Overview
Background
My current role at UQ is cryoTEM scientist for the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis. I am in charge or monitoring UQ cryoTEM instruments as well as training and assisting UQ researchers that need to use this technique.
I completeed my PhD from UQ in 2018 where I studied the structure of the Vps4 oligomer using cryoEM under the supervisor of Prof. Michael Landsberg. During my PhD I have the opportunity to develop my skills at the University of Basel (Biozentrum) for a period of 6 months.
I have a deep experience on old and new generations of cryoTEM which helps me understanding the needs for the future of this tehcnique.
Availability
- Dr Lou Brillault is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Université d'Angers
- Masters (Research), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 2
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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CryoEM
I am interested in everything related to cryo-EM single-particle analysis. From developing new methodology to structural determination.
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Program development related to cryoEM
I have a particular interest in developing specific programs that facilitate acquiring and monitoring data for cryo-EM. The emergence of AI tools opens a new world where users do not need to interact with the intrusment anymore.
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CryoEM methodology development
I am passionate in studying the behaviour or protein complexes when trapped in vitreous ice. I enjoy studying and developing new methods to prevent these complexes to be degraded when interacting with the air-water interface. These methods can be simple like producing affinity grid with amourphous carbon or graphene oxide to something more complex like developing a new way to plunge freeze protein complexes.
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Development of TEM facility management tools
As a platform scientist my job is to make the life or our users easier for everyday use so they can focus on their research. I like to develop methodology using various computer programs to help them get their results as easyli and conveniently as possible. I also like to develop program tool that assist staff scientist when training or monitoring instruments of the facilty.
Research impacts
CryoEM is currently the major technique used to understand the structure of macromolecular complexes. To stay competitive in this field UQ researchers need highly-precise instrument and a good understanding of the technique. My role is to provide both by implementing easy and fast workflow as well as a solid training to cryoEM
Works
Search Professor Lou Brillault’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2026
Journal Article
Molecular characterisation of the Bacillus subtilis SpbK antiphage defence system
Mishra, Biswa P., Loyo, Christian L., Cai, Yanyao, Litfin, Thomas, Miraj, Gause, Brillault, Lou, Masic, Veronika, Mosaiab, Tamim, Rajaratnam, Premraj, Rudrawar, Santosh, Gu, Weixi, Kobe, Bostjan, Gerdt, Joseph P., Grossman, Alan D., Shi, Yun and Ve, Thomas (2026). Molecular characterisation of the Bacillus subtilis SpbK antiphage defence system. Nature Communications, 17 (1) 1051, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67810-5
Featured
2025
Conference Publication
Structural and biochemical characterization of an antiphage defence system in Bacillus subtilis
Mishra, Biswa Prasanna, Masic, Veronika, Shi, Yun, Mosaiab, Tamim, Brillault, Lou and Ve, Thomas (2025). Structural and biochemical characterization of an antiphage defence system in Bacillus subtilis. 13th Asia Pacific Microscopy Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2-7 February 2025. Lexington, MA United States: ScienceOpen. doi: 10.14293/apmc13-2025-0221
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Structural basis of SARM1 activation, substrate recognition, and inhibition by small molecules
Shi, Yun, Kerry, Philip S., Nanson, Jeffrey D., Bosanac, Todd, Sasaki, Yo, Krauss, Raul, Saikot, Forhad K., Adams, Sarah E., Mosaiab, Tamim, Masic, Veronika, Mao, Xianrong, Rose, Faith, Vasquez, Eduardo, Furrer, Marieke, Cunnea, Katie, Brearley, Andrew, Gu, Weixi, Luo, Zhenyao, Brillault, Lou, Landsberg, Michael J., DiAntonio, Aaron, Kobe, Bostjan, Milbrandt, Jeffrey, Hughes, Robert O. and Ve, Thomas (2022). Structural basis of SARM1 activation, substrate recognition, and inhibition by small molecules. Molecular Cell, 82 (9), 1643-1659.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.03.007
Featured
2021
Conference Publication
Structure, function and evolution of the orally active insecticidal toxin complex, YenTc
