbosch University, where she was subsequently offered a faculty position. Prof Ronacher was Senior Scientist on several large clinical research trials funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union and the US National Institutes of Health with focus on identification of biomarkers for tuberculosis (TB) treatment response. In parallel, she established her independent research group investigating how endocrine factors impact immune responses to TB, for which she received uninterrupted funding from national and international funding bodies since 2008. In 2015, she was awarded a NIH R01 grant for her ground-breaking research into the underlying immunological and metabolic mechanisms of increased susceptibility of diabetes patients to TB. With this grant she has lead the international ALERT Consortium with clinical field sites in South Africa and at the Texas/Mexico border.
She relocated to Brisbane in 2017, where she now heads the Infection, Immunity and Metabolism group at the Mater Research Institute – University of Queensland, but continues to collaborate with clinicians and researchers in South Africa, the USA and Europe and holds an affiliate appointment as Professor Extraordinary at Stellenbosch University.
Prof Ronacher's current research investigates the underlying immunological mechanisms contributing to more severe bacterial and viral respiratory infections in obesity and diabetes. Her research provides critical insights into the role of cholesterol and its derivatives in regulation of inflammation in the lung and how this knowledge can be exploided for novel therapeutic approaches to treat respiratory infections.
Availability
- Honorary Professor Katharina Ronacher is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
-
Bacterial and Viral Respiratory Infections
Research impacts
Prof Ronacher has published in high-ranking journals including Nature, Nature Medicine, JAMA and Clinical and Infectious Diseases. Two of her articles have been cited by WHO policy documents, highlighting the impact of her research on clinical practice, and nine publications have been cited by 17 patent applications.
Works
Search Professor Katharina Ronacher’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 cardiovascular symptoms are associated with trace-level cytokines that affect cardiomyocyte function
Sinclair, Jane E., Vedelago, Courtney, Ryan, Feargal J., Carney, Meagan, Redd, Meredith A., Lynn, Miriam A., Grubor-Bauk, Branka, Cao, Yuanzhao, Henders, Anjali K., Chew, Keng Yih, Gilroy, Deborah, Greaves, Kim, Labzin, Larisa, Ziser, Laura, Ronacher, Katharina, Wallace, Leanne M., Zhang, Yiwen, Macauslane, Kyle, Ellis, Daniel J., Rao, Sudha, Burr, Lucy, Bain, Amanda, Karawita, Anjana, Schulz, Benjamin L., Li, Junrong, Lynn, David J., Palpant, Nathan, Wuethrich, Alain, Trau, Matt and Short, Kirsty R. (2024). Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 cardiovascular symptoms are associated with trace-level cytokines that affect cardiomyocyte function. Nature Microbiology, 9 (12), 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41564-024-01838-z
2024
Journal Article
High glycaemic variability is associated with a reduced T cell cytokine response to influenza A virus
Zhen Wei, Marcus Tong, Hulme, Katina D., Law, Soi Cheng, Noye, Ellesandra, Dorey, Emily S., Chew, Keng Yih, Rowntree, Louise C., van de Sandt, Carolien E., Kedzierska, Katherine, Goeijenbier, Marco, Ronacher, Katharina, Alzaid, Fawaz, Julla, Jean-Baptiste, Riveline, Jean-Pierre, Lineburg, Katie, Smith, Corey, Grant, Emma J., Gras, Stephanie, Gallo, Linda A., Barett, Helen L. and Short, Kirsty R. (2024). High glycaemic variability is associated with a reduced T cell cytokine response to influenza A virus. iScience, 27 (11) 111166, 111166. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111166
2024
Journal Article
Characterizing poorly controlled type 2 diabetes using 1H-NMR metabolomics
Theron, Isabella J., Mason, Shayne, van Reenen, Mari, Stander, Zinandré, Kleynhans, Léanie, Ronacher, Katharina and Loots, Du Toit (2024). Characterizing poorly controlled type 2 diabetes using 1H-NMR metabolomics. Metabolomics, 20 (3) 54, 54. doi: 10.1007/s11306-024-02127-w
2024
Journal Article
Estrogen contributes to sex differences in M2a macrophages during multi‐walled carbon nanotube‐induced respiratory inflammation
Ray, Jessica L., Postma, Britten, Kendall, Rebekah L., Ngo, Minh Dao, Foo, Cheng Xiang, Saunders, Brett, Ronacher, Katharina, Gowdy, Kymberly M. and Holian, Andrij (2024). Estrogen contributes to sex differences in M2a macrophages during multi‐walled carbon nanotube‐induced respiratory inflammation. The FASEB Journal, 38 (1) e23350, 1-19. doi: 10.1096/fj.202301571rr
