The University of Western Australia
W/Prof Geoffrey Shellam
Contact details
| Address | The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training The University of Western Australia (M502) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 9346 2050 |
| Fax | 9346 2912 |
| geoff.shellam@uwa.edu.au |
Location
Room 2.17, L Block, QEII Medical Centre
Biography
Professor Geoff Shellam completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Melbourne, where he also undertook a PhD in immunology with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medicine. Professor Shellam then worked at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories before obtaining a Royal Science Fellowship which allowed him to study tumour immunology as a post-doctorate student at the College of London. He then won the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt International Cancer Fellowship to research at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland, USA. Professor Shellam originally came to The University of Western Australia as a Post-doctoral Fellow in 1977 and became a Professor of Microbiology in 1985. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in the United Kingdom, Co-director of the Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease and Director of the Masters of Infectious Disease Program.
Key research
- Cytomegalorviruses
- Arboviruses
- Microbiology of Antarctic Penguins
Qualifications
BSc PhD Melb., FRCPath, MASM
Roles, responsibilities and expertise
Professor, Co-director Marshall Centre for Infectious Disease and Director of the Masters of Infectious Disease Program
Funding received
Science Advisory Council, Australian Antarctic Division
National Health and Medical Centre
Australian Research Council
Medical & Health Research Infrastructure Fund
NH&MRC
National Health and Medical Centre
Australian Research Council
Medical & Health Research Infrastructure Fund
NH&MRC
Memberships
Australasian Society for Immunology (Former president)
Australian Society for Microbiology
Australian Society for Microbiology
Honours and awards
UWA Chancellors Medal
Australasian Society for Immunology Distinguished Science Award
Australasian Society for Immunology Distinguished Science Award
Teaching
Dr Shellam teaches in the following courses:
- MICR3301 General Microbiology
- MICR3302 Infection and Immunity
- MICR8830 Principles of Mycology and Parasitology (Unit Co-ordinator)
- MICR8835 Vectors of Infectious Disease and Vector Control (Unit Co-ordinator)
He also supervises:
Andrea McWhorter
Gassan Al-mousa
Beka Chan
Glenys Chidlow
Sharon Sanders
- MICR3301 General Microbiology
- MICR3302 Infection and Immunity
- MICR8830 Principles of Mycology and Parasitology (Unit Co-ordinator)
- MICR8835 Vectors of Infectious Disease and Vector Control (Unit Co-ordinator)
He also supervises:
Andrea McWhorter
Gassan Al-mousa
Beka Chan
Glenys Chidlow
Sharon Sanders
Useful links
http://www.marshallcentre.biomedchem.uwa.edu.au/
Current projects
1. Mouse Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalorviruses are a group of herpes viruses present in several mammal species, including humans and mice. Prof Shellam is interested in how CMV infection is controlled by the innate immune response, particularly the role of natural killer cells and T-cell immunity. Prof Shellam is also researching the role of CMV in causing a variety of other diseases, including hepatitis, myocarditis, congenital infections and damage in-vitro.
CMV has immune evasion proteins which allow it to escape immune elimination and cause a persistent, life-long infection. There are anti-viral drugs, but it is difficult to eliminate CMV totally. Research is currently focusing on how the virus interacts with the immune system and how viral proteins interact with polymorphic molecules in the immune system.
Mice are a good model for CMV infection in humans, and Prof Shellam uses wild isolates of the virus which are obtained from free living wild mice, as these are more clinically relevant than laboratory viral strains. Early research looked at using the CMV virus as a vector for immunocontraceptive biological control method for mouse plagues in the wheatfields. Although the group successfully created a CMV virus which expressed immunocontraceptive molecules and rendered mice infertile, the virus was not virulent enough to transmit freely in the wild.
2. Arboviruses
Arboviruses are mosquito borne diseases such as Ross River Virus and Murray Valley Encephalitis. Dr Shellam is interested in genetically controlled resistance to arbovirus infection and is the Manager of the Arbovirus Surveillance and Research Group. This group is responsible for co-ordinating and running surveillance programs to detect viral outbreaks in Western Australia. Funded by the Western Australian Health Department, they monitor viral levels in mosquito populations and flocks of sentinel chickens and make public health announcements when necessary.
3. Microbiology of Antarctic Penguins
Dr Shellam is currently undertaking research on the microbiology of bacterial and viral infections in penguin populations. In particular, he is researching Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) which causes a condition in domestic poultry known as ‘failure to thrive’. 95-100% of Emperor and Adelie Penguin chicks have developed antibodies against this virus, but it is difficult to tell exactly how this effects the penguins. Skuas, a seabird that prey on penguin chicks, migrate to Australia in summer and may possibly be acting as a vector between domestic birds and penguins. However, the virus has so far eluded attempts to isolate it from penguin chicks, so it is unclear if this strain originated from domestic chickens or is an evolutionary ancient virus that is also found in wild birds.
Collaborators
Dr Alec Redwood, Microbiology, UWA
Dr Lee Smith, Microbiology, UWA
Dr Megan Lloyd, Microbiology, UWA
John Papadimitriou, Pathology, University of Maryland
Prof Ulrich Koszionowski, University of Munich
Dr Rhonda Cardin, University of Cincinnati
Dr Stephan Jonjrc, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Bill Rowlinson, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of Sydney
Dr Ann Hill, University of Washington, Oregon
Prof Sarah Robertson, School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide
Cytomegalorviruses are a group of herpes viruses present in several mammal species, including humans and mice. Prof Shellam is interested in how CMV infection is controlled by the innate immune response, particularly the role of natural killer cells and T-cell immunity. Prof Shellam is also researching the role of CMV in causing a variety of other diseases, including hepatitis, myocarditis, congenital infections and damage in-vitro.
CMV has immune evasion proteins which allow it to escape immune elimination and cause a persistent, life-long infection. There are anti-viral drugs, but it is difficult to eliminate CMV totally. Research is currently focusing on how the virus interacts with the immune system and how viral proteins interact with polymorphic molecules in the immune system.
Mice are a good model for CMV infection in humans, and Prof Shellam uses wild isolates of the virus which are obtained from free living wild mice, as these are more clinically relevant than laboratory viral strains. Early research looked at using the CMV virus as a vector for immunocontraceptive biological control method for mouse plagues in the wheatfields. Although the group successfully created a CMV virus which expressed immunocontraceptive molecules and rendered mice infertile, the virus was not virulent enough to transmit freely in the wild.
2. Arboviruses
Arboviruses are mosquito borne diseases such as Ross River Virus and Murray Valley Encephalitis. Dr Shellam is interested in genetically controlled resistance to arbovirus infection and is the Manager of the Arbovirus Surveillance and Research Group. This group is responsible for co-ordinating and running surveillance programs to detect viral outbreaks in Western Australia. Funded by the Western Australian Health Department, they monitor viral levels in mosquito populations and flocks of sentinel chickens and make public health announcements when necessary.
3. Microbiology of Antarctic Penguins
Dr Shellam is currently undertaking research on the microbiology of bacterial and viral infections in penguin populations. In particular, he is researching Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) which causes a condition in domestic poultry known as ‘failure to thrive’. 95-100% of Emperor and Adelie Penguin chicks have developed antibodies against this virus, but it is difficult to tell exactly how this effects the penguins. Skuas, a seabird that prey on penguin chicks, migrate to Australia in summer and may possibly be acting as a vector between domestic birds and penguins. However, the virus has so far eluded attempts to isolate it from penguin chicks, so it is unclear if this strain originated from domestic chickens or is an evolutionary ancient virus that is also found in wild birds.
Collaborators
Dr Alec Redwood, Microbiology, UWA
Dr Lee Smith, Microbiology, UWA
Dr Megan Lloyd, Microbiology, UWA
John Papadimitriou, Pathology, University of Maryland
Prof Ulrich Koszionowski, University of Munich
Dr Rhonda Cardin, University of Cincinnati
Dr Stephan Jonjrc, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Bill Rowlinson, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of Sydney
Dr Ann Hill, University of Washington, Oregon
Prof Sarah Robertson, School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide
Research profile