Piper, Sarah, Brillault, Lou, Box, Joseph, Low, Yu Shang, Chassagnon, Irene, Foley, Gabriel, Aleksandrova, Nadezhda, Hartley-Tassell, Lauren, Pegg, Cassandra, Schulz, Ben, Ve, Thomas, Lott, Shaun, Hurst, Mark and Landsberg, Michael (2021). Structure, function and evolution of the orally active insecticidal toxin complex, YenTc. XXV IUCr Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 14-22 August 2021. International Union of Crystallography (IUCr). doi: 10.1107/s0108767321085950
Featured
2021
Journal Article
A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein
Modhiran, Naphak, Song, Hao, Liu, Lidong, Bletchly, Cheryl, Brillault, Lou, Amarilla, Alberto A., Xu, Xiaoying, Qi, Jianxun, Chai, Yan, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Traves, Renee, Setoh, Yin Xiang, Bibby, Summa, Scott, Connor A. P., Freney, Morgan E., Newton, Natalee D., Khromykh, Alexander A., Chappell, Keith J., Muller, David A., Stacey, Katryn J., Landsberg, Michael J., Shi, Yi, Gao, George F., Young, Paul R. and Watterson, Daniel (2021). A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein. Science, 371 (6525), 190-194. doi: 10.1126/science.abb9425
Featured
2020
Journal Article
The nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex has an asymmetric, dynamic, and modular architecture
Low, Jason K. K., Silva, Ana P. G., Sharifi Tabar, Mehdi, Torrado, Mario, Webb, Sarah R., Parker, Benjamin L., Sana, Maryam, Smits, Callum, Schmidberger, Jason W., Brillault, Lou, Jackman, Matthew J., Williams, David C., Blobel, Gerd A., Hake, Sandra B., Shepherd, Nicholas E., Landsberg, Michael J. and Mackay, Joel P. (2020). The nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex has an asymmetric, dynamic, and modular architecture. Cell Reports, 33 (9) 108450, 108450. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108450
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases
Lonhienne, Thierry, Low, Yu Shang, Garcia, Mario D., Croll, Tristan, Gao, Yan, Wang, Quan, Brillault, Lou, Williams, Craig M., Fraser, James A., McGeary, Ross P., West, Nicholas P., Landsberg, Michael J., Rao, Zihe, Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2020). Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases. Nature, 586 (7828), 317-321+. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2514-3
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Cryo-EM structures of the pore-forming A subunit from the Yersinia entomophaga ABC toxin
Piper, Sarah J., Brillault, Lou, Rothnagel, Rosalba, Croll, Tristan I., Box, Joseph K., Chassagnon, Irene, Scherer, Sebastian, Goldie, Kenneth N, Jones, Sandra A, Schepers, Femke, Hartley-Tassell, Lauren, Ve, Thomas, Busby, Jason N, Dalziel, Julie E, Lott, J Shaun, Hankamer, Ben, Stahlberg, Henning, Hurst, Mark R H and Landsberg, Michael J (2019). Cryo-EM structures of the pore-forming A subunit from the Yersinia entomophaga ABC toxin. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 1952, 1952. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09890-8
Featured
2019
Book Chapter
Preparation of proteins and macromolecular assemblies for cryo-electron microscopy
Brillault, Lou and Landsberg, Michael J. (2019). Preparation of proteins and macromolecular assemblies for cryo-electron microscopy. Protein Nanotechnology: Protocols, Instrumentation, and Applications. (pp. 221-246) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9869-2_13
Featured
2018
Other Outputs
Structural characterisation of macromolecular complexes by cryo-electron microscopy
Brillault, Lou (2018). Structural characterisation of macromolecular complexes by cryo-electron microscopy. PhD Thesis, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/09f636a
Featured
2017
Journal Article
Engineering recombinant virus-like nanoparticles from plants for cellular delivery
Brillault, Lou, Jutras, Philippe V., Dashti, Noor , Thuenemann, Eva C., Morgan, Garry, Lomonossoff, George P., Landsberg, Michael J. and Sainsbury, Frank (2017). Engineering recombinant virus-like nanoparticles from plants for cellular delivery. ACS Nano, 11 (4), 3476-3484. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.6b07747
Featured
2016
Journal Article
The MTA1 subunit of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex can recruit two copies of RBBP4/7
Schmidberger, Jason W., Sharifi Tabar, Mehdi, Torrado, Mario, Silva, Ana P. G., Landsberg, Michael J., Brillault, Lou, AlQarni, Saad, Zeng, Yi Cheng, Parker, Benjamin L., Low, Jason K. K. and Mackay, Joel P. (2016). The MTA1 subunit of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex can recruit two copies of RBBP4/7. Protein Science, 25 (8), 1472-1482. doi: 10.1002/pro.2943
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Lou Brillault is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Structural Characterisation of the Nucleosome Remodelling and Deacetylase (NuRD) Complex
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
Media
Enquiries
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