2024
Journal Article
Increasing HbA1c is associated with reduced CD8+ T cell functionality in response to influenza virus in a TCR-dependent manner in individuals with diabetes mellitus
Hulme, Katina D., Tong, Zhen Wei Marcus, Rowntree, Louise C., van de Sandt, Carolien E., Ronacher, Katharina, Grant, Emma J., Dorey, Emily S., Gallo, Linda A., Gras, Stephanie, Kedzierska, Katherine, Barrett, Helen L. and Short, Kirsty R. (2024). Increasing HbA1c is associated with reduced CD8+ T cell functionality in response to influenza virus in a TCR-dependent manner in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 81 (1) 35. doi: 10.1007/s00018-023-05010-4
2024
Book Chapter
Oxysterols in infectious diseases
Foo, Cheng X., Fessler, Michael B. and Ronacher, Katharina (2024). Oxysterols in infectious diseases. Implication of oxysterols and phytosterols in aging and human diseases. (pp. 125-147) edited by Gérard Lizard. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-43883-7_7
2024
Journal Article
Prevalence of non-communicable diseases among household contacts of people with tuberculosis: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
Hamada, Yohhei, Quartagno, Matteo, Malik, Farihah, Ntshamane, Keolebogile, Tisler, Anna, Gaikwad, Sanjay, Acuna-Villaorduna, Carlos, Bhavani, Perumal Kannabiran, Alisjahbana, Bachti, Ronacher, Katharina, Apriani, Lika, Becerra, Mercedes, Chu, Alexander L., Creswell, Jacob, Diaz, Gustavo, Ferro, Beatriz E., Galea, Jerome T., Grandjean, Louis, Grewal, Harleen M. S., Gupta, Amita, Jones-López, Edward C., Kleynhans, Léanie, Lecca, Leonid, MacPherson, Peter, Murray, Megan, Marín, Diana, Restrepo, Blanca I., Shivakumar, Shri Vijay Bala Yogendra, Shu, Eileen ... Rangaka, Molebogeng X. (2024). Prevalence of non-communicable diseases among household contacts of people with tuberculosis: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 29 (9), 768-780. doi: 10.1111/tmi.14038
2023
Journal Article
Impaired resolution of blood transcriptomes through tuberculosis treatment with diabetes comorbidity
Eckold, Clare, van Doorn, Cassandra L. R., Ruslami, Rovina, Ronacher, Katharina, Riza, Anca-Lelia, van Veen, Suzanne, Lee, Ji-Sook, Kumar, Vinod, Kerry-Barnard, Sarah, Malherbe, Stephanus T., Kleynhans, Leanie, Stanley, Kim, Joosten, Simone A., Critchley, Julia A., Hill, Philip C., van Crevel, Reinout, Wijmenga, Cisca, Haks, Marielle C., Ioana, Mihai, Alisjahbana, Bachti, Walzl, Gerhard, Ottenhoff, Tom H. M., Dockrell, Hazel M., Vianello, Eleonora, Cliff, Jacqueline M. and TANDEM Consortium, (2023). Impaired resolution of blood transcriptomes through tuberculosis treatment with diabetes comorbidity. Clinical and Translational Medicine, 13 (9) e1375, 1-21. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.1375
2023
Journal Article
Impaired resolution of blood transcriptomes through tuberculosis treatment with diabetes comorbidity
Eckold, Clare, van Doorn, Cassandra L. R., Ruslami, Rovina, Ronacher, Katharina, Riza, Anca‐Lelia, van Veen, Suzanne, Lee, Ji‐Sook, Kumar, Vinod, Kerry‐Barnard, Sarah, Malherbe, Stephanus T., Kleynhans, Léanie, Stanley, Kim, Joosten, Simone A., Critchley, Julia A, Hill, Philip C., van Crevel, Reinout, Wijmenga, Cisca, Haks, Mariëlle C., Ioana, Mihai, Alisjahbana, Bachti, Walzl, Gerhard, Ottenhoff, Tom H. M., Dockrell, Hazel M., Vianello, Eleonora and Cliff, Jacqueline M. (2023). Impaired resolution of blood transcriptomes through tuberculosis treatment with diabetes comorbidity. Clinical and Translational Medicine, 13 (9) e1375. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.1375
2023
Journal Article
GPR183 antagonism reduces macrophage infiltration in influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection
Foo, Cheng Xiang, Bartlett, Stacey, Chew, Keng Yih, Ngo, Minh Dao, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Jayakody Arachchige, Buddhika, Matthews, Benjamin, Reed, Sarah, Wang, Ran, Smith, Christian, Sweet, Matthew J., Burr, Lucy, Bisht, Kavita, Shatunova, Svetlana, Sinclair, Jane E., Parry, Rhys, Yang, Yuanhao, Lévesque, Jean-Pierre, Khromykh, Alexander, Rosenkilde, Mette Marie, Short, Kirsty R. and Ronacher, Katharina (2023). GPR183 antagonism reduces macrophage infiltration in influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection. European Respiratory Journal, 61 (3) 2201306, 1-15. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01306-2022
2022
Journal Article
Neutrophil degranulation, NETosis and platelet degranulation pathway genes are co-induced in whole blood up to six months before tuberculosis diagnosis
