NEWSLETTER

Australasian Society for Incorporated PP 341403100035 ISSN 1442-8725 December 2007 The Power of One Idea: The Golden Anniversary of Burnet’s Clonal Selection Theory Phil Hodgkin

October 21, 1957 saw the publication of however, as he turned the WEHI’s scientifi c Ada, Graham Mitchell, Don Metcalf, a short two-page essay in focus virtually overnight from to Jon Sprent and Ian Mackay laid down Journal of Science. Modestly titled “A immunology. The clonal selection theory foundations that provided a rich harvest for modifi cation of Jerne’s theory of antibody proved an immensely fertile stimulus for the coming generations of scientists. Thus, production using the concept of clonal experiment. A young Gus Nossal, together while immunology owes this theory by selection”, this paper triggered a series of with sabbatical visitor Joshua Lederberg, a great debt, Australian events that had a profound impact on all conducted the fi rst painstaking experiments immunologists can also trace the richness of us. to verify the prediction of the theory that of their community back, to a large extent, one cell would make one antibody. Soon to the inspiration and head start provided by The paper, written by Macfarlane Burnet, the WEHI became a centre for the new this little paper. then Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall immunology in world science, a position Institute (WEHI) in , was the fi rst consolidated further by Gus Nossal ascending To celebrate and explore the impact of enunciation of the principles of the clonal to the Directorship of WEHI in 1965 and the clonal selection theory on Science and selection theory. The reason for the cautious expanding the facilities and laboratories. Society, the WEHI held a conference at publication in an obscure Australian journal the date of the publication, 50 years on. was Burnet’s reservations about the reception Many Australian scientists cut their teeth cont. p4 of his ‘crazy idea’ for randomisation on immunological problems opened up by of receptors and clonal growth. These the new theory and experiments. Giants of reservations were quickly overcome, early immunology, Jacques Miller, Gordon 2007 Renewal Enclosed DO NOT DISCARD !

Contents The Power of One Idea 1 Editorial 3 President's Column 3 Honorary Secretary’s News 7 Viertel Fellowship 8 Councillors’ News 9 Travel Award Conference Reports 13 Visiting Speaker Program 17 Student Page 18 ICB Publication of the Year Award 20 Gus Nossal dazzled everyone with his stories and insights on a number of occasions. Rolf Upcoming Lectures & Conferences 20 Zinkernagel broadly overviewed the important lessons from 50 years of immune discovery. ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

ASI Inc. COUNCIL Non-Voting Councillors: Newsletter Editor President Past President Dr Miles Davenport Professor Alan Baxter Dr Philip Hodgkin Ph: 02 9385 2762 Fax: 02 9385 1389 CGC, Walter & Eliza Hall Institute Email: [email protected] Townsville Qld 4811 1G Royal Parade Ph: 07 4781 6265 Fax: 07 4781 6078 Parkville Vic 3050 Journal Editor Email: [email protected] Ph: 03 9345 2609 Fax: 03 9347 0852 Professor Chris Parish Email: hodgkin@.edu.au Ph: 02 6125 2604 Fax: 02 6125 2595 Email: [email protected] Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer Dr Jose Villadangos Dr Chris Andoniou Visiting Speakers Co-ordinator Walter & Eliza Hall Institute Centre for Experimental Immunology A/Prof J. Alejandro Lopez 1G Royal Parade The Lions Eye Institute Queensland Institute of Parkville Vic 3050 2 Verdun Street CBCRC/I, Post Offi ce Ph: 03 9345 2532 Fax: 03 9347 0852 Nedlands WA 6009 Royal Hospital Qld 4029 Email: [email protected] Ph: 08 9381 0799 Fax: 08 9381 0700 Ph: 07 3845 3794 Fax: 07 3845 3510 Email: [email protected] Email: Email: [email protected]

State Councillors Council Member of IUIS Victoria & Tasmania Professor Chris Parish Dr Bernadette Saunders Dr Phillip Darcy Ph: 02 6125 2604 Fax: 02 6125 2595 Ph: 02 9565 6114 Fax: 02 9565 6101 Ph: 03 9656 3769 Fax: 03 9656 1411 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Honorary Archivist & Webmaster: Queensland South & Northern Territory Dr Judith Greer Dr Christopher Schmidt Dr Claudine Bonder Ph: 07 3365 5133 Fax: 07 3365 5462 Ph: 07 3362 0313 Fax: 07 3845 3510 Ph: 08 8222 3504 Fax: 08 8232 4092 Email: j.greer@.herston.uq.edu.au Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Administrative Correspondence Western Australia Australian Capital Territory Ms Judi Anderson Dr Delia Nelson Dr Guna Karupiah ASI Inc. Secretariat Ph: 08 9346 3510 Fax: 08 9346 2816 Ph: 02 6125 4562 Fax: 02 6125 2595 PO Box 7108 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Upper Ferntree Gully Vic 3156 Ph: 03 9756 0128 Fax: 03 9753 6372 New Zealand Email: [email protected] Prof John Fraser Ph: +64 9 373 7599 ext 86036 Fax: +64 9 373 8774 Email: [email protected]

FIMSA Councillor Contact for Tasmania Professor Nicholas King Dr Greg Woods Ph: 02 9351 4553 Fax: 02 9351 3429 Tel: 03 6226 4830 Fax: 03 6226 4833 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Website The ASI web site (www.immunology.org.au) has been fully remodelled and updated. New services include: ¾ Downloadable forms for ASI awards, ¾ Positions vacant pages, ¾ Jobs wanted pages, ¾ Upcoming conferences listings, as well as a plethora of links to sites of immunological interest at home and abroad. If you‛d like your lab home pages linked to the site, would like to advertise a job or conference, or have a favourite immunology-related site that doesn‛t currently appear on the ASI site, please email Judy Greer at [email protected]

Email bulletin board To subscribe to the ASI bulletin board, send an email to [email protected] with the message: subscribe anz-imm.

2 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

EDITORIAL PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Many of you will receive this newsletter just International Immunology the Societies that represent the interests as you return from the ASI annual conference The American Association of Immunologists of immunology; and in Sydney – hopefully invigorated by the (AAI) was founded in 1913 and was probably • to contribute to the advancement of high level of science and co-operation, and the fi rst formal association of immunologists. immunology in all its aspects. inspired by the new ideas and collaborations Although all their annual meetings were held you have struck up. Those who didn’t make in the USA, the Association served as the Peter Doherty is the current President it to the conference will have to content avenue for immunological communications of the Union and Christopher Parish themselves with the review of it in the March throughout the Americas. The British Society is an IUIS council member and Guna 2008 edition of the newsletter. for Immunology, founded in 1956, also Karupiah and Nick King represent us in offered international memberships, and its the assembly. This newsletter brings reports of many annual autumn and spring meetings soon successful immunology conferences, became the European regional immunology Our Society is now larger than it has including the “Power of One Idea” meetings. The precursor of the ASI, the ever been, with over 900 members. conference at WEHI (p1), as well as regional Australian Society for Immunology, was The numbers of international members meetings in New Zealand, South Australia, announced to the world in 1967, but only of ASI have been growing at 24% per Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria really became a functioning entity in 1970. annum – more rapidly than those of (see Councillors’ News – p9). Several of the The New Zealand Society for Immunology any other region – and now constitute Councillors are stepping down at the end was founded fi ve years later, and the two 5% of the Society. The ASI Executive of 2008, after the expiry of their two year merged in 1991 under the banner of the has been considering the ways in which terms. Please take the time to read about your Australasian Society for Immunology. we can help foster immunology in the new representatives and collect their contact Asia-Pacifi c area as we would like to details if you are from ACT, Victoria, or New At the International Symposium on promote the Society internationally as a Zealand! We also have reports from ASI Immunopathology at Monaco in 1965, way for members of developing societies Travel grant recipients, including a record JJ van Loghem organized an informal to benefi t from ASI’s great strength and seven attendees at the recent International discussion on the pros and cons of developing history, as well as our annual meeting, Immunology Congress in Rio (p15). Finally, an international society or federation of training and mentorship programs the prize for ICB Publication of the Year is national societies, of immunology. The and journal. We have always allowed announced on p20 of this issue (but you will International Union of Immunological international membership, although this have to wait until March 2008 to hear the Societies (IUIS) was offi cially founded is usually taken up by expatriates. The winner of the newsletter prize!). in Belgium on May 5, 1969, at a meeting free access to the Nature Publishing of the representatives of ten societies Group’s immunology journals, now Miles P Davenport (American Association of Immunologists, offered as part of ASI membership, British Society for Immunology, Canadian provides a reasonably strong incentive Society for Immunology, Dutch Society for for other international immunologists Immunology, Gesellschaft für Immunologie, to join. We have also recently offered, to Israel Immunological Society, Polish members of both the Chinese Society of Society of Immunology, Scandinavian Immunology and the Russian Society of Society for Immunology, Société Française Immunology, the opportunity to attend d’immunologie, Yugoslav Immunological the Annual Scientifi c Meeting of ASI Society). The representatives of the at ASI members’ rates. A number of Australian Society for Immunology and the more structured approaches have been Swiss Society of and Immunology suggested and Council is seeking input ASI Secretariat were unable to attend but expressed support, from members to help devise policies to PO Box 7108, and their societies were also accepted as foster international co-operation. Upper Ferntree Gully,Vic. 3156 founding members of the IUIS. Australia World Day of Immunology Tel: +61 3 9756 0128 The IUIS is now an umbrella organization for On 29 April 2007, the World Day of Fax: +61 3 9753 6372 many of the regional and national societies Immunology (WDI) was launched by Email: [email protected] of immunology throughout the world. Its Stefan Kaufmann, who is the President of Offi ce hours: objectives are: European Federation of Immunological 8.30am – 4.30pm • to organize international co-operation in Societies and Vice-President of the IUIS. immunology and to promote communication ASI sponsored a range of activities, between the various branches of immunology including public lectures, interactive and allied subjects; displays, development of teaching • to encourage within each scientifi cally independent territory co-operation between Cont. p6

