Professor Kate Stacey
Professor

Kate Stacey

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54640

Background

My work focusses on activation of innate immune cells by pathogen products. Following my PhD at UQ on transcriptional regulation in macrophages I went in 1996 to the University of Cambridge on a CJ Martin Fellowship to work in a molecular parasitology laboratory. I returned to the the University of Queensland in where I focussed on immune cell responses to foreign DNA. I was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship in 2009 to move to the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, where I also lecture in immunology.

Availability

Professor Kate Stacey is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Immunology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Recognition of foreign DNA in infections

    Given that the DNA of one organism is structurally similar to another, the fact that DNA can be recognised by the immune system as an indication of infection was initially a surprise. There are at least three systems involved in foreign DNA recognition. Toll-like receptor 9 recognises bacterial or viral DNA being taken up from outside the cell and located within the endosomal system. In this case TLR9 distinguishes self DNA from foreign DNA by recognition of unmethylated CpG sequences which are rare in mammalian DNA. Foreign DNA can also be recognised within the cell cytosol, by two receptors, AIM2 and cGAS. In this case, the basis for recognition is not a foreign DNA structure, but rather an abnormal localisation. AIM2 elicits inflammatory responses to the DNA via inflammasome complex formation, and cGAS induces anti-viral interferon secretion. We study the molecular bases for these pathways of DNA recognition, and their regulation.

  • Pathways of cell death elicited by inflammasomes

    Inflammasomes are large protein complexes which assemble in response to a range of infections, environmental irritants, and other danger signals within the body. Inflammasomes promote release of proteins inducing inflammation, as well as leading to the death of infected cells, as a defensive response. The conventional pathway of inflammasome-induced cell death involves a protease caspase-1, which leads to rapid lysis of the cell. We have recently characterised the parallel activation of caspase-8 by the inflammasome, which leads to a different type of cell death termed apoptosis. The activation of several death pathways may be part of the arms race against pathogens which are trying to subvert these pathways. We are investigating the protein-protein interactions involved in inflammasome formation and caspase activation

  • Innate immune defects in the autoimmune disease lupus

    Autoimmunity arises when the immune system inappropriately attacks the host. Lupus is a condition mediated by antibodies against a range of intracellular proteins and DNA, and leads to damage of a wide range of body tissues. The most serious complications generally arise from deposition of antibody complexes in the kidneys. We propose that imbalance in innate immune responses, such as inflammasome responses, are involved in the initiation of lupus. We are using mouse strains which spontaneously develop lupus-like conditions, as well as patient blood samples, to identify abnormalities in innate immune responses. An experimental approach to inhibiting production of interferon, which is a key driver of lupus, will be trialled.

  • Defence against invading DNA as a fundamental process from insects to vertebrates

    We reason that defence against invading pieces of DNA should be fundamental to the viability of all species. Although evolution can be driven by incorporation of foreign DNA into the genome, accumulation of excessive mutations is likely to be detrimental. The AIM2 protein that elicits cell death in response to foreign DNA in the cytosol is restricted to mammals. We are now investigating novel responses to foreign DNA in insects and birds.

Research impacts

Basic research allows the discovery of the unexpected, which provides the greatest potential long term advances. My laboratory does fundamental research into how the immune system recognises the presence of infections.

Search Professor Kate Stacey’s works on UQ eSpace

110 works between 1991 and 2024
All (110) Journal Article (84) Book Chapter (7) Conference Publication (19)

1 - 20 of 110 works

Featured

2021

Journal Article

MyD88 TIR domain higher-order assembly interactions revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction and serial femtosecond crystallography

Clabbers, Max T. B., Holmes, Susannah, Muusse, Timothy W., Vajjhala, Parimala R., Thygesen, Sara J., Malde, Alpeshkumar K., Hunter, Dominic J. B., Croll, Tristan I., Flueckiger, Leonie, Nanson, Jeffrey D., Rahaman, Md. Habibur, Aquila, Andrew, Hunter, Mark S., Liang, Mengning, Yoon, Chun Hong, Zhao, Jingjing, Zatsepin, Nadia A., Abbey, Brian, Sierecki, Emma, Gambin, Yann, Stacey, Katryn J., Darmanin, Connie, Kobe, Bostjan, Xu, Hongyi and Ve, Thomas (2021). MyD88 TIR domain higher-order assembly interactions revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction and serial femtosecond crystallography. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 2578, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22590-6