Meier, Stuart, Seddon, James A., Maasdorp, Elizna, Kleynhans, Léanie, du Plessis, Nelita, Loxton, Andre G., Malherbe, Stephanus T., Zak, Daniel E., Thompson, Ethan, Duffy, Fergal J., Kaufmann, Stefan H.E., Ottenhoff, Tom H.M., Scriba, Thomas J., Suliman, Sara, Sutherland, Jayne S., Winter, Jill, Kuivaniemi, Helena, Walzl, Gerhard, Tromp, Gerard, Black, Gillian F., van der Spuy, Gian, Stanley, Kim, Kriel, Magdalena, Nene, Nonhlanhla, Roberts, Teri, Gutschmidt, Andrea, Smith, Bronwyn, Chegou, Novel N., Tabb, David ... Warwick, James M. (2022). Neutrophil degranulation, NETosis and platelet degranulation pathway genes are co-induced in whole blood up to six months before tuberculosis diagnosis. PLoS One, 17 (12 ) e0278295, 1-24. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278295
2022
Journal Article
Transcriptional profiles predict treatment outcome in patients with tuberculosis and diabetes at diagnosis and at two weeks after initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment
van Doorn, Cassandra L. R., Eckold, Clare, Ronacher, Katharina, Ruslami, Rovina, van Veen, Suzanne, Lee, Ji-Sook, Kumar, Vinod, Kerry-Barnard, Sarah, Malherbe, Stephanus T., Kleynhans, Léanie, Stanley, Kim, Hill, Philip C., Joosten, Simone A., van Crevel, Reinout, Wijmenga, Cisca, Critchley, Julia A., Walzl, Gerhard, Alisjahbana, Bachti, Haks, Mariëlle C., Dockrell, Hazel M., Ottenhoff, Tom H. M., Vianello, Eleonora, Cliff, Jacqueline M. and on behalf of the TANDEM Consortium (2022). Transcriptional profiles predict treatment outcome in patients with tuberculosis and diabetes at diagnosis and at two weeks after initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment. EBioMedicine, 82 104173, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104173
2022
Journal Article
A blunted GPR183/oxysterol axis during dysglycemia results in delayed recruitment of macrophages to the lung during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Ngo, Minh Dao, Bartlett, Stacey, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Foo, Cheng Xiang, Sinha, Roma, Arachige, Buddhika Jayakody, Reed, Sarah, Mandrup-Poulsen, Thomas, Rosenkilde, Mette Marie and Ronacher, Katharina (2022). A blunted GPR183/oxysterol axis during dysglycemia results in delayed recruitment of macrophages to the lung during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 225 (12), 2219-2228. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac102
2022
Journal Article
Interplay Between the Immune and Endocrine Systems in the Lung: Implications for TB Susceptibility
Webber, Tariq, Ronacher, Katharina, Conradie-Smit, Marli and Kleynhans, Léanie (2022). Interplay Between the Immune and Endocrine Systems in the Lung: Implications for TB Susceptibility. Frontiers in immunology, 13 829355. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.829355
2022
Journal Article
Oxysterols in the immune response to bacterial and viral infections
Foo, Cheng Xiang, Bartlett, Stacey and Ronacher, Katharina (2022). Oxysterols in the immune response to bacterial and viral infections. Cells, 11 (2) 201, 201. doi: 10.3390/cells11020201
2021
Journal Article
Diabetes-associated susceptibility to tuberculosis: contribution of hyperglycemia vs. dyslipidemia
Ngo, Minh Dao, Bartlett, Stacey and Ronacher, Katharina (2021). Diabetes-associated susceptibility to tuberculosis: contribution of hyperglycemia vs. dyslipidemia. Microorganisms, 9 (11) 2282, 2282. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9112282
2021
Journal Article
Pre-Diabetes Increases Tuberculosis Disease Severity, While High Body Fat Without Impaired Glucose Tolerance Is Protective
Sinha, Roma, Ngo, Minh Dao, Bartlett, Stacey, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Keshvari, Sahar, Hasnain, Sumaira Z., Donovan, Meg L., Kling, Jessica C., Blumenthal, Antje, Chen, Chen, Short, Kirsty R. and Ronacher, Katharina (2021). Pre-Diabetes Increases Tuberculosis Disease Severity, While High Body Fat Without Impaired Glucose Tolerance Is Protective. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11 691823, 691823. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.691823
2021
Journal Article
Chronological metabolic response to intensive phase TB therapy in patients with cured and failed treatment outcomes
Opperman, Monique, Loots, Du Toit, van Reenen, Mari, Ronacher, Katharina, Walzl, Gerhard and du Preez, Ilse (2021). Chronological metabolic response to intensive phase TB therapy in patients with cured and failed treatment outcomes. ACS Infectious Diseases, 7 (6) acsinfecdis.1c00162, 1859-1869. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00162