3 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

The generational lineage was clearly illustrated when Ian Mackay chaired the autoimmunity session that included son and daughter in-law, Charles and Fabienne

Peter Doherty and Gordon Ada discuss old times

This conference, called “The power sharing his ideas to help the researchers how Burnet asked him to ‘house-sit’ for nine of one idea: The golden anniversary around him. He was also something of a months in 1948 while Burnet and his wife of Burnet’s clonal selection theory”, nationalist and deliberately remained in went on sabbatical in England. House-sitting featured Nobel laureates Peter Doherty Australia to help the development of science included looking after the three children! Gus and Rolf Zinkernagel; doyens of early and medical research. He was not without Nossal described his ‘one cell-one antibody’ immunology Gus Nossal, , fl aws though, and a picture of his socially experiments and the impact of Lederberg on Gordon Ada, Jacques Miller and Ian awkward and occasionally authoritarian his career. Gordon Ada discussed his move Mackay; international guests Michael personality emerged. We also heard that to the John Curtin School in where Neuberger, Tim Mosmann and Polly Burnet had a weakness in open and sharp he merged virology and immunology and Matzinger; and local immunologists debate and occasionally stridently supported helped set in train events that would lead to Alan Baxter, Suzanne Cory, Wolfgang, causes that proved narrow or even wrong in the famous MHC restriction experiments Weninger, Rob Brink, Stephen Nutt, light of history. His infamous denigration of Doherty and Zinkernagel and the 1996 Ken Shortman David Tarlinton, Jon of was brought up by a Nobel prize. Sprent, Jim McCluskey, Bill Heath, Chris number of speakers. Rather than diminish his Goodnow, Andreas Strasser, Chris Parish, reputation, these observations only served to Later we placed on stage “three Australians Len Harrison, Fabienne Mackay, Charles highlight for the delegates that science is a of the year: Gus Nossal, Peter Doherty Mackay, Tony Basten, Michael Good, Ian human activity and extraordinary creativity and Ian Frazer, together with a popular Frazer and Anne Kelso. and insight is not bestowed on any particular “champion of science” Barry Jones to look personality type. at the later development of science and As part of the organizing committee, I impact of immunology on our modern world. can say that few conferences were as The Public Forum We enjoyed stories of the importance of much fun to put in place. First, the paper To bring this story to a general audience, immunology to world health, of Burnet the itself is so short – all of the principles we also held a forum hosted by ABC Radio extraordinary man, of the importance of a of immunity are spelled out in a single National’s Phillip Adams and invited the scientifi c outlook, and personal views on the page – that we structured our program general public to come along. We advertised future of science. It was a very memorable to follow the logical development of the widely and were relieved to fi ll our 600 paper, with each session introduced by a person auditorium at the University of direct quote. As many of the participants Melbourne – the number boosted by high Barry Jones and Phillip Adams listen to Peter in the early history are still living around school science teachers and students. Those Doherty and Ian Frazer in the public forum Australia, it was a great opportunity to attending were treated gather them together to talk about their to a feast of history and role in the unfolding story. We therefore modern commentary from interleaved talks from early pioneers with true giants who dazzled cutting edge research talks to highlight the us with their erudition and history and subsequent advances. knowledge. Participants were interviewed in two Many of our ‘modern’ speakers also took segments. First Frank the opportunity to trace a debt to Burnet Fenner, Gordon Ada and or provide a story from their own memory Gus Nossal explored the banks. From all these reminiscences early development of it was clear to us that Burnet was an science and the impact of the extraordinarily gifted ‘generalist’ who had paper and theory. Among theories and opinions on a breathtaking many highlights, Frank range of topics and was generous in Fenner memorably recalled 4 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 night and there has been a great deal of positive feedback for this event.

Clonal Selection: The Video WEHI is the home of scientifi c animator Drew Berry who has won numerous awards for his exquisite animations of DNA Frank Fenner was replication and intracellular processes in cell astonishingly fi t at 93 biology. We asked Drew to develop a video that would bring Clonal Selection to life. He hired a young artist, Etsuko Uno, to work on the project and the resulting movie, “Fighting infection by clonal selection”, was a big hit of the conference. The movie contains stunning images of lymphocytes and lymph nodes each of which are themselves works of art. Drew, Etsuko and WEHI have made this movie generally available, providing the opportunity for all of us to use these images to richly illustrate the concept of clonal selection to students or a general audience in our presentations. Everyone who came to the The latest generation of immunologists meeting and the public forum received a copy enjoyed tracing their of the DVD. If you weren’t lucky enough to scientifi c lineage back receive one, the movie is downloadable from to Burnet and other the WEHI website. pioneers

Conclusion At the end of the meeting we were all left with a satisfying feeling of community and continuity in Australian science and a strong sense of the debt we owe at many levels to a great and original thinker.

Those interested in more of this story are directed to Burnet’s autobiography Tim Mosmann explains his “Changing patterns”, and the outstanding views on the expanding stable biography “Seeds of Time” by Christopher of Th cells. Just before arriving in Melbourne he learned he Sexton. The movie “Fighting infection by was awarded the 2008 Paul Clonal Selection” is available from WEHI- Ehrlich prize for contributions to TV which can be accessed through www. immunology wehi.edu.au. Papers from many of the speakers will appear in the January and February issues of Immunology and Cell Biology.

Contributions sought for the ASI Newsletter You could win $100 !!

Deadline for the next issue : 1st February 2008 Please email your contributions to the Secretariat by the above date. [email protected]

5 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

President’s Column, cont. from p3

materials and the creation of a dedicated Council has decided to website. All the events were a great bid to hold the Congress success, and indicated a public enthusiasm in Australia in 2016. We for our work that few of us were aware of. have contracted ASN In 2008, the Society will again support events to act as secretariat WDI – April 29 will be a Tuesday in the preparation of the – and we aim to generate much broader bid, and have identifi ed media coverage. Brigitte Seega, the the conference venues producer of Radio National’s Ockham’s in Melbourne, Sydney Razor and Health Report programs, and Brisbane as the only has specifi cally asked to be kept up to ones in Australia likely date with our plans for the day, as they to be able to cope with develop. ASI’s contribution will be co- the estimated numbers ordinated by Claudine Bonder (Claudine. of registrants. These [email protected]), and each of the venues have developed Regional Councillors will either initiate draft proposals, based on and/or co-ordinate local activities, or guidelines prepared by ASN, and these have Other Opportunities else identify suitable members to do that been considered by a steering committee. At If you would like to promote a conference or for them. If you have any ideas of how this stage, it is likely that we will progress to meeting relevant to Society members, please we can bring immunology to the public, site inspections of the facilities in Melbourne remember the events calendar in the back please contact Claudine or your Regional and Brisbane early next year, with a view to cover of Immunology and Cell Biology and representative: advising Council of a preferred venue at the contact me with the relevant details. ACT: Dr Gerard Hoyne mid-year Council meeting. ([email protected]) As always, the Council is keen to hear Qld: Dr Chris Schmidt Over the next few years, there will be from members regarding ways in which ([email protected]) substantial opportunities for members who the Society can help foster the interests of NSW: Dr Bernadette Saunders are interested in being involved in preparing members. Please do not hesitate to contact ([email protected]) the bid to IUIS, and if successful, in planning myself, or your Regional Councillor, if there NZ: Dr Jo Kirman the Congress. This is a great opportunity is anything we can do to help. ([email protected]) for members to develop and cement an SA/NT: Dr Claudine Bonder international reputation in the fi eld. Alan G Baxter ([email protected]) Vic/Tas: Steve Turner Annual Scientifi c Meeting An invitation and a ([email protected]) As I write, the 37th Annual Scientifi c Meeting WA: Dr Delia Nelson of the ASI, to be held in Manly, Sydney, is request to all ASI ([email protected]) only a few weeks away. By the time you read members this, however, it will all be over. I am confi dent to contribute copy that they It is well worth remembering the contact that you enjoyed yourself immensely, but no think might be interesting, details for your Regional Councillor, doubt wish I hadn’t taken my bloody camera useful, historical, humorous or as they will usually be your fi rst point to the conference dinner again. The upside thought provoking. of contact with the Society, whether (or maybe it is another downside) is that you applying for a travel award, promoting can view the pictures, as well as those from ¾ We invite our student a meeting or seeking support for a new all the other ASI Dinners since 2003, on the membership to voice their idea. Comparative Genomics Centre Web Page: views on issues that interest www.jcu.edu.au/CGC. The 38th meeting or directly concern them. IUIS bid will be held at the National Convention Another component of our international Centre in Canberra from 7-11 December, ¾ It’s our newsletter, so let’s strategy is to attempt to bring the IUIS 2008. As always, it will provide the optimum support it and strive to make International Congress of Immunology opportunity for you to showcase your work it even better. to Australia. The congress is held every before potential employers and grant and three years; it was fi rst held in Washington fellowship reviewers. Not an opportunity ¾ The ASI newsletter comes out in 1971, in Rio this year, and it will be to be turned down lightly. Students and 4 times a year and we welcome held in Kobe, Japan in 2010 and Rome, postdoctoral fellows should remember that your contributions. Italy in 2013. With widespread support to be eligible for some of the awards on from the major Research Institutes offer at the meeting, they must renew their ¾ AND NOW YOU COULD and with offers of signifi cant fi nancial membership before 1 April 2008. WIN $100 FOR THE BEST backing from several State Governments, ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSLETTER!

6 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 HONORARY SECRETARY'S NEWS

Student Travel Bursaries To avoid this problem, this year the ASI that the student base of the ASI maintains The ASI has a strong commitment to support Council decided to try a new system: all a high standard; this augurs well for the its youngest members, and offers student applications have been evaluated and selected future of our Society and discipline. bursaries to cover the costs of registration from a single pool by a committee set-up and airfares to attend the Annual Scientifi c by the organisers of the annual meeting. The recipients of Student bursaries to Meeting. This year we have tried a new system Naturally, this does not preclude each branch attend the 37th Annual Meeting in Sydney to award these bursaries. In previous years, from using their local funds to offer extra are shown below. each region was allocated a number bursaries bursaries, but it provides an even playing proportional to the number of students in ground to all the students who apply for the Changes to Council that region, and it was left to each branch bursaries offered by the Council. The following members will leave their to organise how to judge the applications. positions in the Council at the end of This system had some advantages, as it This new system has represented an extra the year: allowed each branch to use the bursaries as task for the organisers of the annual meeting an incentive to promote student attendance to which they have nevertheless accepted with Past-President: Phil Hodgkin local events. For example, the Immunology enthusiasm. On behalf of the Council, I ACT Councillor: Guna Karupiah Group of Victoria awarded their bursaries to would like to thank all of them, in particular NZ Councillor: John Fraser the best student presentations at their annual Bernadette Saunders, for implementing Vic/Tas Councillor: Phil Darcy retreat. However, a problem with this system this new system for the fi rst time. I would was that the proportion between the number also like to invite all members to discuss We thank you for your contribution to of applications and the number of bursaries these changes locally and provide feedback ASI, and hope we will be able to continue allocated to each branch sometimes varied through their local Councillors. One thing relying on your expertise and advice as widely, giving the impression that it was we can already conclude is that, regardless valued members of the Society. “harder” to obtain a bursary in some regions of the evaluation system used, the quality than in others. of applications is consistently high, and the The following members have been awards well deserved. It is gratifying to see elected to Council:

Vice-President: Miles Davenport ACT Councillor: Gerard Hoyne Name Organisation Region $ Amount NZ Councillor: Jo Kirman Stephanie Day Australian National University ACT 532 Vic/Tas Councillor: Steve Turner

Haley Ataera Malaghan Institute NZ 934 We look forward to working together with Nina Dickgreber Malaghan Institute NZ 934 you for the benefi t of our membership. Diane Sika-Paotonu Malaghan Institute NZ 934 I look forward to see you in Sydney! Simon Apte Qld Institute of Medical Research Qld 535 Tania Crough Qld Institute of Medical Research Qld 535 Jose A. Villadangos Rachel De Kluyver Qld 535

Erin Curry Hanson Institute SA/NT 580 Cara Fraser Hanson Institute SA/NT 580 Violet Mukaro Adelaide University SA/NT 580 ICB Online Manuscript Submission David Aridi Monash University Vic/Tas 564 Ella Bridie Day Vic/Tas 564 Online manuscript submission for Immunology and Cell Biology now Heather McGee Uni Tasmania Vic/Tas 588 available via: Adele Mount The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute Vic/Tas 564 http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/icb Anna Proietto The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute Vic/Tas 564 Louise Young The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute Vic/Tas 564 All manuscript submissions to ICB should in future be made online via this web site to speed up the reviewing and Jacqueline McGlade University of Western Australia WA 860 acceptance of manuscripts. Holly Chinnery University of Western Australia WA 860 Jelena Kezic University of Western Australia WA 860 Chris Parish, Editor-in-Chief Immunology and Cell Biology Jennifer Burchell Telethon Institute WA 860

Total $12,415

7 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

Fellowship awarded to ASI Member Contributions sought for The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable the ASI online Foundation awarded two Senior Medical Research Fellowships in October, to immunology quiz Gabrielle Belz (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) and As part of the recent World Day of Im- Paul Ekert (Murdoch Children’s Research munology, we have developed an online Institute). The Fellowship, valued at immunology quiz (see http://www.im- $195,000 per annum, is intended to munology.org.au/immquiz1.html) on support outstanding researchers with the ASI website. This quiz is targeted at recognised postdoctoral achievements the general public, but it would be good seeking to establish a research career in to add a few more questions (especially Australia and undertake research in an some with an Australian fl avour), and Australian academic institution. maybe even add an “Advanced Level”, with questions that undergrad students More information about the Senior might fi nd useful for revising for exams. Medical Research Fellowships and All that’s needed now are the questions and answers. the Viertel Foundation’s Clinical ASI Member Gabrielle Belz, Investigatorships, including a list of recipient of Sylvia and Charles If you would like to contribute any previous recipients, can be found at: Viertel Charitable Foundation multiple choice questions for either the http://www.anz.com/aus/fin/Trustees/ Senior Medical Research Fellowship guNamed.asp#Viertel general quiz or an advanced version, please send them to Judith Greer at [email protected].

Research positions available Vaxine Pty Ltd, a rapidly growing biotech company based in Adelaide, invites applications from interested scientists for research positions within the company. Vaxine’s focus is on development across many product areas including , infl uenza, shigella, malaria, allergy, cancer and many more.

We are looking for motivated scientists at PhD, postdoctoral or senior researcher level to join our growing research team. Researchers with experience in human immunology, vaccine clinical trials, animal studies, GMP vaccine manufacturing or any related topic are particularly encouraged to apply.

Vaxine welcomes unsolicited applications from individuals with appropriate scientifi c background at any time.

For further information contact: Prof. Nikolai Petrovsky (nikolai.petrovsky@fl inders.edu.au) Dr Susanne Heinzel ([email protected]) Dr Bruce Lyons ([email protected])

For expression of interest submit CV to: Carolyn Stevens Finance and Administration Manager Vaxine Pty Ltd PO Box 18 Flinders University BEDFORD PARK SA 5042 [email protected] www.vaxine.com.au