MyD88 TIR domain higher-order assembly interactions revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction and serial femtosecond crystallography

Featured

2015

Journal Article

A novel flow cytometric method to assess inflammasome formation

Sester, David P., Thygesen, Sara J., Sagulenko, Vitaliya, Vajjhala, Parimala R., Cridland, Jasmyn A., Vitak, Nazarii, Chen, Kaiwen W., Osborne, Geoffrey W., Schroder, Kate and Katryn J. Stacey (2015). A novel flow cytometric method to assess inflammasome formation. The Journal of Immunology, 194 (1), 455-462. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401110

A novel flow cytometric method to assess inflammasome formation

Featured

2013

Journal Article

AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasomes activate both apoptotic and pyroptotic death pathways via ASC

Sagulenko, V., Thygesen, S. J., Sester, D. P., Idris, A., Cridland, J. A., Vajjhala, P. R., Roberts, T., Schroder, K., Vince, J. E., Hill, J. M., Silke, J. and Stacey, K. J. (2013). AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasomes activate both apoptotic and pyroptotic death pathways via ASC. Cell Death and Differentiation, 20 (9), 1149-1160. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2013.37

AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasomes activate both apoptotic and pyroptotic death pathways via ASC

Featured

2012

Journal Article

The mammalian PYHIN gene family: Phylogeny, evolution and expression

Cridland, Jasmyn A., Curley, Eva Z., Wykes, Michelle N ., Schroder, Kate, Sweet, Matthew J., Roberts, Tara L., Ragan, Mark A., Kassahn, Karin S. and Stacey, Katryn J. (2012). The mammalian PYHIN gene family: Phylogeny, evolution and expression. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 12 (1) 140, 140.1-140.33. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-12-140

The mammalian PYHIN gene family: Phylogeny, evolution and expression

Featured

2009

Journal Article

HIN-200 proteins regulate caspase activation in response to foreign cytoplasmic DNA

Roberts, Tara L., Idris, Adi, Dunn, Jasmyn A., Kelly, Greg M., Burnton, Carol M., Hodgson, Samantha, Hardy, Lani. L., Garceau, Valerie, Sweet, Matthew J., Ross, Ian L., Hume, David A. and Stacey, Katryn J. (2009). HIN-200 proteins regulate caspase activation in response to foreign cytoplasmic DNA. Science, 323 (5917), 1057-1060. doi: 10.1126/science.1169841

HIN-200 proteins regulate caspase activation in response to foreign cytoplasmic DNA

Featured

1996

Journal Article

Macrophages ingest and are activated by bacterial DNA

Stacey, K. J., Sweet, M. J. and Hume, D. A. (1996). Macrophages ingest and are activated by bacterial DNA. Journal of Immunology, 157 (5), 2116-2122.

Macrophages ingest and are activated by bacterial DNA

2024

Journal Article

Microcrystal electron diffraction structure of Toll-like receptor 2 TIR-domain-nucleated MyD88 TIR-domain higher-order assembly

Li, Y., Pacoste, L. C., Gu, W., Thygesen, S. J., Stacey, K. J., Ve, T., Kobe, B., Xu, H. and Nanson, J. D. (2024). Microcrystal electron diffraction structure of Toll-like receptor 2 TIR-domain-nucleated MyD88 TIR-domain higher-order assembly. Acta Crystallographica Section D Structural Biology, 80 (9), 699-712. doi: 10.1107/s2059798324008210

Microcrystal electron diffraction structure of Toll-like receptor 2 TIR-domain-nucleated MyD88 TIR-domain higher-order assembly