2021
Journal Article
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-stimulated whole blood culture to detect host biosignatures for tuberculosis treatment response
Cilliers, Karen, Menezes, Angela, Webber, Tariq, Dockrell, Hazel M., Cliff, Jacqueline M., Kleynhans, Léanie, Chegou, Novel N., du Plessis, Nelita, Loxton, André G., Kidd, Martin, Djoba Siawaya, Joel Fleury, Ronacher, Katharina and Walzl, Gerhard (2021). Mycobacterium tuberculosis-stimulated whole blood culture to detect host biosignatures for tuberculosis treatment response. Tuberculosis, 128 102082, 102082. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2021.102082
2021
Journal Article
The peripheral blood transcriptome is correlated with PET measures of lung inflammation during successful tuberculosis treatment
Odia, Trust, Malherbe, Stephanus T., Meier, Stuart, Maasdorp, Elizna, Kleynhans, Léanie, du Plessis, Nelita, Loxton, Andre G., Zak, Daniel E., Thompson, Ethan, Duffy, Fergal J., Kuivaniemi, Helena, Ronacher, Katharina, Winter, Jill, Walzl, Gerhard, Tromp, Gerard and Catalysis TB-Biomarker Consortium (2021). The peripheral blood transcriptome is correlated with PET measures of lung inflammation during successful tuberculosis treatment. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.596173
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Honorary Professor Katharina Ronacher is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Host-directed therapies for the treatment of intracellular pathogens
Intracellular pathogens are difficutl to eradicate as they hide within host cells to evade the host's immune system. One of these pathogens is Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Despite effective anti-biotic therapy the majority of "cured" tuberculosis patients continue to have active lung lesions containing live mycobacteria beyond treatment completion. For this reason we have been unable to eradicate this ancient disease, which has been with human kind for over 9000 years. Sub-optimal, non-sterilizing treatment combined with the concurrent rise in antibiotic resistance thus necessitates innovative treatment strategies.
We have identified several promising host-targets and have PhD positions available on this topic in our laboratory. To find out more please contact the Head of the Infection, Immunity and Metabolism Group Katharina Ronacher email: katharina.ronacher@mater.uq.edu.au
-
Harnessing oxidised cholesterols to improve viral respiratory infection outcomes
Our laboratory recently identified a role for oxidised cholesterols in the lung during viral respiratory infections. This project investigates the role oxysterols play in the lung during influenza and COVID-19 and how this knowledge can be exploited to improve viral respiratory infection outcomes.
To find out more, please contact the Head of the Infection, Immunity and Metabolism Group A/Prof Katharina Ronacher email:
katharina.ronacher@mater.uq.edu.au
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of oxidised cholesterols in chronic and infectious diseases: Potential for novel therapeutic interventions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Katharine Irvine, Associate Professor Kirsty Short
-
Master Philosophy
The interplay of immune and metabolic signals in regulation of early innate immune responses in the lung
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of a fatty acid receptor in the lung during respiratory infections and asthma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kirsty Short
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of cholesterol and its derivatives in the lung during infection and inflammation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Vicki Clifton
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of a Pathogen-Exploited and Host-Defense G Protein-Coupled Receptor During Viral Infections
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet, Associate Professor Kirsty Short
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the Underlying Mechanisms of Diabetes-induced Susceptibility to Tuberculosis
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Host Co-morbidities in Influenza Severity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Linda Gallo, Associate Professor Kirsty Short
Media
Enquiries
Contact Honorary Professor Katharina Ronacher directly for media enquiries about:
- cholesterol
- diabetes
- host-directed therapies
- infectious diseases
- metabolic diseases
- respiratory infections
- SARS-CoV-2
- tuberculosis
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: