Professor Benjamin Schulz
Professor

Benjamin Schulz

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54875
Mobile: 
0434298062

Background

I graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and Science in 2000 from The University of Queensland, after which I joined Proteome Systems, an Australian biotechnology company. In 2004 I moved to the ETH Zurich in Switzerland for my doctoral studies. I joined the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences as a University of Queensland Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2008 and NHMRC Career Development Fellow in 2012. I am now Associate Professor in Biochemistry.

Availability

Professor Benjamin Schulz is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Clinical sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Engineering - Chemical, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich

Research interests

  • Viral Glycobiology

    Glycosylation shields viruses from the immune response and is critical for many of the functions of viral proteins. This is especially important for the respiratory pathogens Influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. We aim to understand the mechanisms controlling these processes using cell based infection systems, protein structural and biochemical analyses, mass spectrometry glycoproteomics, and bioinformatics to determine their impact on viral biology and vaccine design.

  • Mass Spectrometry Glycoproteomics

    Most proteins are modified with complex sugar groups that affect their function. We develop new mass spectrometry approaches to systematically and globally identify and quantify proteins and their sugar modifications in fundamental biology and disease.

  • Beer

    Beer brewing is perhaps the most ancient biotechnology. We use modern analytical techniques to investigate and improve this complex and important process.

Research impacts

My research focuses on the mechanisms, biological roles and applications in biotechnology of glycosylation, the most abundant and complex post-translational modification of proteins. Glycosylation is important in biological processes such as human development, cancer and microbial infection. This is because glycosylation is essential in biological activities as diverse as protein folding, fine-tuning protein enzymatic activity and determining protein-protein interactions. Half of all proteins are glycosylated, and a single protein can be modified by hundreds of different sugar moieties. The diversity of glycoproteins therefore requires that we take a systems biology approach in our research. All of our projects use a core set of methods in molecular biology, genetic manipulation, protein biochemistry, glycoprotein analysis and mass spectrometry. I aim to understand the mechanisms controlling glycosylation in these various systems to develop diagnostics, therapies, vaccines and applications in biotechnology.

Search Professor Benjamin Schulz’s works on UQ eSpace

161 works between 2002 and 2025
All (161) Journal Article (146) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (6) Other Outputs (5)

81 - 100 of 161 works

2018

Journal Article

Group A Streptococcus M1T1 intracellular infection of primary tonsil epithelial cells dampens levels of secreted IL-8 through the action of SpyCEP

Soderholm, Amelia T., Barnett, Timothy C., Korn, Othmar, Rivera-Hernandez, Tania, Seymour, Lisa M., Schulz, Benjamin L., Nizet, Victor, Wells, Christine A., Sweet, Matthew J. and Walker, Mark J. (2018). Group A Streptococcus M1T1 intracellular infection of primary tonsil epithelial cells dampens levels of secreted IL-8 through the action of SpyCEP. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 8 (MAY) 160, 160. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00160

Group A Streptococcus M1T1 intracellular infection of primary tonsil epithelial cells dampens levels of secreted IL-8 through the action of SpyCEP

2018

Journal Article

Mechanisms of persistence of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas to the biocide free nitrous acid

Laloo, Andrew E., Wei, Justin, Wang, Dongbo, Narayanasamy, Shaman, Vanwonterghem, Inka, Waite, David, Steen, Jason, Kaysen, Anne, Heintz-Buschart, Anna, Wang, Qilin, Schulz, Benjamin, Nouwens, Amanda, Wilmes, Paul, Hugenholtz, Philip, Yuan, Zhiguo and Bond, Philip L. (2018). Mechanisms of persistence of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas to the biocide free nitrous acid. Environmental science & technology, 52 (9), 5386-5397. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04273

Mechanisms of persistence of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas to the biocide free nitrous acid

2018

Journal Article

Proteomic investigation of the binding agent between liver glycogen beta particles

Tan, Xinle, Sullivan, Mitchell A., Nada, Sharif S., Deng, Bin, Schulz, Benjamin L. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2018). Proteomic investigation of the binding agent between liver glycogen beta particles. ACS Omega, 3 (4), 3640-3645. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00119

Proteomic investigation of the binding agent between liver glycogen beta particles

2018

Journal Article

New genotypes of Liao ning virus (LNV) in Australia exhibit an insect-specific phenotype

