Overview
Background
Dr. Ariel Isaacs specializes in the study of respiratory viruses, with a focus on highly pathogenic viruses like Nipah, Hendra, and SARS-CoV-2, as well as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). His research aims to advance the design of next-generation vaccines and antibody therapies to combat these emerging viral threats.
Using cryo-electron microscopy, Dr. Isaacs investigates the structures of viral glycoproteins, which play a crucial role in mediating viral entry into host cells. By analyzing these structures, he gains insights into the mechanisms by which viruses enter cells, enabling him to identify critical targets for therapeutic intervention. This understanding informs the design of vaccines and antibodies that can block viral entry, offering new strategies for antiviral treatment and prevention.
His work bridges structural biology with therapeutic development, contributing to the fight against both current and future respiratory viral pandemics. Currently, Dr. Isaacs is working to develop broad-spectrum antiviral solutions that can respond to a range of respiratory viruses, including those with high pathogenic potential. His research holds promise for advancing both vaccine and therapeutic strategies, ultimately improving global health outcomes and preparedness for future viral threats.
Availability
- Dr Ariel Isaacs is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Virology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Henipavirus glycoprotein structures
Interest in surface glycoproteins belonging to Henipaviruses that are involved in cell entry and receptor binding. In particular, I am interested in determining the structures of surface glycoproteins to better understand how they function.
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Cryogenic Electron Microscopy
This technique allows for determining structures of viral proteins to high resolution. It involves sample preparation, large data acquisition and analysis.
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Vaccine design and testing
This research interest involves rational protein engineering, allowing for improved vaccine design in the form of protein subunit vaccines. This research interest involves recombinant protein expression, purification, and characterisation in both in vitro and in vivo models.
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Antibody discovery
This research interest goes hand-in-hand with vaccine design. Using effective vaccines, highly potent antibodies can be isolated from animal models, infected individuals or synthetic libraries. These antibodies can be then produced and characterised, and used as effective therapeutics.
Research impacts
Dr. Ariel Isaacs researches emerging viruses like Nipah and Hendra, which are transmitted by bats and rodents and are distributed globally. These deadly viruses, with mortality rates reaching up to 70%, cause sporadic but lethal outbreaks in regions such as Asia and Australia. Due to their broad geographic presence and zoonotic nature, they pose a high risk of human spillover, making them a significant threat to global health.
Through the use of structural biology techniques, Dr. Isaacs is working to understand how these viruses enter host cells and cause disease. By mapping the structures of viral surface proteins, he uncovers crucial insights into the mechanisms of viral infection. This knowledge enables him to identify key targets for the development of vaccines and antibody therapies that could offer broad-spectrum protection.
Dr. Isaacs' work is vital for preparing against future outbreaks. By providing a detailed understanding of how these viruses function at the molecular level, his research lays the groundwork for creating effective, fast-acting interventions to combat high-risk viruses before they spread.
Works
Search Professor Ariel Isaacs’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology
Aguado, Julio, Amarilla, Alberto A., Taherian Fard, Atefeh, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Tyshkovskiy, Alexander, Schwabenland, Marius, Chaggar, Harman K., Modhiran, Naphak, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Javed, Ibrahim, Baradar, Alireza A., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Lianli, Dharmaratne, Malindrie, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Freney, Morgan E., Parry, Rhys, Sng, Julian D. J., Isaacs, Ariel, Khromykh, Alexander A., Valenzuela Nieto, Guillermo, Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Davis, Thomas P., Prinz, Marco, Bengsch, Bertram, Gladyshev, Vadim N., Woodruff, Trent M., Mar, Jessica C. ... Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2023). Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology. Nature Aging, 3 (12), 1561-1575. doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00519-6
2023
Journal Article
A nanobody recognizes a unique conserved epitope and potently neutralizes against the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants
Modhiran, Naphak, Lauer, Simon Malte, Amarilla, Alberto A., Hewins, Peter, Lopes van den Broek, Sara Irene, Low, Yu Shang, Thakur, Nazia, Liang, Benjamin, Nieto, Guillermo Valenzuela, Jung, James, Paramitha, Devina, Isaacs, Ariel, Sng, Julian D. J., Song, David, Jørgensen, Jesper Tranekjær, Cheuquemilla, Yorka, Bürger, Jörg, Andersen, Ida Vang, Himelreichs, Johanna, Jara, Ronald, MacLoughlin, Ronan, Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Chana-Cuevas, Pedro, Kramer, Vasko, Spahn, Christian M. T., Mielke, Thorsten, Khromykh, Alexander A., Munro, Trent, Jones, Martina L. ... Watterson, Daniel (2023). A nanobody recognizes a unique conserved epitope and potently neutralizes against the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants. iScience, 26 (7) 107085, 107085. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107085
