Overview
Background
Dr Joseph Yunis obtained his PhD from the University of Queensland under the mentorship of Associate Professor Philip Stevenson at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences on understanding the role of CD4+ T cells in herpesvirus immunity. He uncovered the immune evasion mechanisms of CD4+ T cells by cytomegaloviruses and demonstrated a novel vaccine design that specifically licences CD4+ T cells to control herpesvirus infection. Dr Yunis trained in Immunology under Professor Di Yu, first at the John Curtin School of Medical Research of Australian National University (Canberra), UQ Frazer Institute and now at the Child Health Research Centre. Dr Yunis employs preclinial models of infection (acute, chronic and latent), murine cancer models (melanoma, colorectal, glioma, osteosarcoma) and xenograft models of patient-derived tumour cells ((pediatric) to evaulate function and immune modulation of CD8+ T cells through immunisation and infection in immunity. His research has been recognised by a number of awards including, the Frazer Institute publication of the month award, The Gretel and Gordon Bootes Medical Research and Education Foundation Award, Eureka Research Fund for Immunology and Virology and UQ postdoctoral Fellowship and the Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association award.
Availability
- Dr Joseph Yunis is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Role of T cells in immunity and disease.
I) Immunopathology: T cells are critical in eliminating infection. However, they can also cause severe disease by driving excessive inflammatory response. The balance between anti-viral, bystander T cells and regulatory T cells shape immunity. My goal is to understand how T cells can be pathologic. II) Cytotoxic CD8+ T cell function: Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells are fundamental in eliminating infection. However, viruses like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human cytomegaloviruses take advantage of immune privileged sites such as the germinal centre, and the salivary glands and the nasopharynx to evade immune control. Understanding how we can harness CD8+ T cell trafficking to these immune privileged sites is critical in eliminating infection in hard to reach areas. To achieve this, our lab uses genetic engineering of CD8+ T cells in a mouse model of HIV and EBV using LCMV and MuHV-4 respectively.
Research impacts
Overall goals:
To understand how to harness the power of T cells to shape immunity to viruses and cancer.
Research Interest:
- Immunity and Immunopathology- how to determine pathologic T cells in infection (LCMV infection model).
- ImmunoTherapy- Adoptive T cell therapy, Cancer vaccines and Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy (Solid cancers- skin, colorectal, osteosarcoma, glioma).
- Targeting latent reservoires in chronic infection- chemokine signalling and cell trafficking (CMV and EBV).
- 3D Cultures in Cancer- A Preclinical Model for Vaccine validation (Pediatric Cancers).
- Neoantigens- Shaping the T cell landscape (Pediatric Cancers).
Key Techniques:
- Multiparameter flow cytometry.
- Histology.
- 3D confocal microscopy.
- Whole mount microscopy.
- ELISA and ELISpot assays
- Real-time PCR
- Virological assays
- TIssue culture (2D and 3D).
Works
Search Professor Joseph Yunis’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Author Correction: Selenium–GPX4 axis protects follicular helper T cells from ferroptosis
Yao, Yin, Chen, Zhian, Zhang, Hao, Chen, Cailing, Zeng, Ming, Yunis, Joseph, Wei, Yunbo, Wan, Yanmin, Wang, Naiqi, Zhou, Mingzhe, Qiu, Chao, Zeng, Qunxiong, Ong, Hong Sheng, Wang, Hao, Makota, Fadzai Victor, Yang, Yang, Yang, Zhaohui, Wang, Nan, Deng, Jun, Shen, Chao, Xia, Yan, Yuan, Lin, Lian, Zhaoqin, Deng, Yike, Guo, Cuilian, Huang, Ao, Zhou, Pengcheng, Shi, Haibo, Zhang, Weitian ... Yu, Di (2024). Author Correction: Selenium–GPX4 axis protects follicular helper T cells from ferroptosis. Nature Immunology, 25 (9), 1764-1764. doi: 10.1038/s41590-024-01949-z
2024
Journal Article
Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response
Sadeghirad, Habib, Monkman, James, Tan, Chin Wee, Liu, Ning, Yunis, Joseph, Donovan, Meg L., Moradi, Afshin, Jhaveri, Niyati, Perry, Chris, Adams, Mark N., O’Byrne, Ken, Warkiani, Majid E., Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22 (1) 677. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05409-y
2024
Journal Article
Spatial insights into immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by multiplexed tissue imaging
Monkman, James, Moradi, Afshin, Yunis, Joseph, Ivison, Geoff, Mayer, Aaron, Ladwa, Rahul, O’Byrne, Ken and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial insights into immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by multiplexed tissue imaging. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22 (1) 239, 239. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05035-8
2023
Conference Publication
High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer
Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J., Moradi, A., Yunis, J., Ivison, G., Mayer, A. and O'Byrne, K. (2023). High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer. 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Singapore, Singapore, 9 - 12 September 2023. New York, NY, United States: Elsevier.