Prow, Natalie A., Mah, Marcus G., Deerain, Joshua M., Warrilow, David, Colmant, Agathe M. G., O'Brien, Caitlin A., Harrison, Jessica J., McLean, Breeanna J., Hewlett, Elise K., Piyasena, Thisun B. H., Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, van den Hurk, Andrew F., Watterson, Daniel, Huang, Bixing, Schulz, Benjamin L., Webb, Cameron E., Johansen, Cheryl A., Chow, Weng K., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Cazier, Chris, Coffey, Lark L., Faddy, Helen M., Suhrbier, Andreas, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle and Hall, Roy A. (2018). New genotypes of Liao ning virus (LNV) in Australia exhibit an insect-specific phenotype. The Journal of General Virology, 99 (4), 596-609. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001038

New genotypes of Liao ning virus (LNV) in Australia exhibit an insect-specific phenotype

2018

Journal Article

Process Proteomics of Beer Reveals a Dynamic Proteome with Extensive Modifications

Schulz, Benjamin L., Phung, Toan K., Bruschi, Michele, Janusz, Agnieszka, Stewart, Jeff, Meehan, John, Healy, Peter, Nouwens, Amanda S., Fox, Glen P. and Vickers, Claudia E. (2018). Process Proteomics of Beer Reveals a Dynamic Proteome with Extensive Modifications. Journal of Proteome Research, 17 (4), 1647-1653. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00907

Process Proteomics of Beer Reveals a Dynamic Proteome with Extensive Modifications

2018

Journal Article

Deciphering the electric code of geobacter sulfurreducens in cocultures with pseudomonas aeruginosa via SWATH-MS proteomics

Semenec, Lucie, Laloo, Andrew E., Schulz, Benjamin L., Vergara, Ismael A., Bond, Philip L. and Franks, Ashley E. (2018). Deciphering the electric code of geobacter sulfurreducens in cocultures with pseudomonas aeruginosa via SWATH-MS proteomics. Bioelectrochemistry, 119, 150-160. doi: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2017.09.013

Deciphering the electric code of geobacter sulfurreducens in cocultures with pseudomonas aeruginosa via SWATH-MS proteomics

2017

Journal Article

Convergent microevolution of Cryptococcus neoformans hypervirulence in the laboratory and the clinic

Arras, Samantha D. M., Ormerod, Kate L., Erpf, Paige E., Espinosa, Monica I., Carpenter, Alex C., Blundell, Ross D., Stowasser, Samantha R., Schulz, Benjamin L., Tanurdzic, Milos and Fraser, James A. (2017). Convergent microevolution of Cryptococcus neoformans hypervirulence in the laboratory and the clinic. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 17918, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18106-2

Convergent microevolution of Cryptococcus neoformans hypervirulence in the laboratory and the clinic

2017

Journal Article

Diminished Ost3-dependent N-glycosylation of the BiP nucleotide exchange factor Sil1 is an adaptive response to reductive ER stress

Stevens, Kofi L. P., Black, Amy L., Wells, Kelsi M., Yeo, K. Y. Benjamin, Steuart, Robert F. L., Stirling, Colin J., Schulz, Benjamin L. and Mousley, Carl J. (2017). Diminished Ost3-dependent N-glycosylation of the BiP nucleotide exchange factor Sil1 is an adaptive response to reductive ER stress. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114 (47), 12489-12494. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1705641114

Diminished Ost3-dependent N-glycosylation of the BiP nucleotide exchange factor Sil1 is an adaptive response to reductive ER stress

2017

Journal Article

Increased liver AGEs induce hepatic injury mediated through an OST48 pathway

Zhuang, Aowen, Yap, Felicia Y. T., Bruce, Clinton, Leung, Chris, Plan, Manuel R., Sullivan, Mitchell A., Herath, Chandana, McCarthy, Domenica, Sourris, Karly C., Kantharidis, Phillip, Coughlan, Melinda T., Febbraio, Mark A. , Hodson, Mark P., Watt, Matthew J., Angus, Peter, Schulz, Benjamin L. and Forbes, Josephine M. (2017). Increased liver AGEs induce hepatic injury mediated through an OST48 pathway. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 12292, 12292. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12548-4

Increased liver AGEs induce hepatic injury mediated through an OST48 pathway

2017

Journal Article

Early-onset torsion dystonia: a novel high-throughput yeast genetic screen for factors modifying protein levels of torsinA Delta E

Zacchi, Lucia F., Dittmar, John C., Mihalevic, Michael J., Shewan, Annette M., Schulz, Benjamin L., Brodsky, Jeffrey L. and Bernstein, Kara A. (2017). Early-onset torsion dystonia: a novel high-throughput yeast genetic screen for factors modifying protein levels of torsinA Delta E. Disease Models & Mechanisms, 10 (9), 1129-1140. doi: 10.1242/dmm.029926

Early-onset torsion dystonia: a novel high-throughput yeast genetic screen for factors modifying protein levels of torsinA Delta E

2017

Journal Article

N-glycosylation triggers a dual selection pressure in eukaryotic secretory proteins

Medus, Maximo L., Gomez, Gabriela E., Zacchi, Lucia F., Couto, Paula M., Labriola, Carlos A., Labanda, Maria S., Bielsa, Rodrigo Corti, Clérico, Eugenia M., Schulz, Benjamin L. and Caramelo, Julio J. (2017). N-glycosylation triggers a dual selection pressure in eukaryotic secretory proteins. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 8788, 8788. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09173-6

N-glycosylation triggers a dual selection pressure in eukaryotic secretory proteins

2017

Journal Article

A new clade of insect-specific flaviviruses from Australian Anopheles mosquitoes displays species-specific host-restriction

Colmant, Agathe M. G., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, van den Hurk, Andrew F., Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, Chow, Weng Kong, Johansen, Cheryl A., Fros, Jelke, Simmonds, Peter, Watterson, Daniel, Cazier, Chris, Etebari, Kayvan, Asgari, Sassan, Schulz, Benjamin L., Beebe, Nigel, Vet, Laura J., Piyasena, Thisun B. H., Nguyen, Hong-Duyen, Barnard, Ross T. and Hall, Roy A. (2017). A new clade of insect-specific flaviviruses from Australian Anopheles mosquitoes displays species-specific host-restriction. mSphere, 2 (4) e00262-17, 1-19. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00262-17

A new clade of insect-specific flaviviruses from Australian Anopheles mosquitoes displays species-specific host-restriction

2017

Journal Article

'Omic' approaches to study Uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence

Lo, Alvin W., Moriel, Danilo G., Phan, Minh-Duy, Schulz, Benjamin L., Kidd, Timothy J., Beatson, Scott A. and Schembri, Mark A. (2017). 'Omic' approaches to study Uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence. Trends in Microbiology, 25 (9), 729-740. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.04.006

'Omic' approaches to study Uropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence

2017

Journal Article

Structure aided design of a Neu5Gc specific lectin

Day, Christopher J. , Paton, Adrienne W., Higgins, Melanie A. , Shewell, Lucy K. , Jen, Freda E.-C., Schulz, Benjamin L., Herdman, Brock P., Paton, James C. and Jennings, Michael P. (2017). Structure aided design of a Neu5Gc specific lectin. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 1495, 1495. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01522-9

Structure aided design of a Neu5Gc specific lectin

2017

Journal Article

Sirtuins in the phylum Basidiomycota: A role in virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans

Arras, Samantha D. M., Chitty, Jessica L., Wizrah, Maha S. I., Erpf, Paige E., Schulz, Benjamin L., Tanurdzic, Milos and Fraser, James A. (2017). Sirtuins in the phylum Basidiomycota: A role in virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 46567, 46567.1-46567.14. doi: 10.1038/srep46567

Sirtuins in the phylum Basidiomycota: A role in virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans

2017

Journal Article

Discovery and characterisation of castlerea virus, a new species of Negevirus isolated in Australia

O'Brien, Caitlin A., McLean, Breeanna J., Colmant, Agathe M. G., Harrison, Jessica J., Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, van den Hurk, Andrew F., Johansen, Cheryl A., Watterson, Daniel, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Newton, Natalee D., Schulz, Benjamin L., Hall, Roy A. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2017). Discovery and characterisation of castlerea virus, a new species of Negevirus isolated in Australia. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 13, 1176934317691269. doi: 10.1177/1176934317691269

Discovery and characterisation of castlerea virus, a new species of Negevirus isolated in Australia

2017

Journal Article

Identification and validation of a salivary protein panel to detect heart failure early

Zhang, Xi, Walsh, Terry, Atherton, John J., Kostner, Karam, Schulz, Benjamin and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2017). Identification and validation of a salivary protein panel to detect heart failure early. Theranostics, 7 (18) 21727, 4350-4358. doi: 10.7150/thno.21727

Identification and validation of a salivary protein panel to detect heart failure early

2017

Conference Publication

Site-specific glycosylation of viral surface proteins using mass spectrometry

Pegg, Cassandra L., Phung, Toan K. and Schulz, Benjamin L. (2017). Site-specific glycosylation of viral surface proteins using mass spectrometry. Annual Meeting of the Society for Glycobiology , Portland, OR, United States, 05-08 November 2017. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwx086

Site-specific glycosylation of viral surface proteins using mass spectrometry

2017

Conference Publication

Saliva: linking oral health with heart failure

Zhang, X. Xi, Schulz, B., Walsh, T., Atherton, J., Kostner, K. and Punyadeera, C. (2017). Saliva: linking oral health with heart failure. Heart Failure 2017 and the 4th World Congress on Acute Heart Failure, Paris, France, 29 April - 2 May 2017. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.

