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Stromal cell niches that direct anti-viral immune responses
The lymphoid tissues (spleen and lymph nodes) are constructed of a complex microarchitecture that is supported by networks of endothelial and mesenchymal stromal cells. Our work has redefined understanding of the stromal cell architecture in the spleen and revealed dynamic responses by mesenchymal cells that are crucial to support adaptive immune responses. We are currently investigating how stromal cell niches direct early immune responses and support healthy immune cells during persisting infections in order to improve immunotherapy of chronic infections.
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Designing new software approaches to dissect immune responses in vivo
We have developed a world-leading intravital 3-photon microscope to investigate how immune cells behave in vivo. The technique generates 4D time lapse data (3D in space, 1D in time), which enables us to visualise dense 3D tissue environments and the migratory behaviour of individual immune cells. We have also developed and patented a novel method that allows us to track individual immune cells in the eyes of living humans. However, quantitative analysis of immune cell dynamics and phenotypes is time consuming and limited by a lack of simple software options for complex, time-lapse images. We are developing novel software approaches to improve the analysis of immune cell behaviours, and their interactions with other cells and structures, in mouse and human tissues.
Professor Scott Mueller
+61 413 211 955 | smue@unimelb.edu.au
- Position:
- Laboratory Head
- Theme(s):
- Immunology, Bacterial and Parasitic Infections
- Discipline(s):
- Discovery Research
- Unit(s):
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology (DMI)
- Lab Group(s):
- Mueller Group
Scott is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and a Dame Kate Campbell Fellow, in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, and The University of Melbourne. He completed his PhD at The University of Melbourne with Frank Carbone, performed postdoctoral training in the USA at Emory University with Dr Rafi Ahmed and then at the National Institutes of Health with Dr Ronald Germain before starting his laboratory in 2010. Scott led the establishment of an advanced microscopy facility in the Doherty and procured and setup several multi-photon imaging systems, including Australia’s first 3-photon microscope.
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Key Achievements
Publications
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Scott is internationally recognised for research using animal models and advanced intravital microscopy techniques to interrogate cell dynamics and cell-cell interactions in vivo from the perspective of the immune cells (lymphocytes, dendritic cells) and cross-talk with the tissue microenvironment (nerves and structural cells) to achieve a detailed understanding of these processes from the cell to the tissue level. He publishes in the leading journals, including Nature, Science, Nature Immunology, Immunity and PNAS. Current research in the laboratory is focused on defining cross-talk between sympathetic nerves and immune responses. We are using contemporary neuroscience tools to study fundamental neuroimmune interactions. We are also developing new open-source image analysis software tools to improve unbiased quantitative analysis of cell behaviours from live imaging data.
ProjectsLoading ORCID data…Research GroupsStudent Projects-
Mueller Group
Research in the Mueller laboratory is focused on dissecting the fundamental cellular processes involved in immune and neuro-immune responses to viruses and cancer in order to identify new targets for vaccines and novel therapeutics. We use advanced imaging and image analysis, single cell and spatial transcriptomics, transgenic mice, CRISPR editing and neuroscience tools to address these crucial knowledge gaps.
Lab Team
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Research Officer
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Dr Yannick AlexandrePostdoctoral Researcher
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Dr Harry HorsnellPostdoctoral Researcher
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Dr Dominik SchienstockPostdoctoral Researcher
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Dr Mengliang WuPostdoctoralResearcher
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Dr Mitchell RinguetPostdoctoral Researcher
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Melanie DamtsisResearch Assistant
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Kirthana SenthilPhD Candidate
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Alicia WeierPhD Candidate
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Amir HossainPhD Candidate
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Zoë FransosMasters Student
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Deep learning approaches to track immune cell migration in vivo
Harnessing the lymph nodes to treat cancer metastasis
Neural regulation of anti-cancer immunity
Neuroimmune interactions in virus infection
New ways of targeting monocytes to treat infection and cancer
Targeting stem-like T cell niches to treat chronic infections
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