8 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 ASI Councillors’ News S.A./N.T. News that Dr Bruce Lyons from Vaxine Pty Ltd outstanding. Judging was impossible with in Adelaide agreed to be our ‘local’ speaker. the amazing quality of the presentations We have had a very exciting past few months Likewise, we were absolutely delighted but CONGRATULATIONS go to Leigh with the ASI Sponsored Speaker Prof Hans that ASI Past-President Prof. Anne Kelso Guerin for best PhD student presentation Schreiber coming into Adelaide and spending could join us from the WHO for Infl uenza (winning fl ights and early rego for ASI some of his precious time at various institutes in Melbourne. They could not be a more National Conference in Sydney 2007), throughout the state, sharing his knowledge lovely, humble and easy-going couple of equal runners up for best PhD student on tumour immunology as well as his role as guests and Bruce and Anne’s generosity of presentation go to Dominik Kaczorowski, Editor for Journal of Experimental Medicine. their time exemplifi es what wonderful role Erin Curry and Jennifer Young (all Hans and his wife were an absolute delight models they are for us all. winning $50 vouchers). Finally, David to meet and his breadth of knowledge was a Simon Davis won best Honours/Masters great source to tap into. We now look forward Day 1: The Friday morning started early in presentation (winning a $50 voucher). to the next speakers as they travel through the wonderful setting of Adare Castle with the country and thanks to Alejandro Lopez the captivating Dr Bruce Lyons openly Both invited speakers were fantastic for co-ordinating their plans. describing his scientifi c journey as one of in their mixing and mingling with the highs and lows but fi lled with enough of the students throughout the event and were A massive congratulations to the following good, the bad, the ugly and serendipity to more than happy to share their advice students, their supervisors and their keep him coming back for more! His depth and knowledge. We were a very sociable institutions who have won travel bursaries of immunological knowledge, his passion group, energized by each other’s work, to attend the Annual ASI Conference in for the unexpected, as well as his overall sharing our experiences and advice and Sydney: Erin Curry (Hanson Institute), Cara energy and enthusiasm was just one of the really just getting to know each other Fraser (Hanson Institute) and Violet Mukaro many great things about the weekend. The and enjoying each other’s company. We (University of Adelaide). rest of the morning saw great delegate talks ended the retreat as we started, with fun from different corners of Adelaide before we and laughter but left with a few more AIR 2007 went out exploring. We had a wine and cheese friends. We believe that this is a great The Third Adelaide Immunology Retreat tasting at Scotts Victor Harbour Winery way to promote science made in SA to (AIR) 2007 was held at Adare ‘Castle’ in where we had a wonderful opportunity to some of our very best. Victor Harbour, August 31 and September meet and talk to the other delegates for a 1, 2007. couple of hours. Following the wine tasting It is an absolute honour to run these events we went across to Granite Island to meet the but it would not be at all possible without AIR was organized by the local ASI state gorgeous penguins that inhabit the island fi nancial support. For AIR 2007 we would branch and was designed for students as and the local waters. We had a guided tour like to sincerely thank Jomar, Miltenyi well as young and established scientists to around their nests and watched as the young Biotech, Adelab Scientifi c, Perkin Elmer, get to know not only each other but also pups waited for their parents to come home Qiagen, Promega, Invitrogen, Geneworks the science going on in Adelaide. Like the with the food. A nice long walk back to and John Morris Scientifi c. As important, last two years, we again had a mixture of Adare Castle for dinner, some table tennis, a big thank you to the organising great science and social activities with more billiards, footy and more wine. committee for helping pull it all together: delegates than ever before. Jennifer Young, Erin Young, Cara Fraser, Day 2 started off with an eagerly awaited Damon Tumes, Paul Coleman, Dominik We continued our tradition of inviting a well talk by Anne Kelso who shared with us her Kaczorowski, Kate Pilkington, Susanne accomplished scientist from South Australia wonderful career journey. Anne’s talk was Heinzel and Nick Gorgani, and we are as well as one from interstate to join us at very inspiring and showed us that there are already looking forward to AIR 2008! the retreat. We were absolutely delighted so many opportunities with our training, you never know where Claudine Bonder you are going to SA/NT Councillor end up. Following Anne we had more great talks from the student delegates. This year we had an amazing mix of Honours students, Masters students, PhD students, RAs, post-docs and lab heads at the retreat and the quality of Michele Grimbaldeston & committee presentations was member Susanne Heinzel

