![Dr Rachel Stephenson](/sites/default/files/profiles/2920.png)
Overview
Background
I embarked on my scientific journey with a Bachelor of Science, dual major in Biochemistry and Chemistry, followed by a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Chemistry at Massey University (New Zealand). My honours project centered on the innovative development of hydrogels for the controlled release of bioactive peptides into the gut. Driven by a passion for discovery, I pursued a PhD at Massey University, where I focused on developing synthetic anti-cancer drugs based on cyclodextrins, a fascinating class of cyclic sugars.
After earning my PhD, I served as a Research Officer at the New Zealand Veterinary Pathology Epicentre, Massey University, where I honed my skills in diagnostic research. My journey then took me to the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University (USA) where I contributed as a Postdoctoral Fellow to the detection and surveillance of zoonotic diseases impacting the swine industry.
Fuelled by a desire to merge my expertise in synthetic peptides with my passion for vaccine development, I transitioned to the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland (Australia). Here, my research is at the blended edge of health and medical research, leading to the development of new adjuvants and vaccines across fields of medicinal chemistry, nanotechnoloy, immunology, and medical and agricultural biotechnology.
Availability
- Dr Rachel Stephenson is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Massey University
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Massey University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Massey University
Research interests
-
Cyclic peptides as vaccine delivery platforms
Cyclic peptides are valuable scaffolds for the multivalent presentation of peptide epitopes to the immune system, as their constrained conformation enables a precise orientation of structural elements and enhances resistance to proteolytic degradation. This project will conduct a structure-activity study to investigate how the positioning of antigens on the cyclic ring influences the immune response. Exploring the impact of different antigen attachment sites offers the potential for novel insights, making this an exciting and innovative research endeavour.
-
Group A Streptococcus glycoconjuagte vaccines
Carbohydrates, abundant and structurally diverse biomolecules on the cell surface, serve as key recognition markers for the immune system. Identifying a highly conserved antigenic epitope of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is crucial for developing a universal vaccine against this pathogen. This project aims to design a novel multi-component glycoconjugate vaccine that effectively delivers GAS antigens, paving the way for a comprehensive solution to combat GAS infections.
-
Peptide delivery systems
Peptide-based drugs often face challenges such as limited site-specific delivery, poor absorption, and rapid degradation. This project aims to enhance the effectiveness of peptide therapeutics through chemical modification and characterisation, improving their targeting, circulation time, stability, and potency.
-
Subunit Vaccine Development
Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health strategies. Next-generation vaccines, which utilize pathogen-derived peptides instead of whole killed pathogens, offer precise control in vaccine design. Group A Streptococcus vaccines are particularly crucial for Australia, given the rising incidence of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, both of which can be fatal. Our research focuses on technologies that enable the site-specific incorporation of potent adjuvants into peptide and carbohydrate-based antigens, as well as the targeted delivery of these vaccines to specific cell populations, thereby enhancing their efficacy.
-
Vaccine against drug addiction
Cocaine addiction is a significant public health issue with profound social and economic impacts. Current treatments are limited and often ineffective, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches. This project aims to develop a therapeutic vaccine against cocaine, designed to elicit an immune response that neutralises the drug before it can reach the brain. The vaccine will employ a novel conjugate design, where a cocaine-like molecule is chemically linked to a carrier protein, stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against cocaine. These antibodies will bind to cocaine molecules in the bloodstream, preventing them from crossing the blood-brain barrier and mitigating the drug’s psychoactive effects. Our research will focus on optimising the vaccine formulation for maximum efficacy, assessing the immune response in preclinical models, and evaluating the vaccine's potential to reduce cocaine-induced behaviours. If successful, this vaccine could represent a ground-breaking advance in addiction therapy, providing a new tool to help individuals overcome cocaine dependence.
Research impacts
My research journey began with the development of innovative synthetic strategies for development of multi-functional peptide-sulfonamide drug candidates, coupled with rigorous in vitro immunological assessments for biomedical applications. These efforts centered on pioneering solid-phase peptide synthesis and chemical conjugation techniques, culminating in cell-based immunological analyses of novel anti-cancer drug candidates.
Transitioning from Chemistry to Virology and Immunology, I leveraged my chemical expertise to design and optimise protein-based multiplex diagnostic assays, such as Luminex and ELISA, for critical diseases affecting the swine industry, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, bovine viral diarrhea, and African swine fever. This collaborative work played a key role in maintaining the disease-free status of imported meat and animals in the USA, safeguarding public health and the agricultural economy.
At the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland (Australia), I have embraced an interdisciplinary approach in my role as a research-focused academic in Medicinal Chemistry. My current work revolves around the structural and immunological evaluation of synthetic peptide-based subunit vaccines aimed at preventing or treating human diseases such as Group A Streptococcus infection, schistosomiasis, cocaine addiction, and cancer. This research emphasises the critical role of synthetic immune-stimulants in subunit vaccine design and seeks to advance the technological methodologies underlying multi-component vaccine development, thereby contributing to the growth of peptide-based vaccine innovations.
Supported by collaborations across UQ and funded by the NHMRC (Australia), Meat & Livestock Australia, and Venture Capitalist Brandon Biocatalyst, my research aims to make significant strides in vaccine development, with broad implications for public health and agricultural biotechnology.
Works
Search Professor Rachel Stephenson’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Cyclic Peptide Conjugate Vaccines and Physically Mixed Cyclic Peptide Vaccines for Subcutaneous Immunization
Huang, Wenbin, Madge, Harrison Y. R., Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2024). Cyclic Peptide Conjugate Vaccines and Physically Mixed Cyclic Peptide Vaccines for Subcutaneous Immunization. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2821, 111-127. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3914-6_9
2024
Journal Article
Recent Scientific Advancements towards a Vaccine against Group A Streptococcus
Fan, Jingyi, Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2024). Recent Scientific Advancements towards a Vaccine against Group A Streptococcus. Vaccines, 12 (3) 272, 272. doi: 10.3390/vaccines12030272
2024
Journal Article
Utilizing murine dendritic cell line DC2.4 to evaluate the immunogenicity of subunit vaccines in vitro
Lu, Lantian, Kong, Wei Yang, Zhang, Jiahui, Firdaus, Farrhana, Wells, James W., Stephenson, Rachel J., Toth, Istvan, Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Cruz, Jazmina L. Gonzalez (2024). Utilizing murine dendritic cell line DC2.4 to evaluate the immunogenicity of subunit vaccines in vitro. Frontiers in Immunology, 15 ARTN 1298721, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1298721
2023
Journal Article
Synthetic anti-cocaine nanoaccine successfully prevents cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion
Madge, Harrison Y. R., Alexander, Suzy, Azuar, Armira, Zhang, Jiahui, Koirala, Prashamsa, Burne, Thomas H., Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2023). Synthetic anti-cocaine nanoaccine successfully prevents cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (17), 12407-12419. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00889
2023
Journal Article
Activity relationship of poly(ethylenimine)-based liposomes as group A Streptococcus vaccine delivery systems
Jin, Shengbin, Zhang, Jiahui, Nahar, Ummey J., Huang, Wenbin, Alharbi, Nedaa A., Shalash, Ahmed O., Koirala, Prashamsa, Yang, Jieru, Kiong, Jolynn J. E., Khalil, Zeinab G., Capon, Robert J., Stephenson, Rachel J., Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Toth, Istvan and Hussein, Waleed M. (2023). Activity relationship of poly(ethylenimine)-based liposomes as group A Streptococcus vaccine delivery systems. ACS Infectious Diseases, 9 (8), 1570-1581. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00159
2023
Journal Article
Anti-cocaine vaccine development: where are we now and where are we going?