2024

Journal Article

o-Vanillin binds covalently to MAL/TIRAP Lys-210 but independently inhibits TLR2

Rahaman, Md. Habibur, Thygesen, Sara J., Maxwell, Michael J., Kim, Hyoyoung, Mudai, Prerna, Nanson, Jeffrey D., Jia, Xinying, Vajjhala, Parimala R., Hedger, Andrew, Vetter, Irina, Haselhorst, Thomas, Robertson, Avril A. B., Dymock, Brian, Ve, Thomas, Mobli, Mehdi, Stacey, Katryn J. and Kobe, Bostjan (2024). o-Vanillin binds covalently to MAL/TIRAP Lys-210 but independently inhibits TLR2. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 39 (1) 2313055, 2313055. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2024.2313055

o-Vanillin binds covalently to MAL/TIRAP Lys-210 but independently inhibits TLR2

2024

Journal Article

Fluorochrome‐labeled inhibitors of caspase‐1 require membrane permeabilization to efficiently access caspase‐1 in macrophages

Thygesen, Sara J, Burgener, Sabrina S, Mudai, Prerna, Monteleone, Mercedes, Boucher, Dave, Sagulenko, Vitaliya, Schroder, Kate and Stacey, Katryn J (2024). Fluorochrome‐labeled inhibitors of caspase‐1 require membrane permeabilization to efficiently access caspase‐1 in macrophages. European Journal of Immunology, 54 (5) 2350515, e2350515. doi: 10.1002/eji.202350515

Fluorochrome‐labeled inhibitors of caspase‐1 require membrane permeabilization to efficiently access caspase‐1 in macrophages

2023

Journal Article

Kinetics of severe dengue virus infection and development of gut pathology in mice

Pliego Zamora, Adriana, Kim, Jaehyeon, Vajjhala, Parimala R., Thygesen, Sara J., Watterson, Daniel, Modhiran, Naphak, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle and Stacey, Katryn J. (2023). Kinetics of severe dengue virus infection and development of gut pathology in mice. Journal of Virology, 97 (11) ARTN e0125123, e0125123. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01251-23

Kinetics of severe dengue virus infection and development of gut pathology in mice

2023

Conference Publication

Structural evolution of TIR-domain signalosomes in mammalian, plant and bacterial immunity characterized by integrative structural biology

Kobe, Bostjan, Nanson, Jeffrey D., Manik, Mohammad K., Li, Sulin, Gu, Weixi, Pan, Mengqi, Li, Yan, Muusse, Timothy W., Vajjhala, Parimala R, Stacey, Katryn J., Holmes, Susannah, Darmanin, Connie, Clabbers, Max T. B., Xu, Hongyi, Shi, Yun and Ve, Thomas (2023). Structural evolution of TIR-domain signalosomes in mammalian, plant and bacterial immunity characterized by integrative structural biology. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323093658

Structural evolution of TIR-domain signalosomes in mammalian, plant and bacterial immunity characterized by integrative structural biology

2023

Conference Publication

TLR4 TIR domain higher-order assemblies reveal the structural basis of adaptor recruitment in Toll-like receptor signaling pathways

Nanson, J. D., Muusse, T. W., Li, Y., Pan, M., Landsberg, M. J., Vajjhala, P. R., Ve, T., Stacey, K. J. and Kobe, B. (2023). TLR4 TIR domain higher-order assemblies reveal the structural basis of adaptor recruitment in Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323086631

TLR4 TIR domain higher-order assemblies reveal the structural basis of adaptor recruitment in Toll-like receptor signaling pathways

2023

Journal Article

TLR4 phosphorylation at tyrosine 672 activates the ERK/c‐FOS signaling module for LPS‐induced cytokine responses in macrophages

Curson, James E. B., Liu, Liping, Luo, Lin, Muusse, Timothy W., Lucas, Richard M., Gunther, Kimberley S., Vajjhala, Parimala R., Abrol, Rishika, Jones, Alun, Kapetanovic, Ronan, Stacey, Katryn J., Stow, Jennifer L. and Sweet, Matthew J. (2023). TLR4 phosphorylation at tyrosine 672 activates the ERK/c‐FOS signaling module for LPS‐induced cytokine responses in macrophages. European Journal of Immunology, 53 (7) e2250056, e2250056. doi: 10.1002/eji.202250056

TLR4 phosphorylation at tyrosine 672 activates the ERK/c‐FOS signaling module for LPS‐induced cytokine responses in macrophages

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

SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein

2022

Journal Article

Flow cytometric reporter assays provide robust functional analysis of signaling complexes