9 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

W.A. News 27th September, Dr Phil Hodgkin (WEHI): Burchell and Andrew Currie) who were ‘Evidence for a stochastic model of lymphocyte invaluable in helping organize the event. clonal expansion and survival.’ Local lunchtime ASI Meetings During 2007 eight lunchtime ASI General Information The WA-ASI Early Career Workshop seminars were held featuring local, The WA branch currently has 57 fi nancial The major branch activity held by WA-ASI national and international speakers. We members and this may increase in 2008 with for 2007 was the ASI early career workshop continued to offer ASI-funded lunches new members registered during the WA early held on Friday, 28th September at the hoping to encourage regular seminar career workshop. Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle. The aim of attendance, and to enable local members this workshop was to provide a forum for to interact informally. The format varied Dr Delia Nelson PhD students and early career scientists to from an individual speaker to two or three WA Councillor present their work in an informal setting, and speakers during the hour-long session. it was modeled on our previous workshop held in 2005. The workshop comprised talks Queensland News This year’s speakers were: by the invited speakers and by registrants 28th March, Professor Paul McMenamin This year’s Eighth Annual ‘Brisbane (selected submitted abstracts), as well as (School of Anatomy & Human Biology, Immunology Group’ retreat was held over prizes, ‘fun activities’ (pass the parcel and an UWA): ‘The role of macrophages & August 23/24 at the rather ritzy Ramada immunology quiz), morning and afternoon dendritic cells in corneal infl ammation: Pelican Waters in Caloundra. This meeting tea, lunch, a ghost tour and social drinks at re-examining paradigms using genetically is sponsored by ASI, and always features a Fremantle Prison. In order to encourage the engineered mice.’ strong complement of interstate speakers, participation of as many members as possible, addressing a wide variety of topics. The the workshop was free to fi nancial members 5th April, Dr. Chris Andoniou (Lions Eye quality of this meeting is greatly enhanced of ASI. Costs were covered by company Institute): ‘Cytomegalovirus interferes by bringing together a truly representative and institutional sponsorship and WA-ASI. with Bax function to promote effi cient section of Queensland immunologists. The Myself and the organizing committee would replication’ and Dr Matthew Wikstrom 120 attendees, including 50 ASI members, like to thank BD, Fisher Biotec, Jomar (Telethon ICHR): ‘A fantastic voyage: heard this year’s ‘Jonathan Sprent Orator’ Bioscience, Australian Biosearch, Curtin tracking the immunological fate of Jim McCluskey (Uni. Melbourne) present University, Murdoch University and the inhaled antigen.’ profound insights into the way the TCR Telethon Institute for Child Health Research interacts with peptide/MHC at the molecular for their generous fi nancial assistance. 2nd May, Dr. Martyn French (Clinical level. Dale Godfrey gave a masterful Immunol & Immunogenetics, RPH, overview of the NKT fi eld, with occasional Prof Jonathon Sprent (Garvan Institute) and PathWest and Surgery & Pathology, helpful interjections from ASI president Dr Phillip Hodgkin (WEHI) participated in UWA): ‘Disorders of immune Alan Baxter (JCU, Townsville). Lucid the workshop as guests/mentors of WA-ASI. reconstitution in HIV patients responding presentations of recent data came from Both invited mentors gave a talk about their to antiretroviral therapy.’ two speakers from WEHI: Gabrielle Belz research and offered insights into their career detailed novel avenues for naïve killer T cells pathway; the registrants thoroughly enjoyed 6th June, Dr Shelley Gorman (Telethon to respond to viral infections, and Stephen and appreciated the mentors’ contributions ICHR): ‘Does vitamin D production in Nutt identifi ed Blimp-1 as an essential to this meeting. Phil and Jonathon also the skin of UVB-irradiated mice induce regulator of homeostatis. participated in a career panel that included T regulatory cells?’; Paula Cunningham Prue Hart (Telethon Institute for Child (Telethon ICHR): ‘Allergen mediated We were very lucky this year to attract Prof. Health Research), Mariapia Degli-Espoti desensitisation for mucosally-induced Hans Schreiber (University of Chicago) to (Lions Eye Institute), Kathleen Davern respiratory allergy’; and Dr Matthew deliver the “Postgraduate Plenary Lecture” (Monoclonal Antibody Facility, Western Brown (Department of Medicine, UWA): on the topic ‘Cross-Presentation and Tumor Australian Institute for Medical Research) ‘The immune benefi t of cancer surgery: Destruction’. This was the last leg of his and Paul Watts (Phylogica) which proved to lessons from sinecomitant immunity’. ASI-sponsored tour of Australia, with QIMR be a very popular activity. Myself and the sponsoring his international fl ights. As organizing committee would like to thank 4th July, Dr Ruth Ganss (WAIMR): In expected, Hans was outspoken, provocative, all of the career panel members for their vivo Homing of ‘Angio-Immuno’ Agents and thought provoking. He and Dale were involvement. Promotes Tumor Rejection.’ very generous in giving considerable time to judging the best poster. Unable to narrow Over 46 local immunologists attended the 8th August, Professor Susan Prescott the fi eld further, the ASI-sponsored prize was inaugural workshop and feedback from (Telethon ICHR/PMH): ‘Allergy takes shared this year by Kate Shroder (Institute participants was very positive. Given the its toll: the role of toll-like receptors in for Molecular Bioscience, UQ) and Margaret success of this year’s and the 2005 events, immune development.’ Jordan (JCU). we will endeavor to make the workshop a biannual event (fi nances allowing). I would 20th August, Professor Hans Schreiber BIG also provides a venue to hear about the like to thank the committee members (Chris (University of Chicago): ‘Cross- best in local immunological research, with Andoniou, Tony Scalzo, Matthew Wikstrom, Presentation and Destruction of the an emphasis on students and early career Phil Stumbles, Steve Broomfi eld Jennifer Tumor Microenvironment.’ 10 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 researchers. The ASI offers a prize to the on the ASI Council. Immunet attracts about A.C.T. News best speaker in the Postgraduate Session, 60 people from around the country and is a won this year by Kate Markey (QIMR). great opportunity not only to showcase recent 2007 has been another exciting year for research but also to socialise and develop the ACT Branch. We hosted the visit of Dr With the outstanding assistance of Alejandro collaborations. Invited speakers to Immunet Ron Germain as an ASI visiting speaker Lopez and Adriana Baz (QIMR), ASI this year included Jose Villandagos, Norbert early in the year. The next major event Queensland sponsored a number of interstate Keinzle and Dan Cua who gave a fantastic was a public lecture delivered by Prof. immunologists to visit Queensland over presentation on IL-17 regulation. My time Chris Parish to commemorate the World the last few months: Stephen Turner (Uni. as ASI-NZ Councillor ends and I willingly Day of Immunology. About 80 members Melbourne, Sept 3), Frank Carbone (Uni. hand over the reigns to Jo Kirman who I am of the public and the ASI attended this Melbourne, Sept 10/11), Fabienne Mackay sure will represent NZ well. lecture and celebration of Immunology (Garvan Institute, Sept 24), and Ruth Ganss – it was a big success given that there John Fraser (Western Australian Institute for Medical were two other public lectures at the NZ Councillor Research, Nov 5) very generously gave ANU on that day. As in previous years, their time to talk to researchers at the QIMR, the ACT Branch hosted both national Introduction – Jo Kirman Diamantina Research Institute, and JCU. and international speakers. Dr Gabrielle Many thanks to the outgoing NZ Councillor, Belz (WEHI) visited us on July 25 as Prof John Fraser, for his fantastic job as Finally, congratulations to the Queensland our invited speaker, followed by Prof. host of ASI 2006, which was a roaring winners of ASI student bursaries to attend Hans Schreiber (University of Chicago) success. While his are big shoes to fi ll, I am the ASI meeting in Sydney: Tania Crough, who visited on August 14. In September very enthusiastic to continue John’s efforts Simon Apte (both QIMR) and Rachel De and October, several members of the towards promoting immunology in NZ. Kluyver (Diamantina). See you all there! ACT Branch attended the International Congress of Immunology in Rio de I am currently the Infectious Diseases Chris Schmidt Janeiro, the Burnet Power of One Idea Group leader at the Malaghan Institute in Queensland Councillor Conference in Melbourne and the 12th Wellington, and my primary research focus Frank and Bobbie Fenner Conference is the induction and maintenance of Th1 (organised by Chris Parish) to celebrate N.Z. News memory immunity to facilitate the rational the life, achievements, and retirement of design of for Tuberculosis. I Following on from the successful ASI Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner who returned to NZ in 2002 after completing my Auckland meeting in December 2006, will leave The John Curtin School at the postdoctoral training under Bob Seder at the Immunology has had a relatively quiet year end of the year. Professor Fenner turns Laboratory of Clinical Investigation and the in New Zealand. 93 this year. Vaccine Research Center, at the National Institutes of Health, USA. Ron Germain visited both Auckland and As the 2008 annual scientifi c meeting Wellington in April and impressed everyone of the Society will be in Canberra, we To combat the isolation of working in a with the breadth of his knowledge and ability formed an organizing committee early small island, it is important to promote to present a compelling and seminar complete this year. Committee members are: collaboration amongst NZ and Australasian with reference to his fi ve most recent papers Guna Karupiah (Chair), Christopher immunologists. With the support of the from either Nature, Nature Immunology or Parish, Christopher Goodnow, Geeta University of Otago, Malaghan Institute and Immunity. In Auckland his prime target was in Chaudhri, Edward Bertram, Carola ASI, I have organised the NZ Immunet 2006 fact not an immunologist, but a bioengineer, Vinuesa, Hilary Warren, Gerard Hoyne, and 2007 meetings, which have provided Prof. Peter Hunter, who works in the fi eld David Tscharke and Matthew Cook. We a well-attended forum for networking of biological modelling. In mid-October, have started working with the Conference amongst NZ immunologists. My goals as NZ Auckland was indeed fortunate to have a organizer Mike Pickford, ASN, and have Councillor are: to promote the activities of the visit from Prof. Jack Strominger, Harvard booked the National Convention Centre ASI in NZ, increase attendance and student University. A simple refl ection of Jack’s as the venue for the 2008 Meeting. We participation at ASI meetings, as well as extraordinary career over the past 60 years canvassed various options and were keen encouraging trans-Tasman collaboration. gives some sobering food for thought. He on keeping the meeting on Campus, has amassed over1000 publications and more however ANU was unable to commit to than 300 postdocs and graduate students have our dates or provide a quote. The National been through his lab, many are now leading Convention Centre provided the best lights in around the world. Jack is now 82 quote, has been recently renovated and but still runs a Harvard laboratory consisting is centrally located. The dates for the of 10 people meeting have been set for 7-11 December and the theme for the conference will be Our national immunology meeting has “Immunological Challenges of the 21st become the 2-day Immunet meeting which Century”. is conveniently held in Wellington at the Malaghan Institute and is well organised We are pleased to advise that as of by Jo Kirman, the new NZ representative November 2007, 11 international New NZ Councillor, Jo Kirman New NZ Councillor,

11 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

speakers have confi rmed their attendance would like to sincerely thank Phil Marley, next year. They are Shizuo Akira (Osaka Grace Chan and Maree Faux who freely University), Mark Davis (Stanford donated their time to speak. All speakers University), Stephen Galli (Stanford gave tremendous insight on following a University), Alessandro Moretta career path in either academia or industry, (University of Genova), Pamela Ohashi including pitfalls they have encountered (Ontario Cancer Institute), Dale Umetsu along the way. I am sure the members who (Harvard Medical School), Kathryn attended these talks would have gained Wood (University of Oxford), David valuable information. Woodland (Trudeau Institute), Marc Jenkins (University of Minnesota), Dario Unfortunately this will be my last Vignali (St Jude Children’s Research correspondence as the Victorian/Tasmanian Hospital) and Hoosen “Jerry” Coovadia State Councillor. I have thoroughly enjoyed (University of KwaZulu-Natal). ICB has being the ASI State Councillor over the again offered to fi nance one international past two years. In particular, I have enjoyed speaker. working closely with other members of the New ACT Councillor, Gerard Hoyne Gerard Councillor, ACT New ASI Council and our local IgV committee As the postgraduate Student NH&MRC-JDRF Special Program Grant who all bring tremendous enthusiasm and Representative is selected from the state that was awarded to Prof. Chris Parish, Dr commitment to the Society. The current state in which the next Scientifi c Meeting is to Charmaine Simeonovic, Craig Freeman and of immunology in Australia is as strong as be held, the ACT branch has put forward myself to investigate the role of heparanase ever and I am sure new members elected to Ivan Poon, JCSMR for this position in in the regulation of autoimmune attack on the Council will continue to work hard to 2008. pancreatic islets. maintain this.

This is my last report as ACT Councillor The next 12 months are going to be busy Finally I would like to pass on my and Gerard Hoyne will be taking with the annual meeting for ASI to be held congratulations to Steve Turner who will over next year. I would like to take in Canberra in December. The planning and serve as your next state representative this opportunity to thank Ed Bertram organization for the meeting is already well from 2008-2009. Steve obtained his PhD in (Treasurer, ACT Branch) and Carola advanced and the fi rst notices for the meeting Immunology at Monash University under Vinuesa who have worked hard to make have recently been released. the guidance of Professor Frank Carbone this Branch tick! and worked as a postdoc in Melbourne I hope in my tenure as ACT Councillor with Dr Janet Ruby and then with Peter The ACT Branch invites all members that I can continue to foster the interests in Doherty in Memphis, TN. He returned to to attend next year’s conference in immunology in Canberra and I look forward Melbourne in 2002 and is currently a Senior Canberra. to your support. Lecturer and Pfi zer Senior Research Fellow Guna Karupiah in the Department of Microbiology and ACT Councillor Victorian News Immunology at the University of Melbourne. Steve’s research interests concern factors that Introduction – Gerard F Hoyne infl uence the induction of effective cytotoxic I completed my BSc and PhD at the T cell responses to virus infection. As new University of Western Australia and then State Councillor, Steve will ensure that the worked in the UK during my postdoctoral We are all looking forward to the ASI Annual interests of both Victorian and Tasmanian period with stints at the Department Scientifi c Meeting to be held at Manly members will continue to be represented at of Biology at the Imperial College of Pacifi c Sydney from 2-6 December. The the national level. His contact email address Science, Technology and Medicine as NSW committee have done a tremendous is [email protected] well as the MRC Centre for Infl ammation job assembling the list of speakers. Details Phillip Darcy Research at the University if Edinburgh. of the fi nal program can be found on the ASI State Councillor Since returning to Australia fi ve years website http://www.asi2007.org.au/ ago I have worked at the John Curtin School of Medical Research where I The annual IgV meeting at Beechworth was have been a group leader and program again a well organised event highlighted leader of an ENU mutagenesis screen by many great talks from invited speakers using a sensitized transgenic model to and students. I would like to thank the IgV identify genes that protect against the committee for their hard work and ensuring development of type 1 diabetes. My the successful running of this meeting. I research work on diabetes is funded would also like to pass on my congratulations through a Program Grant from the to those students who were awarded various Steve Turner, new Vic/Tas JDRF in New York awarded to Prof prizes at the meeting. Councillor Chris Goodnow and myself and I am a co-investigator on a newly funded The careers night held in October was another successful event and was well attended. I 12 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 Travel Award Conference Reports FASEB Summer Research Conference, Tucson, Arizona, USA Kylie Greig, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