2023
Journal Article
Structure and antigenicity of divergent Henipavirus fusion glycoproteins
Isaacs, Ariel, Low, Yu Shang, Macauslane, Kyle L., Seitanidou, Joy, Pegg, Cassandra L., Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Scott, Connor A. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Schulz, Benjamin L., Chappell, Keith J., Modhiran, Naphak and Watterson, Daniel (2023). Structure and antigenicity of divergent Henipavirus fusion glycoproteins. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3577, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39278-8
2023
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Parker, Sandra, Li, Xaria X., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Aguado, Julio, Zamora, Adriana Pliego, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Nias Y. G., Sng, Julian D. J., Saima, Fatema Tuj, Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Paramitha, Devina, Parry, Rhys, Avumegah, Michael S., Isaacs, Ariel, Lo, Martin W., Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Bradshaw, Daniella, Salinas-Rebolledo, Constanza, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Munro, Trent P., Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Young, Paul R., Stacey, Katryn J. ... Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (7), 2878-2893. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0
2022
Journal Article
Monoclonal antibodies specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein suitable for multiple applications for current variants of concern
Morgan, Mahali S., Yan, Kexin, Le, Thuy T., Johnston, Ryan A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Muller, David A., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Modhiran, Naphak, Watterson, Daniel, Potter, James R., Sng, Julian D. J., Lor, Mary, Paramitha, Devina, Isaacs, Ariel, Khromykh, Alexander A., Hall, Roy A., Suhrbier, Andreas, Rawle, Daniel J. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2022). Monoclonal antibodies specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein suitable for multiple applications for current variants of concern. Viruses, 15 (1) 139, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/v15010139
2022
Journal Article
Characterization and comparison of novel adjuvants for a prefusion clamped MERS vaccine
O’Donnell, Jake S., Isaacs, Ariel, Jakob, Virginie, Lebas, Celia, Barnes, James B., Reading, Patrick C., Young, Paul R., Watterson, Daniel, Dubois, Patrice M., Collin, Nicolas and Chappell, Keith J. (2022). Characterization and comparison of novel adjuvants for a prefusion clamped MERS vaccine. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 976968, 976968. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.976968
2022
Journal Article
A platform technology for generating subunit vaccines against diverse viral pathogens
Young, Andrew, Isaacs, Ariel, Scott, Connor A. P., Modhiran, Naphak, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Cheung, Stacey T. M., Barr, Jennifer, Marsh, Glenn, Thakur, Nazia, Bailey, Dalan, Li, Kenneth S. M., Luk, Hayes K. H., Kok, Kin-Hang, Lau, Susanna K. P., Woo, Patrick C. Y., Furuyama, Wakako, Marzi, Andrea, Young, Paul R., Chappell, Keith J. and Watterson, Daniel (2022). A platform technology for generating subunit vaccines against diverse viral pathogens. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 963023, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.963023
2022
Journal Article
Nucleocapsid specific diagnostics for the detection of divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants
Isaacs, Ariel, Amarilla, Alberto A., Aguado, Julio, Modhiran, Naphak, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Baradar, Alireza A., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, McMillan, Nigel A. J., Muller, David A., Young, Paul R., Woodruff, Trent M., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Chappell, Keith J. and Watterson, Daniel (2022). Nucleocapsid specific diagnostics for the detection of divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 926262, 926262. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926262
2022
Journal Article
Dermal delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine induces immunogenicity against variants of concern
McMillan, Christopher L. D., Azuar, Armira, Choo, Jovin J. Y., Modhiran, Naphak, Amarilla, Alberto A., Isaacs, Ariel, Honeyman, Kate E., Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Wurm, Maria J., Pino, Paco, Kint, Joeri, Fernando, Germain J. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Khromykh, Alexander A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R. and Muller, David A. (2022). Dermal delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine induces immunogenicity against variants of concern. Vaccines, 10 (4) 578, 578. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10040578
2021
Other Outputs
Broad-Spectrum Vaccines & Therapeutics for Henipaviruses
Isaacs, Ariel (2021). Broad-Spectrum Vaccines & Therapeutics for Henipaviruses. PhD Thesis, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/7f21a7a
2021
Journal Article
Complete protection by a single-dose skin patch–delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine
McMillan, Christopher L. D., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, Modhiran, Naphak, Amarilla, Alberto A., Isaacs, Ariel, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Azuar, Armira, Acharya, Dhruba, Kelly, Gabrielle, Fernando, Germain J. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R., McMillan, Nigel A. J. and Muller, David A. (2021). Complete protection by a single-dose skin patch–delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine. Science Advances, 7 (44) eabj8065, eabj8065. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abj8065
2021
Journal Article
Combinatorial F-G Immunogens as Nipah and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Candidates
Isaacs, Ariel, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Thakur, Nazia, Jaberolansar, Noushin, Young, Andrew, Modhiran, Naphak, Bailey, Dalan, Graham, Simon P., Young, Paul R., Chappell, Keith J. and Watterson, Daniel (2021). Combinatorial F-G Immunogens as Nipah and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Candidates. Viruses, 13 (10) 1942, 1942. doi: 10.3390/v13101942
2021
Other Outputs
Complete protection by a single dose skin patch delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine
McMillan, Christopher L.D., Choo, Jovin J.Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, Modhiran, Naphak, Amarilla, Alberto A., Isaacs, Ariel, Cheung, Stacey T.M., Liang, Benjamin, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Azuar, Armira, Acharya, Dhruba, Kelly, Gabrielle, Fernando, Germain J.P., Landsberg, Michael J., Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R., McMillan, Nigel A.J. and Muller, David A. (2021). Complete protection by a single dose skin patch delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine. doi: 10.1101/2021.05.30.446357
2021
Other Outputs
Concerns regarding vaccination as a management strategy against koala retrovirus
Joyce, Briony A., Watterson, Daniel, Isaacs, Ariel and Chappell, Keith J. (2021). Concerns regarding vaccination as a management strategy against koala retrovirus. doi: 10.1101/2021.05.10.443397
2021
Journal Article
Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Watterson, Daniel, Wijesundara, Danushka K., Modhiran, Naphak, Mordant, Francesca L., Li, Zheyi, Avumegah, Michael S., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Lackenby, Julia, Guilfoyle, Kate, van Amerongen, Geert, Stittelaar, Koert, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Bibby, Summa, Daleris, Mallory, Hoger, Kym, Gillard, Marianne, Radunz, Eve, Jones, Martina L., Hughes, Karen, Hughes, Ben, Goh, Justin, Edwards, David, Scoble, Judith, Pearce, Lesley, Kowalczyk, Lukasz, Phan, Tram, La, Mylinh, Lu, Louis, Pham, Tam ... Chappell, Keith J. (2021). Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 10 (4) e1269, e1269. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1269
2021
Journal Article
Adjuvant selection for influenza and RSV prefusion subunit vaccines
Isaacs, Ariel, Li, Zheyi, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Wijesundara, Danushka K., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Modhiran, Naphak, Young, Paul R., Ranasinghe, Charani, Watterson, Daniel and Chappell, Keith J. (2021). Adjuvant selection for influenza and RSV prefusion subunit vaccines. Vaccines, 9 (2) 71, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9020071
2020
Journal Article
A novel purification procedure for active recombinant human DPP4 and the inability of DPP4 to bind SARS-CoV-2
Xi, Cecy R., Di Fazio, Arianna, Nadvi, Naveed Ahmed, Patel, Karishma, Xiang, Michelle Sui Wen, Zhang, Hui Emma, Deshpande, Chandrika, Low, Jason K K, Wang, Xiaonan Trixie, Chen, Yiqian, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Isaacs, Ariel, Osborne, Brenna, Vieira de Ribeiro, Ana Júlia, McCaughan, Geoffrey W., Mackay, Joel P., Church, W Bret and Gorrell, Mark D. (2020). A novel purification procedure for active recombinant human DPP4 and the inability of DPP4 to bind SARS-CoV-2. Molecules , 25 (22) 5392, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/molecules25225392
2020
Journal Article
Rapid response subunit vaccine design in the absence of structural information
Wijesundara, Danushka K., Avumegah, Michael S., Lackenby, Julia, Modhiran, Naphak, Isaacs, Ariel, Young, Paul R., Watterson, Daniel and Chappell, Keith J. (2020). Rapid response subunit vaccine design in the absence of structural information. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 592370, 592370. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.592370
2020
Journal Article
Micro-fusion inhibition tests: quantifying antibody neutralization of virus-mediated cell–cell fusion
Thakur, Nazia, Conceicao, Carina, Isaacs, Ariel, Human, Stacey, Modhiran, Naphak, McLean, Rebecca K., Pedrera, Miriam, Tan, Tiong Kit, Rijal, Pramila, Townsend, Alain, Taylor, Geraldine, Young, Paul R., Watterson, Daniel, Chappell, Keith J., Graham, Simon P. and Bailey, Dalan (2020). Micro-fusion inhibition tests: quantifying antibody neutralization of virus-mediated cell–cell fusion. Journal of General Virology, 102 (1) 001506. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001506
2020
Journal Article
Bovine herpesvirus-4-vectored delivery of nipah virus glycoproteins enhances T cell immunogenicity in pigs
Pedrera, Miriam, Macchi, Francesca, McLean, Rebecca K., Franceschi, Valentina, Thakur, Nazia, Russo, Luca, Medfai, Lobna, Todd, Shawn, Tchilian, Elma Z., Audonnet, Jean-Christophe, Chappell, Keith, Isaacs, Ariel, Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R., Marsh, Glenn A., Bailey, Dalan, Graham, Simon P. and Donofrio, Gaetano (2020). Bovine herpesvirus-4-vectored delivery of nipah virus glycoproteins enhances T cell immunogenicity in pigs. Vaccines, 8 (1) 115, 115. doi: 10.3390/vaccines8010115
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Ariel Isaacs is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
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