2023
Journal Article
MA09.03 High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer
Kulasinghe, A., Monkman, J., Moradi, A., Yunis, J., Ivison, G., Mayer, A. and O'Byrne, K. (2023). MA09.03 High-dimensional profiling of the tumour microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 18 (11), S129-s129. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2023.09.173
2023
Journal Article
Severe respiratory viral infections: T-cell functions diverging from immunity to inflammation
Yunis, Joseph, Short, Kirsty R. and Yu, Di (2023). Severe respiratory viral infections: T-cell functions diverging from immunity to inflammation. Trends in Microbiology, 31 (6), 644-656. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.12.008
2023
Journal Article
Heparan sulfate regulates IL-21 bioavailability and signal strength that control germinal center B cell selection and differentiation
Chen, Zhian, Cui, Yanfang, Yao, Yin, Liu, Bo, Yunis, Joseph, Gao, Xin, Wang, Naiqi, Cañete, Pablo F., Tuong, Zewen Kelvin, Sun, Hongjian, Wang, Hao, Yang, Siling, Wang, Runli, Leong, Yew Ann, Simon Davis, David, Qin, Jiahuan, Liang, Kaili, Deng, Jun, Wang, Conan K., Huang, Yen-Hua, Roco, Jonathan A., Nettelfield, Sam, Zhu, Huaming, Xu, Huajun, Yu, Zhijia, Craik, David, Liu, Zheng, Qi, Hai, Parish, Christopher and Yu, Di (2023). Heparan sulfate regulates IL-21 bioavailability and signal strength that control germinal center B cell selection and differentiation. Science immunology, 8 (80) eadd1728, 1-17. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.add1728
2021
Journal Article
Low-dose IL-2 therapy invigorates CD8+ T cells for viral control in systemic lupus erythematosus with a potential risk of deteriorating immunopathology
Zhou, Pengcheng, Chen, Jiali, He, Jing, Zheng, Ting, Yunis, Joseph, Makota, Victor, Alexandre, Yannick O., Gong, Fang, Zhang, Xia, Xie, Wuxiang, Li, Yuhui, Shao, Miao, Zhu, Yanshan, Sinclair, Jane E., Miao, Miao, Chen, Yaping, Short, Kirsty R., Mueller, Scott N., Sun, Xiaolin, Yu, Di and Li, Zhanguo (2021). Low-dose IL-2 therapy invigorates CD8+ T cells for viral control in systemic lupus erythematosus with a potential risk of deteriorating immunopathology. PLoS Pathogens, 17 (10) e1009858, e1009858. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009858
2021
Journal Article
Author Correction: Selenium–GPX4 axis protects follicular helper T cells from ferroptosis
Yao, Yin, Chen, Zhian, Zhang, Hao, Chen, Cailing, Zeng, Ming, Yunis, Joseph, Wei, Yunbo, Wan, Yanmin, Wang, Naiqi, Zhou, Mingzhe, Qiu, Chao, Zeng, Qunxiong, Ong, Hong Sheng, Wang, Hao, Makota, Fadzai Victor, Yang, Yang, Yang, Zhaohui, Wang, Nan, Deng, Jun, Shen, Chao, Xia, Yan, Yuan, Lin, Lian, Zhaoqin, Deng, Yike, Guo, Cuilian, Huang, Ao, Zhou, Pengcheng, Shi, Haibo, Zhang, Weitian ... Yu, Di (2021). Author Correction: Selenium–GPX4 axis protects follicular helper T cells from ferroptosis. Nature Immunology, 22 (12), 1599-1599. doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-01063-4
2021
Journal Article
Selenium–GPX4 axis protects follicular helper T cells from ferroptosis
Yao, Yin, Chen, Zhian, Zhang, Hao, Chen, Cailing, Zeng, Ming, Yunis, Joseph, Wei, Yunbo, Wan, Yanmin, Wang, Naiqi, Zhou, Mingzhe, Qiu, Chao, Zeng, Qunxiong, Ong, Hong Sheng, Wang, Hao, Makota, Fadzai Victor, Yang, Yang, Yang, Zhaohui, Wang, Nan, Deng, Jun, Shen, Chao, Xia, Yan, Yuan, Lin, Lian, Zhaoqin, Deng, Yike, Guo, Cuilian, Huang, Ao, Zhou, Pengcheng, Shi, Haibo, Zhang, Weitian ... Yu, Di (2021). Selenium–GPX4 axis protects follicular helper T cells from ferroptosis. Nature Immunology, 22 (9), 1127-1139. doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-00996-0
2021
Journal Article
High levels of soluble CD25 in COVID‐19 severity suggest a divergence between anti‐viral and pro‐inflammatory T‐cell responses
Xie, Min, Yunis, Joseph, Yao, Yin, Shi, Jing, Yang, Yang, Zhou, Pengcheng, Liang, Kaili, Wan, Yanmin, Mehdi, Ahmed, Chen, Zhian, Wang, Naiqi, Xu, Shuyun, Zhou, Min, Yu, Muqing, Wang, Ke, Tao, Yu, Zhou, Ying, Li, Xiaochen, Liu, Xiansheng, Yu, Xiao, Wei, Yunbo, Liu, Zheng, Sprent, Jonathan and Yu, Di (2021). High levels of soluble CD25 in COVID‐19 severity suggest a divergence between anti‐viral and pro‐inflammatory T‐cell responses. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 10 (2) e1251, e1251. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1251
2020
Journal Article
CD23 expression on switched memory B cells bridges T-B cell interaction in allergic rhinitis
Yao, Yin, Wang, Nan, Chen, Cai-Ling, Pan, Li, Wang, Zhi-Chao, Yunis, Joseph, Chen, Zhi-An, Zhang, Yu, Hu, Si-Tao, Xu, Xiao-Yan, Zhu, Rong-Fei, Yu, Di and Liu, Zheng (2020). CD23 expression on switched memory B cells bridges T-B cell interaction in allergic rhinitis. Allergy, 75 (10), 1-14. doi: 10.1111/all.14288
2020
Journal Article
Membrane association of a model CD4 + T‐cell vaccine antigen confers enhanced yet incomplete protection against murid herpesvirus‐4 infection
Yunis, Joseph, Redwood, Alec J., Belz, Gabrielle T. and Stevenson, Philip G. (2020). Membrane association of a model CD4 + T‐cell vaccine antigen confers enhanced yet incomplete protection against murid herpesvirus‐4 infection. Immunology and Cell Biology, 98 (4) imcb.12319, 332-343. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12319
2018
Other Outputs
Anti-herpesvirus CD4+ T cell function
Yunis, Joseph (2018). Anti-herpesvirus CD4+ T cell function. PhD Thesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.832
2018
Journal Article
Murine Cytomegalovirus glycoprotein O promotes epithelial cell infection in vivo
Yunis, Joseph, Farrell, Helen E., Bruce, Kimberley, Lawler, Clara, Wyer, Orry, Davis-Poynter, Nicholas, Brizić, Ilija, Jonjić, Stipan, Adler, Barbara and Stevenson, Philip G. (2018). Murine Cytomegalovirus glycoprotein O promotes epithelial cell infection in vivo. Journal of Virology, 93 (3) e01378-18. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01378-18
2018
Journal Article
Murine cytomegalovirus degrades MHC class II to colonize the salivary glands
Yunis, Joseph, Farrell, Helen E., Bruce, Kimberley, Lawler, Clara, Sidenius, Stine, Wyer, Orry, Davis-Poynter, Nicholas and Stevenson, Philip G. (2018). Murine cytomegalovirus degrades MHC class II to colonize the salivary glands. PLoS Pathogens, 14 (2) e1006905, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006905
2016
Journal Article
Luciferase-tagged wild-type and tropism-deficient mouse cytomegaloviruses reveal early dynamics of host colonization following peripheral challenge
Farrell, Helen, Oliveira, Martha, Macdonald, Kate, Yunis, Joseph, Mach, Michae, Bruce, Kimberley, Stevenson, Philip, Cardin, Rhonda and Davis-Poynter, Nicholas (2016). Luciferase-tagged wild-type and tropism-deficient mouse cytomegaloviruses reveal early dynamics of host colonization following peripheral challenge. Journal of General Virology, 97 (12) 000642, 3379-3391. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000642
2016
Journal Article
The cytoplasmic C-tail of the mouse cytomegalovirus 7 transmembrane receptor homologue, M78, regulates endocytosis of the receptor and modulates virus replication in different cell types
Davis-Poynter, Nick, Yunis, Joseph and Farrell, Helen E. (2016). The cytoplasmic C-tail of the mouse cytomegalovirus 7 transmembrane receptor homologue, M78, regulates endocytosis of the receptor and modulates virus replication in different cell types. PLoS ONE, 11 (10) e0165066, 353-393. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165066
2016
Conference Publication
A murine cytomegalovirus vaccine vector protects against murine gamma herpesvirus 68
Stevenson, P. G. and Yunis, J. (2016). A murine cytomegalovirus vaccine vector protects against murine gamma herpesvirus 68. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Joseph Yunis is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
mRNA-based T cell guided cancer vaccine to treat solid cancers.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Di Yu, Dr Zhian Chen
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Doctor Philosophy
A new therapy for paediatric brain tumours.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brandon Wainwright
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Ferroptosis: A Novel Layer of Regulation for T Cell Homeostasis and Function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kim Bridle, Dr Zhian Chen, Professor Di Yu
Media
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