Muusse, Timothy W., Lee, Morris Y.L., Kim, Hyoyoung, Parat, Marie-Odile, Nanson, Jeffrey D., Kobe, Bostjan, Vajjhala, Parimala R. and Stacey, Katryn J. (2022). Flow cytometric reporter assays provide robust functional analysis of signaling complexes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298 (12) 102666, 102666. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102666

Flow cytometric reporter assays provide robust functional analysis of signaling complexes

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

A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein

2020

Journal Article

Manipulation of epithelial cell death pathways by Shigella

Thygesen, Sara J., Pliego‐Zamora, Adriana and Stacey, Katryn J. (2020). Manipulation of epithelial cell death pathways by Shigella. The EMBO Journal, 39 (17), e106202. doi: 10.15252/embj.2020106202

Manipulation of epithelial cell death pathways by Shigella

2019

Journal Article

IRF 1 and IRF 2 regulate the non‐canonical inflammasome

Thygesen, Sara J. and Stacey, Katryn J. (2019). IRF 1 and IRF 2 regulate the non‐canonical inflammasome. EMBO reports, 20 (9) e48891, e48891. doi: 10.15252/embr.201948891

IRF 1 and IRF 2 regulate the non‐canonical inflammasome

2019

Journal Article

Dual targeting of dengue virus virions and NS1 protein with the heparan sulfate mimic PG545

Modhiran, Naphak, Gandhi, Neha S., Wimmer, Norbert, Cheung, Stacey, Stacey, Katryn, Young, Paul R., Ferro, Vito and Watterson, Daniel (2019). Dual targeting of dengue virus virions and NS1 protein with the heparan sulfate mimic PG545. Antiviral Research, 168, 121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.05.004

Dual targeting of dengue virus virions and NS1 protein with the heparan sulfate mimic PG545

2019

Journal Article

Compromised NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome function in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mouse macrophages

Thygesen, Sara J., Takizawa, Karli E., Robertson, Avril A. B., Sester, David P. and Stacey, Katryn J. (2019). Compromised NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome function in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mouse macrophages. Immunology and cell biology, 97 (1), 17-28. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12193

Compromised NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome function in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mouse macrophages

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Gut leak and microbiome contribution to severe dengue disease
    NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Mammalian endotoxin: Characterisation of highly inflammatory endogenous material
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2022
    Intestinal barrier integrity in dengue virus infection
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Molecular basis and inhibition of TIR-domain function in Toll-like receptor and neuronal cell-death pathways
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Epifluorescent and live-cell imaging microscopes for the investigation of host-pathogen interactions and for molecular and cellular biology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    The core inflammasome as a model for caspase activation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    A conserved pathway of cell death in response to invading DNA
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Dengue virus NS1 protein as a mediator of pathology
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014
    A confocal microscope for investigation of live bacterial and viral pathogens and for molecular cell biology
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    NHMRC Research Fellowship (SRFA): Response of the body to microbes, and development of autoimmunity
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    The dengue virus glycoprotein NS1 binds cholesterol and mediates cellular activation
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Caspase 8 apoptotic signalling induced by the inflammasome
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Combating invading DNA: A process conserved in evolution?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Transport and innate immune properties of DNA in bacterial nano-sized vesicles (ARC Discovery Project administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Cell culture facilities for studying host-pathogen interactions and immune function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Mass spectrometer for biomolecule discovery, structural analysis and quantification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Real time cell analysis for biological and drug discovery applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    The mechanism of cell death in response to cytoplasmic DNA, and its role in tumour suppression
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Characterisation of human-specific anti-microbial pathways.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Cytoplasmic DNA as a danger signal for mammalian cells.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    Foreign DNA is a danger signal for mammalian cells
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Cellular Activation and Apoptosis in Response to Foreign Cytoplasmic DNA
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Regulation and Function of TLR9
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    TLR9 And The Response To Foreign DNA
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Mechanisms of macrophage activation by immunostimulatory DNA
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Mechanisms of action of CpG DNA as an activator of macrophage function
    Mayne Bequest Fund
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 2001
    Function of the natural resistance associated macrophage protein (NRAMP)
    NHMRC C J Martin Fellowship
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Kate Stacey is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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