Stephenson, Rachel J. and Toth, Istvan (2023). Anti-cocaine vaccine development: where are we now and where are we going?. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (11), 7086-7100. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00366
2023
Book Chapter
Bioconjugated materials in the development of subunit vaccines
Fan, Jingyi, Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2023). Bioconjugated materials in the development of subunit vaccines. Bioconjugated Materials Part 2 Applications in Drug Delivery, Vaccine Formulations and Important Conjugates for Cancer Therapy. (pp. 59-103) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/bs.coac.2023.02.005
2023
Journal Article
Liposomal formulations of a polyleucine–antigen conjugate as therapeutic vaccines against cervical cancer
Firdaus, Farrhana Z., Bartlett, Stacey, Hussein, Waleed M., Lu, Lantian, Wright, Quentin, Huang, Wenbin, Nahar, Ummey J., Yang, Jieru, Khongkow, Mattaka, Veitch, Margaret, Koirala, Prashamsa, Ruktanonchai, Uracha R., Monteiro, Michael J., Gonzalez Cruz, Jazmina L., Stephenson, Rachel J., Wells, James W., Toth, Istvan and Skwarczynski, Mariusz (2023). Liposomal formulations of a polyleucine–antigen conjugate as therapeutic vaccines against cervical cancer. Pharmaceutics, 15 (2) 602, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020602
2022
Journal Article
Advances in infectious disease vaccine adjuvants
Fan, Jingyi, Jin, Shengbin, Gilmartin, Lachlan, Toth, Istvan, Hussein, Waleed M. and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2022). Advances in infectious disease vaccine adjuvants. Vaccines, 10 (7) 1120, 1-62. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10071120
2022
Journal Article
Structure-activity relationship of lipid, cyclic peptide and antigen rearrangement of physically mixed vaccines
Huang, Wenbin, Madge, Harrison Y. R., Zhang, Jiahui, Gilmartin, Lachlan, Hussein, Waleed M., Khalil, Zeinab G., Koirala, Prashamsa, Capon, Robert J., Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2022). Structure-activity relationship of lipid, cyclic peptide and antigen rearrangement of physically mixed vaccines. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 617 121614, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121614
2022
Journal Article
Developing an effective glycan‐based vaccine for Streptococcus pyogenes
Mahmoud, Asmaa, Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel (2022). Developing an effective glycan‐based vaccine for Streptococcus pyogenes. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61 (11) e202115342, 1-21. doi: 10.1002/anie.202115342
2022
Journal Article
Peptide-based nanovaccines in the treatment of cervical cancer: a review of recent advances
Zhang, Jiahui, Fan, Jingyi, Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Stephenson, Rachel J, Toth, Istvan and Hussein, Waleed M (2022). Peptide-based nanovaccines in the treatment of cervical cancer: a review of recent advances. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 17, 869-900. doi: 10.2147/ijn.s269986
2022
Journal Article
Developing an effective Glycan-based vaccine for Streptococcus Pyogenes
Mahmoud, Asmaa, Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel (2022). Developing an effective Glycan-based vaccine for Streptococcus Pyogenes. Angewandte Chemie, 134 (11). doi: 10.1002/ange.202115342
2022
Journal Article
Physical mixture of a cyclic lipopeptide vaccine induced high titres of opsonic IgG antibodies against group A streptococcus
Madge, Harrison Y. R., Huang, Wenbin, Gilmartin, Lachlan, Rigau-Planella, Berta, Hussein, Waleed M., Khalil, Zeinab G., Koirala, Prashamsa, Santiago, Viviene S., Capon, Robert J., Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2022). Physical mixture of a cyclic lipopeptide vaccine induced high titres of opsonic IgG antibodies against group A streptococcus. Biomaterials Science, 10 (1), 281-293. doi: 10.1039/d1bm01333e
2022
Journal Article
Dendrimers in vaccine delivery: recent progress and advances
Chowdhury, Silvia, Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2022). Dendrimers in vaccine delivery: recent progress and advances. Biomaterials, 280 121303, 121303. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121303
2021
Journal Article
Polyethylenimine quantity and molecular weight influence its adjuvanting properties in liposomal peptide vaccines
Dai, Charles C., Huang, Wenbin, Yang, Jieru, Hussein, Waleed M., Wang, Jingwen, Khalil, Zeinab G., Capon, Robert J., Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2021). Polyethylenimine quantity and molecular weight influence its adjuvanting properties in liposomal peptide vaccines. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 40 127920, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.127920
2021
Journal Article
Immunogenicity assessment of cell wall carbohydrates of Group A Streptococcus via self-adjuvanted glyco-lipopeptides
Khatun, Farjana, Dai, Charles C., Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Hussein, Waleed M., Khalil, Zeinab G., Capon, Robert J., Toth, Istvan and Stephenson, Rachel J. (2021). Immunogenicity assessment of cell wall carbohydrates of Group A Streptococcus via self-adjuvanted glyco-lipopeptides. ACS Infectious Diseases, 7 (2) acsinfecdis.0c00722, 390-405. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00722