Saliva: linking oral health with heart failure

2016

Journal Article

High performance targeted mass spectrometry with precision data independent acquisition reveals site-specific glycosylation macroheterogeneity

Yeo, K. Y. Benjamin, Chrysanthopoulos, Panangiotis K., Nouwens, Amanda S., Marcellin, Esteban and Schulz, Benjamin L. (2016). High performance targeted mass spectrometry with precision data independent acquisition reveals site-specific glycosylation macroheterogeneity. Analytical Biochemistry, 510, 106-113. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2016.06.009

High performance targeted mass spectrometry with precision data independent acquisition reveals site-specific glycosylation macroheterogeneity

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2027
    Applications-oriented elucidation of germination triggers for Emu Bush seed
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Gut leak and microbiome contribution to severe dengue disease
    NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    A cyclic ion-mobility mass spectrometer for resolving molecular isomers (ARC LIEF application led by Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    An integrated analytical network for protein characterisation
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    The dynamic subcellular glycoproteome during influenza virus infection
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Utilizing an 'omics' approach to identify novel biomarkers in classic galactosaemia (BDHP grant administered by CHQHHS)
    Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Brewing teaching and research infrastructure
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Continuous chromatography system for advanced bioprocessing
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    The Mechanisms of Glycogen Superstructure Assembly in Diabetes
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    ARC Training Centre for Biopharmaceutical Innovation
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Microevolution of Cryptococcus neoformans
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Identifying cellular factors controlling early-onset torsion dystonia
    The Parkinson's & Movement Disorder Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Molecular characterization of complex biological polymers
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Moonlighting from sugar to metal
    ARC Discovery Projects
    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
  • 2015 - 2018
    How Sweet It Is: diagnostic clinical and experimental glycoproteomics
    NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (Biomedical; Level 1): Phase variable protein glycosylation in bacteria mucosal pathogens and its role in immune evasion
    NHMRC Career Development Award
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    ResTeach Funding 2012 0.1 FTE School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    The protein O-glycosylation pathway in Neisseria meningitidis (ARC Discovery Project administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Mass spectrometer for biomolecule discovery, structural analysis and quantification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Mechanisms of glycosylation site selection by yeast oligosaccharyltransferase
    Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    N-glycosylation in health and disease: a key role for Ost3p and Ost6p in regulation of substrate specificity.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    ResTeach 2010 0.1 FTE School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Mechanisms of protein O-glycosylation in pathogenic Neisseria
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Structural and functional characterisation of Neisseria meningitidis glycoproteins
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Benjamin Schulz is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genetic determinants of the dynamic subcellular glycoproteome in influenza infection

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kirsty Short

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Systems biology-guided cell line engineering for production of therapeutic proteins with complex post-translational modifications

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Esteban Marcellin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Metabolic and enzymatic diversity of native Australian yeasts

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterisation of short peptides encoded by short open reading frames in eukaryotes

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The dynamic subcellular glycoproteome during influenza virus infection

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kirsty Short

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterisation of short peptides encoded by short open reading frames in eukaryotes

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Systems biology-guided cell line engineering for production of therapeutic proteins with complex post-translational modifications

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Esteban Marcellin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Structures and functions of secreted yeast glycoproteins in wine and beer quality

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Characterisation of Immune Cells in Response To RAGE Antagonism Therapy in Mouse Models of Type 1 Diabetes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Amelia Fotheringham, Honorary Professor Josephine Forbes, Dr Irina Buckle

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterisation of cellular receptors and membrane binding mechanisms utilized by YenTc

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of the cotranscriptional activator complex SAGA in virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor James Fraser

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Structure and Function of ScCAD, the first step of Pyrimidine Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Bostjan Kobe, Associate Professor Michael Landsberg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Environmental and genetic mechanisms that control seed germination of Australian native Eremophila (Emu Bush)

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Robyn Cave

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Cryptococcus neoformans SAGA: Investigating the SAGA associated Histone acetyltransferase and Deubiquitinase modules opposing influence on virulence

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor James Fraser

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genotypic Responses to Heat Stress Events in Grain Yield, Malt Quality, and Proteome of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Vijaya Singh

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Benjamin Schulz directly for media enquiries about:

  • beer
  • fermentation
  • glycosylation
  • yeast

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