In July I attended the FASEB Summer There were several talks on immunoglobulin talk and met with several of the lab Research Conference on Lymphocytes and gene rearrangement, a complex process members. I work on the role of c-myb in the Immune System with the support of an requiring changes in chromatin structure and B cell development, and Klaus’ lab has ASI travel award. The conference was held repositioning of the loci within the nucleus. identifi ed a microRNA that is postulated in Tucson, Arizona – a fascinating place full I found these talks most interesting when to regulate c-myb expression. It was of cactuses, roadrunners and coyotes. We they shed light on broader issues of gene exciting to share our results and discuss had the rather surreal experience of staying regulation. For instance, Harinder Singh our ideas of how c-myb might regulate at a golf course in the middle of the desert, showed how inducibly repositioning a cell fate in the immune system. I found it baking in the summer heat. The locals tried gene to the inner nuclear membrane could a very rewarding experience and I’m sure to spook us with tales of scorpions, mountain lead to gene repression, and asked whether that we will stay in touch and continue to lions and rattlesnakes, which was funny proteins that are involved in positioning the share our data as it develops. Overall, the until my supervisor, Steve Nutt, had a close loci may play a role in lineage commitment. trip was a fantastic way of increasing my encounter with a salivating brown bear and A trend in several of the talks was to use knowledge of immunology, sparking my got to test his fl ight response. advances in microscopy to re-visit older enthusiasm for research and establishing issues in immunology, and in some cases connections that will help me in my The conference itself covered a great provide novel insights. Paul Kubes examined career. It has also increased my respect range of topics in immunology, from the leukocyte traffi cking in infl amed tissue, for the wildlife of Arizona, and I’m glad development of lymphocytes right through to while Marc Bajenoff from Ron Germain’s that I still have a supervisor! their activation, migration and role in human lab looked at T cell migration within lymph health. As my own interest is in lymphocyte nodes. Steve Reiner showed evidence development, I thoroughly enjoyed talks that T cells may undergo asymmetric cell from Cynthia Guidos and Rudolf Grosschedl, division following activation by a dendritic speaking about Notch signalling and Ebf cell, distributing certain proteins unequally More Travel Award reports proteins respectively. Other talks raised my between the two daughter cells. It will be over the page awareness of different areas of immunology. interesting to see whether these daughter Two talks focused on the role of ribosomal cells do indeed adopt different fates, and proteins in lymphocytes: David Wiest if so whether the unequally partitioned presented data suggesting that Rpl22 may proteins that lead to these different fates can infl uence αβ T cell development, possibly by be identifi ed. infl uencing p53 expression, while Michael Lenardo showed that Rps3 also has an Collectively, the talks at the conference Submission of extraribosomal role as part of the NFκB broadened my knowledge of immunology. I DNA binding complex. I found these talks enjoyed meeting the scientists, students and photos with articles fascinating as they suggest that proteins postdocs, and found it helpful to discuss my When submitting articles, that seemingly play a universal role in cells work with them at the poster sessions. reports, etc. to the – translation – may actually have quite specifi c roles as well. After the FASEB meeting, I visited Klaus newsletter, please do not Rajewsky’s lab in Boston where I gave a embed the photos in the Word article, but always send as separate jpeg fi les - preferably around 300–400kb. Embedded photos/graphics cannot be imported into the desktop publishing program nor edited if required and delays occur in requesting photographs to be re-sent. Thank you for your co- operation.

13 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

Cancer Research Institute’s 15th Annual Symposium and National Cancer Institute’s Cancer & Infl ammation meeting Michele Teng, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

My second trip to the USA (land of to present their work. Attending the meeting was organised by the National good bagels and bad coffee!) started conference also gave me the opportunity to Cancer Institute and had a fantastic line with attending the Cancer Research catch up with work colleagues I met during up of speakers. The meeting was great Institute’s 15th annual symposium series my last visit to NYC and also to visit the new once I entered the NIH, where getting in entitled ‘Cancer and HIV vaccines: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre. was analogous to trying to enter another Shared lessons’ in New York City. This The new building, which spans 22 fl oors, country! Passports were required, your bags conference was specifi cally intended is well equipped and spacious and has a were scanned and you had to walk through to bring cancer and HIV vaccine great view of the city, although one had to a metal detector. Once you were deemed researchers together to share data and be careful which fl oor you got off as some ‘safe’ by the oh so ‘friendly’ security guards, discuss strategies to move both fi elds levels were still being fi tted out! you were rewarded with a visitor’s tag! The forward. The meeting was opened by the topics that I found really interesting and of eminent Professor Lloyd Old, considered Following the culmination of the conference relevance to my work at the meeting included the father of tumour immunology, at midday on Friday, I and other members of sessions on innate resistance in cancer and the and HIV vaccine expert Giuseppe Mark Smyth’s laboratory who had attended infl ammatory tumour micro-environment. Pantaleo. Twenty-three plenary lectures the CRI conference got together with Talks by Lalage Walefi eld of the NCI and were presented during the symposium members of Robert Schreiber’s group from Vincenzo Bronte of the University of Padua, covering topics such as vaccines for St Louis for our fi rst laboratory retreat. Given Italy, were the standouts for me. Lalage spoke both cancer and HIV, retroviral and that Mark and Bob have been collaborating about the role of TGF-beta subverting CD8+ lentiviral vectors, Toll-like receptor for a number of years, this retreat gave cells into directly promoting tumour growth ligands, and therapeutic HPV vaccines, members of both laboratories the opportunity through an IL-17 mediated mechanism while effects of chronic viral infection on the to fi nally meet face to face and present a brief Vincenzo talked about altered macrophage immune system, seromics, and immune outline of the projects we were working on. differentiation and immune dysfunction checkpoint blockade. Invited speakers at This retreat was a valuable experience in in tumour development. Besides learning this conference included Phil Greenberg, many ways as it allowed us to defi ne more a lot from this meeting, I also had the Rafi Amed and Antonio Lanzavecchia to clearly the areas of common research interest opportunity to chat with Lalage, Vincenzo name a few. The highlight talks for me shared by both groups and where we could and other speakers and discussed potential were given by Jim Allison and Alexander collaborate on setting up experiments as well collaborative work in addition to obtaining (Sasha) Rudensky. Jim spoke about the as what reagents and resources we could valuable reagents. impact of the antibody anti-CTLA-4 in share. In addition, new perspectives and ideas the therapy of cancer and showed some were discussed over the course of the meeting So two weeks later, after numerous cups of amazing scans of patients with large which helped to prioritise the experiments bad coffee, and a long and eventful fl ight tumour masses melting away following that needed to be performed to move our that I really like to forget about, I’m back treatment with anti-CTLA-4. These work forward. Of course it wasn’t all work. in wonderful Melbourne! I have learnt a lot results demonstrated the inherent power Our group went out for dinner at a popular scientifi cally and had the chance to network of the immune system to target tumours if restaurant called Churrascaria Plataforma, a with many colleagues in my fi eld of interest one can correctly and effectively remove Brazilian steakhouse where it was all you can as well as catch up with past colleagues. As the ‘brakes’. Sasha presented work on gorge, umm I meant eat, for two hours. There invariably happens after you’ve been to good the second ‘hottest’ cell in immunology were at least 20 different types of salads, meetings, I fi nd myself with even more to at the moment, T-regulatory cells, which an assortment of sushi, copious amounts of read! Importantly, I would not been able to has recently been upstaged by the hottest seafood and pasta on offer at the buffet table. attend these meetings if it were not for the Once you’ve had your fi ll of rabbit food, or if generous fi nancial support I obtained from cell of interest at the moment - TH17 cells. Sasha presented data involving the you choose not to, you can move straight on ASI. Being a member of ASI has really paid generation of mice with dual-reporter to having meat. What you do is simply turn off (literally!) and I have been very fortunate system of the genes encoding IL-10 and over a little token on your table to the green to obtain both postgraduate and postdoctoral the transcription factor Foxp3 which coloured side and, presto, waiters will fl urry travel awards from the organisation. I allowed tracking of Treg subsets based up to you to carve you all different kinds of strongly encourage all eligible students and on co-ordinated or differential expression BBQ meats (followers of the Atkins’ Diet: postdocs to apply as it really does not involve of these genes. take note!). that much work to put in an application. As the saying goes, ‘you’ve got to be in it to win Two poster sessions were also scheduled Following New York, 20 bagels and copious it’! So thanks ASI and now if I may ask, is during the long lunch breaks of the amounts of Starbucks coffee, I then attended there any chance of setting up travel awards conference, thus providing students and the Cancer and Inflammation meeting for postdocs more than three years out? early career scientists a great opportunity at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. This