2021
Book Chapter
Nanocarrier-based vaccine delivery systems for synthetic peptide vaccines
Madge, Harrison Y.R., Stephenson, Rachel J. and Toth, Istvan (2021). Nanocarrier-based vaccine delivery systems for synthetic peptide vaccines. Handbook of nanotechnology applications: environment, energy, agriculture and medicine. (pp. 509-535) edited by Woei Jye Lau, Kajornsak Faungnawakij, Kuakoon Piyachomkwan and Uracha Rungsardthong Ruktanonchai. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-821506-7.00020-x
2021
Book
Peptide Conjugation : Methods and Protocols
Hussein, Waleed M., Stephenson, Rachel J. and Toth, Istvan eds. (2021). Peptide Conjugation : Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, New York, NY United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1617-8
2021
Book Chapter
Preface
Hussein, Waleed H., Stephenson, Rachel J. and Toth, Istvan (2021). Preface. Peptide conjugation: methods and protocols. (pp. v-v) New York, NY USA: Humana Press.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Rachel Stephenson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Carbohydrate vaccines – a sweet solution in the fight against group A Streptococcus infection
Many glycoconjugates (sugars) have been identified and used for the increased targeted delivery of vaccines. Our lipid-peptide carrier systems have been shown to have self-adjuvant properties. This project aims to evaluate immunological responses by increased targeting towards dendritic and macrophage cells using glycoconjugates in the treatment of group A Streptococcus infection. Project aims: 1) the chemical synthesis of a series of dendritic delivery systems containing different glycoconjugates, 2) in vitro uptake studies, and 3) toxicology assessment.
-
Cyclic peptides - a link to advance subunit vaccine development
Cyclic peptides offer an attractive solution for presentation of short peptide antigens due to their stability and structurally constrained conformation. We identified that a cyclic deca-peptide plays a significant positive influence on the adjuvant activity of several lipid-antigen mixtures, leading to high immunological antibody titres and opsonisation of the model infection. Building on these exciting findings, this project aims to optimise the capacity of these cyclic delivery systems, leading to project skills in areas of peptide synthesis and analytical analysis, and in vitro and in vivo immunological assessment.
-
Novel adjuvants for peptide vaccines
Vaccination is one of the most effective public health strategies ever undertaken. Instead of whole killed pathogens, next generation vaccines use pathogen derived peptides, allowing fine control when tailoring the vaccine. This project aims to examine a new multi-component self-adjuvanting cyclic carrier system for the delivery of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) antigens. Here, novel nanoparticle vaccine systems will be synthesised where both adjuvant and particulate carrier are contained in a single molecular entity. Project aims: 1) chemical synthesis of lipoamino acid libraries and a series of delivery system-GAS conjugates with different rearrangements, 2) in vitro biological stability studies, 3) in vitro uptake studies, and 4) biological activity assessment.
-
A physicochemical evaluation of an asymmetric delivery system for GAS vaccine design
Immune-stimulant (adjuvant) development is an important area of vaccine research. This exciting project aims to investigate particle characteristics and immunogenicity for a library of lipopeptide vaccine constructs containing an asymmetric arrangement of the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) epitopes. Lipoaminoacids (lipid) are investigated for particle rearrangement properties following self-assembly. Project aims: 1) chemical synthesis of an asymmetric GAS vaccine library and 2) physiochemical characterisation, 3) in vitro uptake studies, and 4) toxicology assessment.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Design and Synthesis of Self-adjuvant, Pathogen Selective Group A Streptococcus Vaccines
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
-
Doctor Philosophy
Nanovaccines against infectious diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
-
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Vaccine Designs of Adjuvants and Delivery Systems against Infectious Diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth, Dr Mariusz Skwarczynski
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Vaccine Delivery Systems for Peptide Antigens and Small Molecule Haptens
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Nanovaccines against Rheumatic Heart Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Glyco-lipopeptide Vaccines against Group A Streptococcus
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Mannosylated lipopetides as model vaccines for targeting the mannose receptor
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis and physicochemical examination of asymmetric amphoteric macromolecules containing OVA CD4 and OVA CD8 for the development of a model vaccine
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Istvan Toth
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Rachel Stephenson's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: