Immunologist
Clinical Microbiologist, Southern Community Laboratories
MBChB, Otago 1999 PhD, Auckland 2010 FRCPA, 2010 Oxford Nuffield Medical Fellow, Oxford University, UK (2010-2013)
Email james.ussher@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 5942
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James_Ussher
Appointed: 2013
Teaching roles
Research interests
Applied and molecular immunology, medical microbiology, vaccines
Current research
My academic research interest is in infection and immunity:
- Antibacterial immunity. In particular, the role of mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and other innate-like T cells in antibacterial immunity, and how they might be harnessed to prevent or treat bacterial infections. I have been involved in several fundamental discoveries in MAIT cell biology.
- Antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaecae. In particular, the use of molecular epidemiology to track transmission pathways.
My clinical specialty is clinical microbiology and my research interests are in the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and infection control.
Recently my group has been working with Prof. Miguel Quiñones-Mateu's group to respond to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19:
- Developed a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay on the Panther Fusion for high throughput, random access testing
- Culture and characterisation of SARS-CoV-2, including genome sequencing
In collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Jo Stanton's group and Prof. Miguel Quiñones-Mateu's group we are working to develop novel diagnostic strategies for SARS-CoV-2.
Ussher Lab 2020
Lab group
- Rachel Hannaway – Laboratory Manager
- Rajesh Lamichhane – Assistant Research Fellow
Postgraduate students
- Ohn Myat – PhD Student
- Sakiusa Baleivanualala – PhD Student
- abatha Roman – PhD Student
- Mitchell Foster – Phd Student
- Henry Cao – MSc Student
- Hannah Boswell – BBiomedSci (Hons)
- Laura Wedlock – BSc (Hons)
Lab alumni
- Andrew Robinson -– BBioMedSci (Hons) (first class) 2014. Summer student 2014/2015. Thesis: "Novel methods for the rapid identification and susceptibility testing of blood culture isolates". Currently: Studying medicine, University of Otago
- Isabelle Stewart – BSc (Hons) (first class) 2014. Thesis: "Improving the diagnosis of leukaemia by flow cytometry". Currently: DPhil candidate, University of Oxford
- Joshua Lange – BSc (Hons) (first class) 2015. Thesis: "The role of mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in cervine Johne's disease". Currently: PhD candidate, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
- Emily Powell – BSc (Hons) (first class) 2016. Thesis: "Isolation and Characterisation of Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells in Red Deer". Currently: Lab Technician, Assure Quality
- Isuri Hapuarachchi – PGDipMLSc 2016. Thesis: Evaluation of ESBL E. coli urinary isolates in Dunedin. MMLSc 2020. Thesis: "Genetic Evaluation of ESBL E. coli Urinary Isolates in Otago". Currently: Medical laboratory scientist, Southern Community Laboratories.
- Thomas Williams – BSc (Hons) (first class) 2017. Thesis: "The role of Toll-like receptor signalling in MR1 surface expression and mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation". Currently: Bachelor of Medicine, University of Auckland
- Maad Youhanna – MSc 2017. Currently: Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Otago
- Tabatha Roman – BBioMedSci (Hons) (first class) 2018. Thesis: "MR1 surface expression on primary blood cells and their role in mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation". Currently: MSc (BBioMedSci) candidate, University of Otago
- Henry Cao – PGDipSci 2018. Thesis: "Method development for the visualisation of mucosal associated invariant T cells and MR1-expressing cells in formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples". Currently: MSc candidate, University of Otago
- Phoebe Dewar – BBioMedSci (Hons) (first class) 2019. Thesis: "Bacterial regulation of early activation of mucosal-associated invariant T cells". Currently: PhD candidate, University of Melbourne
- Dr Marion Schneider – Postdoctoral Fellow
Current sources of funding
- Health Research Council
- Maurice Wilkins Centre
- University of Otago Research Grant
Publications
Ussher, J. E., Bilton, M., Attwod, E., Shadwell, J., Richardson, R., de Lara, C., … Willberg, C. B. (2014). CD161++CD8+ T cells, including the MAIT cell subset, are specifically activated by IL-12+IL-18 in a TCR-independent manner. European Journal of Immunology, 44(1), 195-203. doi: 10.1002/eji.201343509 Journal - Research Article
Cosgrove, C., Ussher, J. E., Rauch, A., Gärtner, K., Kurioka, A., Hühn, M. H., … Klenerman, P. (2013). Early and nonreversible decrease of CD161++/MAIT cells in HIV infection. Blood, 121(6), 951-961. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-06-436436 Journal - Research Article
Sheppard, H. M., Ussher, J. E., Verdon, D., Chen, J., Taylor, J. A., & Dunbar, P. R. (2013). Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6 efficiently transduces primary human melanocytes. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e62753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062753 Journal - Research Article
Locke, M., Ussher, J. E., Mistry, R., Taylor, J. A., & Dunbar, P. R. (2011). Transduction of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 17(9), 949-959. doi: 10.1089/ten.tec.2011.0153 Journal - Research Article
Ussher, J. E., & Taylor, J. A. (2010). Optimized transduction of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6. Human Gene Therapy, 21(12), 1675-1686. doi: 10.1089/hum.2010.087 Journal - Research Article