Dr Nicole De Weerd - Researcher Profile

Biography

Nicole is an early career researcher with 16 publications in total, 6 of which are first author publications, with five in high impact journals (one in Blood 10.555, two in Journal of Immunology 6.068, two in Journal of Biological Chemistry 5.854 and one in European Journal of Immunology 4.876). Nicole is a post-doctoral research fellow in the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases at Monash Institute of Medical Research, Clayton. Nicole is working to elucidate structural and mechanistic characteristics of type I interferon receptor signalling. In pursuing aspects of this project, Nicole has established collaborative links with arguably Australia’s most prominent protein crystallographer, Prof Jamie Rossjohn and Dr Hugh Reid of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton. This project has benefited significantly from Nicole being awarded an Early Career Development Award from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for 2008 which contributed to the generation of data in support of a successful NHMRC grant for this project (2010-2012).

 

Since, and including her PhD studies, the research projects that Nicole has worked on have all had a common thread, focusing on the investigation of protein-protein interactions with the view to the development of improved immunotherapeutics. Nicole has a continued interest in this field. 

 

Keywords

Type I Interferons, Protein-Protein Interactions, Cytokine Signaling, Type I Interferons, Protein-Protein Interactions, Cytokne Signaling

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Institution: University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 2003

Publications

Journal Articles

Bidwell, B., Slaney, C.Y., Withana, N.P., Forster, S., Cao, Y., Loi, S., Andrews, D.M., Mikeska, T., Mangan, N., Samarajiwa, S.A., De Weerd, N.A., Gould, J.A., Argani, P., Moller, A., Smyth, M., Anderson, R., Hertzog, P.J., Parker, B., 2012, Silencing of Irf7 pathways in breast cancer cells promotes bone metastasis through immune escape, Nature Medicine [P], vol 18, issue 8, Nature Publishing Group, United States, pp. 1224-1231.

De Weerd, N.A., Nguyen, T.K.T., 2012, The interferons and their receptors--distribution and regulation, Immunology And Cell Biology [P], vol 90, issue 5, Nature Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 483-491.

Piganis, R., De Weerd, N., Gould, J., Schindler, C., Mansell, A., Nicholson, S., Hertzog, P., 2011, Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 inhibits type I interferon (IFN) signaling via the interferon alpha receptor (IFNAR1)-associated tyrosine kinase Tyk2, Journal Of Biological Chemistry [P], vol 286, issue 39, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc., United States, pp. 33811-33818.

Robb, R., Kreijveld, E., Kuns, R., Wilson, Y., Olver, S., Don, A., Raffelt, N., De Weerd, N., Lineburg, K., Varelias, A., Markey, K., Koyama, M., Clouston, A., Hertzog, P., MacDonald, K., Hill, G., 2011, Type I-IFNs control GVHD and GVL responses after transplantation, Blood [P], vol 118, issue 12, American Society of Hematology, United States, pp. 3399-3409.

Zhao, W., Lee, C., Piganis, R., Plumlee, C., De Weerd, N.A., Hertzog, P.J., Schindler, C., 2008, A conserved IFN-alpha receptor tyrosine motif directs the biological response to type I IFNs, Journal of Immunology, vol 180, issue 8, American Association of Immunologists, USA, pp. 5483-5489.

Jazayeri, J., De Weerd, N.A., Raye, W.S., Velkov, T., Santos, L.L., Taylor, D., Carroll, G.J., 2007, Generation of mutant leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-IgG heavy chain fusion proteins as bivalent antagonists of LIF, Journal of Immunological Methods, vol 323, issue 1, Elsevier Science BV, Netherlands, pp. 1-10.

Jazayeri, J., De Weerd, N.A., Raye, W.S., Kivivuori, S.E., Zabihi, E., Carroll, G.J., 2007, In vitro evaluation of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor antagonists as candidate therapeutics for inflammatory arthritis, Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research, vol 27, issue 4, Mary Ann Liebert Inc, USA, pp. 281-289.

De Weerd, N.A., Samarajiwa, S., Hertzog, P.J., 2007, Type 1 interferon receptors: Biochemistry and biological functions., Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 282, issue 28, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA, pp. 20053-20057.

Swoboda, I., Grote, M., Verdino, P., Keller, W., Singh, M.B., De Weerd, N.A., Sperr, W.R., Valent, P., Balic, N., Reichelt, R., Suck, R., Fiebig, H., Valenta, R., Spitzauer, S., 2004, Molecular characterization of polygalacturonase as grass pollen-specific marker allergens: expulsion from pollen via submicronic respirable particles, The Journal of Immunolology, vol 172, pp. 6490-6500.

De Weerd, N.A., Bhalla, P.L., Singh, M.B., 2003, Effect of cysteine mutagenesis on human IgE reactivity of recombinant forms of the major rye grass pollen allergen Lol p 1, Allergology International, vol 52, issue 4, Japanese Society of Allergology, Japan, pp. 183-190.

De Weerd, N.A., Bhalla, P.L., Singh, M.B., 2003, Oral immunization with a recombinant major grass pollen allergen induces blocking antibodies in mice, International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, vol 130, Karger AG, Basel, pp. 119-124.

Swoboda, I., De Weerd, N.A., Bhalla, P.L., Niederberger, V., Sperr, W.R., Valent, P., Kahlert, H., Fiebig, H., Verdino, P., Keller, W., Ebner, C., Spitzauer, S., Valenta, R., Singh, M.B., 2002, Mutants of the major ryegrass pollen allergen, Lol p 5, with reduced IgE-binding capacity:candidates for grass pollen-specific immunotherapy, European Journal of Immunology, vol 32, Wiley-VCH, Germany, pp. 270-280.

Swoboda, I., De Weerd, N.A., Bhalla, P.L., Niederberger, V., Sperr, W.R., Valenta, R., Kahlert, H., Fiebig, H., Verdino, P., Keller, W., Ebner, C., Spitzauer, S., Valent, P., Singh, M.B., 2001, Hypoallergenic forms of the ryegrass pollen allergen Lol p5 as candidates for immunotherapy, International archives of allergy & immunology, vol 124, pp. 380-382.

Singh, M.B., De Weerd, N.A., Bhalla, P.L., 1999, Genetically engineered plant allergens with reduced anaphylatic activity, International Archives of Allergy & Immunology, vol 119, issue 2, S Karger AG, Switzerland, pp. 75-85.

Community Service

2012 Science in Schools Program, Kananook Primary School, Seaford, Victoria.

Grants

Title:

Evaluation of IL-6 cytokine subfamily antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis.

Investigators:

Jazayeri, J, De Weerd, N, Carroll, G

Funding:

(2004 - 2008). CASS Foundation Limited.

(2005 - 2010). CASS Foundation Limited.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Completed Supervision

Student:

Zaker-Tabrizi, L.

Program of Study:

STRUCTURE FUNCTION STUDIES OF INTERFERON-RECEPTOR INTERACTIONS. 2011.

Supervisors:

Hertzog, P (Main), De Weerd, N (Associate).