14 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

Travel reports on the 13th International Immunology Congress (ImmunoRio 2007) 21-25 August 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ASI International Travel Awards provided 79 different countries, 2897 abstracts and 613 from a different supplier (after a year support for a number of members to attend the oral presentations. The conference opened of puzzling work!) confi rmed the data recent International Immunology Congress on Tuesday with a Brazilian family musical that had now already been published in Brazil (held every three years). This contingent, followed by fi ve thousand hungry by another group. I enjoyed hearing included two post-doctoral fellows – Sammy congress attendees clamouring for some this tale as a demonstration that even Bedoui (WEHI) and Glen Ulett (UQ)) – and very tasty South American cuisine. As one world leading labs can be faced with fi ve post-graduate students – Melinda Dean of the crowd, I can say that the wait, next confusing experiments and bewildering (MMRI), Elinaro Marino (Garvan), Ivan to a fully stocked and staffed bar that had situations when illogical data sometimes Poon (JCSMR), Isaac Sakala (JCSMR), strict instructions not to serve drinks until require a great deal of perseverance to and Anja Scholzen (Monash). The Award later that evening, was worth it. The opening comprehend. recipients provide a report on their travels address by the Brazilian Minister of Science’s as a condition of support, and the following spokesperson was, as mandated by law, The highlight of the conference for is an edited compilation of some of their predominantly in Portuguese and followed by me, however, was the ‘lunch with the comments: fi ve full days of quality scientifi c sessions. speakers’: This informal setting gave students, PostDocs and senior researchers An overview of the conference: One of the goals of the Travel program alike the opportunity to meet over lunch The International Congress of Immunology is to enable young immunologists to ‘rub with selected invited speakers and discuss (ICI) is held every three years by the shoulders’ with a wider audience, and get and exchange ideas. Together with fi ve International Union of Immunological some of those experiences you just can’t get other delegates from Europe and South Societies (IUIS) in collaboration with the host from the literature: America, I spent over an hour discussing country Society for Immunology. The 13th A particularly interesting presentation was the immunology and immunopathology ICI (ImmunoRio2007) was held from 21 – 25 delivered by Douglas Golenbock who of parasitic infections with Maria August 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The dissected the role of TLR9 in anti-malarial Yazdanbakhsh (Leiden University, conference venue was “Rio Centro” about immunity. During the lecture, we were told a The Netherlands) and Mark Wilson, a 1hour from the famous Copacabana with very interesting tale of being quasi-scooped PostDoc from Thomas Wynn’s laboratory shuttle buses organised to transport attendees on work that that lab was completing on at the NIH (Bethesda, USA). I was from their hotel to and from the conference TLR endosomal traffi cking and ligand- positively surprised how approachable centre. The venue was relatively new with induced conformational changes, and how the speakers were and how effortlessly more pavilions still being added. the Golenbock lab was, at one point, on we dipped in and out of various topics. the verge of submitting a manuscript to I can highly recommend this format of The little bus trip in the morning wasn’t Journal of Experimental Medicine. To their bringing people at large conferences too bad, as you got to see some parts of the astonishment the exact opposite result was together, and thank the organizers for city, which were beyond the usual tourist’s published in another prestigious journal this wonderful opportunity. scope. For others this was a welcome extra the very same week of their anticipated bit of time to relax from the heavy burden submission, which led them to a full year’s One thing that stood out in the RIO of experiencing Ipanema or Copacobana of experiments to ultimately determine that conference was the friendly and relaxed at night. one of the chemicals purchased from a major atmosphere that allowed interaction commercial supplier (hint: 5 letters across, between all levels of the immunology On the general scale of scientifi c meetings, part of the bacterial DNA transcription community. This was no more evident ImmunoRio 2007 was a large conference with machinery) was purifi ed to a level of only then when I changed lecture rooms more than 4000 participants from as many as 62% versus a reported 80% (as touted by to try and catch important talks in the supplier), thereby sabotaging their different sessions, and happened to sit original (and almost published in JEM) next to Jules Hoffman (President of the experiments. Switching to 99% purity grade French Academy of Sciences and Innate Immunity/ TLR Drosophila Guru). As the speaker started, I realised it was not the talk I had come to see, and at my obviously audible sigh of discontent , Jules politely and briefl y outlined the main points of the talk that I had missed and fi nished off with “and it gets a bit complex after that” which I suppose it always does Melinda Dean Glen Ulett when addressing the

15 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

multiple signalling pathways of innate President of the IUIS, Rolf was the fi rst that we landed on a different domestic airport, pattern recognition. plenary speaker and gave a talk entitled “On 26 hour delay in Buenos Aires and we nearly words and their meaning in immunology: missed two connecting fl ights because of The site of the conference in Brazil also memory versus protection.” Peter, who additional delays)! allowed participants to see a bit of the stepped in as the Acting IUIS President, spoke wider world: at the closing ceremony on the “Adventure The downside of such a large conference My visit to Rio, my first to an with killer T cells.” He talked about how he was its anonymity, and maybe resulting underdeveloped nation was an eye and Rolf discovered restriction of T cells by from it, a sense of competitiveness and a opener where, within 500m span, there the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) lack of obligation to other participants. Thus, would be new hotels, restaurants and the class I molecules while working at the John I wasn’t alone with some disappointing favelas (slums) side by side but living Curtin School of Medical Research. experiences when posters and talks, that I an entirely different way of life. Aside had marked in my conference booklet in from the favelas, residents appeared to On a more technical note, Lee Herzenberg happy anticipation, were never presented, live primarily in high rises or apartments, raised the question as to why immunologists while others only contained published or “in press’ results. Amongst these ‘ghosts’ were with relatively few stand alone homes are so particular about keeping the CO2 in comparison. I was able to visit the levels in their cultures similar to what also a number of posters and presentations on dendritic cells that I therefore missed Christ the Redeemer statue and also can be expected in the tissues, yet the O2 witness Rio’s oldest football team “The concentration is usually kept at atmospheric out on. Flamencos” beat Gois 3-1 convincingly level being 2-4 times as high as tissues at the Maracana stadium. In conclusion, concentrations. Interestingly, she showed As expected, it was a relatively big my trip to RIO was a great education that CD3/CD28 stimulation of primary T conference with about 16 simultaneous mini- experience, both scientifically and cells differs signifi cantly when cells are symposia every morning and six concurrent personally and I am thankful to the ASI either kept at atmospheric or physiological main-symposia in the afternoon, making it a for their fi nancial support that allowed oxygen levels. little diffi cult to catch all the presentations of me to undertake this journey. interest. The quality of science, presentations Although a good time was had by all, it was and discussions was stimulating and of high Some of the memorable sessions picked not all beer and skittles. The remote location standard, however, it was very disappointing out by the attendees: and large size of the conference had their and rude that a majority of people were The conference was graced with Nobel- downsides: leaving the plenary sessions while the prize winning immunologists including On the other hand, it was a nightmare speakers were still answering questions. Rolf Zinkernagel (Switzerland) and Peter travelling to Rio from Australia and I will C Doherty (Australia). As the outgoing never travel with Aerolineas Argentinas ever Finally, it should be said that all the attendees again (they did not inform anyone in English emphasised how much they had gained from the conference, and expressed their thanks to ASI for its support. Many of them also took the opportunity to visit other laboratories in the process, and both broaden their Ivan Poon personal horizons, and spread the message of Australasian Immunology far and wide. For future applicants, it is worth noting that many of the scholarship recipients emphasized their hesitance at initially applying, and Isaac Sakala their surprise at receiving such a prestigious award. So please keep those applications coming!

Sammy Bedoui

16 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 Guidelines for the ASI Visiting Speakers Program (ASI-VSP) Defi nition Guidelines for applying for funds for (ii) Nominations should be addressed ASI sponsors the visit of international visiting speakers: to the ASI Visiting speaker co- speakers (immunologists working overseas (a) ASI Visiting Speaker ordinator (J. Alejandro López) who are world-recognised authorities in their (i) Nominations can be made by any ASI at any time. He will seek interest fi eld of research) under two categories: member willing to host and co-ordinate in the proposed speaker from the visit. The nominating member the branches and will present (a) ASI Visiting Speaker, coming from should seek “in principle” agreement the information to the Council. overseas, and of the “terms of offer” by the visitor Decisions will be met by the (b) ASI Sponsored Speaker, already in (ii) Nominations to be made by email to the Council depending on budgetary Australia/New Zealand. The selection co-ordinator twice a year (deadlines: constraints of the candidates is made twice a year May 15 and November 15) and include (iii) Preference is given to speakers by the ASI Council and the number of a CV, a timeframe of the visit and a visiting three or more cities/ sponsored visitors is decided according short justifi cation. Later proposals will centres to the yearly budget. be considered if funds available (iii) Speaker must be visiting four or more Terms of Offer cities, including two of Perth, Adelaide, The ASI covers a maximum of $A5,000 Hobart, Brisbane, and any NZ city for category (a) and $A2,000 for category (iv) Speaker must not have been supported (b) to cover refundable economy airfares, in past three years as an ASI visitor Sustaining transportation within the home country and Membership appropriate travel insurance. In addition, (b) ASI Sponsored Speaker every hosting branch may apply to receive (i) Nominations can be made by any ASI ASI Inc acknowledges the $A150/night, to a maximum of three nights member willing to host and co-ordinate support of the following required for the ASI visit. The hosting the visit. The nominating member sustaining member: member (Branch) is responsible for procuring should seek “in principle” agreement • Jomar Diagnostics funding to cover any additional expenses. of the “terms of offer” by the visitor

SPF MICE AND RATS CUSTOMISED BREEDING MAINTENANCE OF STRAINS IMPORT AND EXPORT CRYOPRESERVATION

PO Box 1180 Canning Vale DC, Western Australia 6970 Telephone: (08) 9332 5033 Fax: (08) 9310 2839 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.arc.wa.gov.au

17 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 ASI Student Page

Hello all, just a spot of fun with an immunologically inspired crossword. Whether it’s winding down for Christmas or brushing up on your CD antigens (you will understand why the system was standardized) have fun! [Answers in March 2008 issue.]

1 2

3

45

6

7 8

9 10

11 12

13

14

15

Across Down 3. Proud to call myself an “…………” 1. Place of many hours, UV lights and incubators 4. Australasian Society for Immunology 2. “.. ..” Merry Christmas! 7. DNA – double “…..” 5. overseer (some more than others…) 9. Powerful tool 6. IL 10. Where we live (don’t pretend it isn’t true) 8. Aim of the game! 11. Processes antigen material and presents to other cells 9. CD antigen Complement receptor-4 13. CD antigen Frizzled-10 12. CD antigen Leu4 14. yummy icecream – cookies and “…..” 14. CD antigen B7-1 15. Hosting city of our great conference

Introduction – New Student Rep I must start with a special thank you to all the previous student reps for their contributions to ASI/students and I am looking forward to becoming the next student rep for 2008.

Here is just a little bit about myself: After spending hours in the dark looking under the confocal microscope during my Honours (examining the intracellular localization of a chicken anemia virus protein VP3) at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Monash University), I was searching for a change in lifestyle and research environment elsewhere in Australia. Through the advice from my previous supervisors, Prof. David Jans and A/Prof. Jennifer Rolland, I decided to undertake my PhD at the John Curtin School of Medical Research (in Canberra!) with Prof. Chris Parish and Dr Mark Hulett, studying the role of Histidine-rich glycoprotein at sites of tissue injury, in particular its function in necrotic cell clearance. Although the nightlife is not as much of an extravaganza as in Melbourne or Sydney, Canberra is a fantastic place to live (just a bit cold during winter).

Hope to see you all at the 38th Annual Scientifi c Meeting in Canberra next year and feel free to contact me via email: [email protected]. Cheers, Ivan Poon

18 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007

Immunome Research http://www.immunome-research.com/ Request for Article Submissions

Immunome Research is the journal of the International Immunomics Society (IIMMS). It is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal publishing cutting edge research at the intersection of immunology research with the latest technologies, including genomics, immunoinformatics and mathematical modelling.

Examples of recent papers include Alex Sette’s groups new model for predicting B cell epitopes, plus papers describing new methods for predicting MHC-peptide binding, modelling viral/host interactions, and using genomic technologies to better understand immune function.

Immunome Research accepts reports of original data, comprehensive reviews of any subject within the scope of the journal, commentaries, database articles, hypotheses, meeting reports, methodology articles and software articles. Immunome Research’s articles are archived in PubMed Central.

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically to Immunome Research using the online submission system at http://www.immunome-research.com/

For further information please contact the Editor-in-chief, Professor Nikolai Petrovsky, (nikolai.petrovsky@fl inders.edu.au) or the Associate Editor, Dr Susanne Heinzel ([email protected])

19 ASI Inc. Newsletter December 2007 ICB Publication of the Year Award 2006 Each year Immunology and Cell Biology offers an ICB Publication of the Year Award. The eligibility requirements for the award are quite simple: The fi rst author of any Original Article, Theoretical Article or Brief Communication published in ICB is eligible providing they are a fi nancial member of ASI by April of the year in which the article is published. The award consists of an AU$1,000 scholarship provided by The Nature Publishing Group.

A small committee, consisting of the Editor-in-Chief of ICB, the current ASI President and another ASI member, selects the best eligible paper based on the sole criterion of scientifi c excellence. This year I am pleased to announce that Dr Helen Thomas was the unanimous Dr Helen Thomas, recipient of the 2006 ICB Publication of the Year Award choice as the winner of the 2006 ICB Publication of the Year Award. Dr Thomas’ winning paper is entitled Post Doctoral Fellowship and currently holds UPCOMING LECTURES “Perturbations in NFκB or c-Jun N- a NHMRC RD Wright Career Development terminal kinase pathways in pancreatic Award. During her research career she & CONFERENCES beta cells confer susceptibility to has used transgenic and knockout mice cytokine-induced cell death" and was to make several key discoveries about the Molecular Approaches to Malaria published in the February 2006 issue of pathways that lead to pancreatic beta cell February 3-7, 2008 ICB.1 For many years pro-infl ammatory destruction in type 1 diabetes. In addition to Lorne, Victoria, Australia cytokines have been implicated in her research role, she has also been involved [email protected] pancreatic beta cell destruction during in establishing human islet isolation for the www.mamconferences.org the progression of type 1 diabetes. A Tom Mandel Islet Transplant Program. proposed approach to blocking cytokine- 8th International Conference on New mediated beta cell destruction has been I believe that this year’s award highlights the Trends in Immunosuppression and the inhibition of cytokine-induced gene high standard of manuscripts being published expression in beta cells. The study by Dr in ICB and, I hope, will encourage others to February 14-17, 2008 Thomas and colleagues published in ICB join the ASI and submit their outstanding Berlin, Germany has indicated, however, that defects in research to the journal. [email protected] cytokine signalling pathways, such as NFκB, rather than protecting beta cells 1. Thomas HE, Angstetra E, Fernandes RV, Australasian Vaccines & make them more susceptible to cytokine Mariana L, Irawaty W, Jamieson EL, Dudek Immunotherapeutics Development attack. These fi ndings have considerable NL et al. Perturbations in NFκB or c-Jun Workshop implications for future strategies for N-terminal kinase pathways in pancreatic May 14–16, 2008 the prevention and treatment of type 1 beta cells confer susceptibility to cytokine- Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia diabetes. induced cell death. Immunol Cell Biol 2006; [email protected] 84: 20-27. http://www.asnevents.net.au/avid/ Dr Helen Thomas is a senior investigator in the Immunology and Diabetes Christopher R Parish Frontiers in Immunology Research 2008 Laboratory at the St Vincent’s Institute Editor-in-Chief International Conference of Medical Research in Melbourne. Immunology and Cell Biology July 22–26, 2008 She completed her PhD at the Walter Florence, Italy and Eliza Hall Institute and is currently www.fi rnweb.com undertaking post-doctoral studies under the supervision of Professor Tom Kay The Walter and Eliza Hall 20th Annual ASHM Conference at the St Vincent’s Institute. In 2001 Institute of Medical Research September 17–20, 2008 Perth, WA, Australia she was awarded a Juvenile Diabetes WEHI Seminars on the Web: [email protected] Research Foundation (JDRF) Advanced www.wehi.edu/seminars/ www.ashm.org.au/conference 20