Laboratory Manager
BSc (Hons) PhD
Associate Professor Belinda Hales heads the Allergy and Infectious Disease Research Group investigating the interaction of bacterial and rhinovirus infections with allergic disease. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute and an Adjunct Associate Professor within the Centre for Child Health Research at the University of Western Australia.
Her group aims to investigate immunity to environmental substances encountered by the respiratory system of children who are either healthy, or who have a history of allergic disease. The group is particularly interested in measuring the type of immune responses healthy and allergic children have to common bacteria and viruses. The aim is to identify avenues that could protect children from diseases such as asthma and otitis media by identifying proteins that could either be used as vaccines, or used to modify the immune response.
A/Prof Hales has over 65 peer-reviewed publications and currently supervises 4 PhD students.
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Publications
February 2021
Dysfunctional gut microbiome networks in childhood ige‐mediated food allergy
The development of food allergy has been reported to be related with the changes in the gut microbiome, however the specific microbe associated with the pathogenesis of food allergy remains elusive. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the gut microbiome and identify individual or group gut microbes relating to food-allergy using 16S rRNA gene sequencing with network analysis.
Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Food AllergyJanuary 2019Effects of Ser47-Point Mutation on Conformation Structure and Allergenicity of the Allergen of Der p 2, a Major House Dust Mite Allergen
The mutant Der p 2 had altered structure and reduced ability to stimulate pro-inflammatory responses and to bind IgE
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesDecember 2018A marked shift in innate and adaptive immune response in chinese immigrants living in a western environment
There is a marked shift in innate and adaptive immune responses in Chinese immigrants after living in a Western environment for several years
Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Human ImmunologyApril 2018The Western Environment Reduces Innate Immune Cytokine Production in Chinese Immigrants
We recruited age- and sex-matched Chinese immigrants living in Western Australia for less than 6 months (newly arrived, n = 22) or more than 5 years.
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesMarch 2018T-cell responses against rhinovirus species A and C in asthmatic and healthy children
Infections by RV species A and C are the most common causes of exacerbations of asthma and a major cause of exacerbations of other respiratory disease.
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesFebruary 2018Clinical significance of circulating microRNAs as markers in detecting and predicting congenital heart defects in children
In this study, we aimed to investigate the usefulness of miRNAs as biomarkers in diagnosing and predicting children with congenital heart defects (CHD), particularly in the context of multiple subtypes of CHD.
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesNovember 2016Immunodominant T-cell epitopes in the VP1 capsid protein of rhinovirus species A and C
Our results indicate a dissociation between the antibody and T-cell responses to rhinoviruses
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesAugust 2016A longitudinal study of natural antibody development to pneumococcal surface protein A families 1 and 2 in Papua New Guinean Highland children: a cohort study
Pneumococcal surface protein A is immunogenic and natural anti-PspA immune responses are acquired through exposure and develop with age
Published research Academic Biostatistics Allergy & Infectious Diseases Ear Health Vaccine Trials GroupJanuary 2016Distinguishing benign from pathologic TH2 immunity in atopic children
In addition to its role in blocking TH2 effector activation in the late-phase allergic response, IL-10 is a known IgG1 switch factor
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Pregnancy and Early Life Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyJanuary 2016Effect of amino acid polymorphisms of house dust mite Der p 2 variants on allergic sensitization
Measures of allergic sensitization and therapeutic strategies could be optimized with knowledge of Der p 2 variants
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2016Western environment/lifestyle is associated with increased genome methylation and decreased gene expression in Chinese immigrants living in Australia
Chinese immigrants living in Australia for a longer period of time have increased overall genome methylation and decreased overall gene expression
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesDecember 2015Analysis of IgE binding patterns to house dust mite allergens in scabies-endemic communities: insights for both diseases
This study analysed the IgE binding patterns caused by house dust mite allergens in scabies endemic communities in Australia.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesOctober 2015Lower anti-echovirus antibody responses in children presenting to hospital with asthma exacerbations.
This article assesses the absolute and specific antibody titres to VP1 antigens of the gut-trophic enteroviruses, echovirus 30 and Sabin 1 poliovirus, in...
Asthma Published research Infectious Diseases Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJuly 2015Chronic cat allergen exposure induces a Th2 cell-dependent IgG4 response related to low sensitization
This study evaluated the relationship between cat allergen–specific biomarkers in adults with cat allergy with and without cat ownership.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJuly 2015Genome-wide association study of IgG1 responses to the choline-binding protein PspC of Streptococcus pneumoniae
Delayed development of antibodies to S. pneumoniae in infancy is associated with the development of atopy and asthma.
Asthma Published research Immunisation Allergy & Infectious Diseases Genetics and HealthMay 2015The Infant Nasopharyngeal Microbiome Impacts Severity of Lower Respiratory Infection and Risk of Asthma Development
Lung inflammation resulting from ARIs during infancy is linked to asthma development.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Human ImmunologyJanuary 2015A role for CCL28-CCR3 in T-cell homing to the human upper airway mucosa
Lymphocyte recruitment to peripheral tissues is fundamental for immune surveillance and homeostasis, but the chemokines and chemokine receptors responsible...
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2015Developments in the field of allergy in 2014 through the eyes of Clinical and Experimental Allergy
The pathogenesis of asthma continues to be a major topic of interest to our authors with reviews and original papers on the role of viruses, mechanisms of...
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Food AllergyJanuary 2015Improving immunity to Haemophilus influenzae in children with chronic suppurative lung disease
Endobronchial infections related to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are common in children and adults with suppurative airway disease...
Published research Immunisation Influenza Infectious Diseases Allergy & Infectious DiseasesAugust 2014Children with chronic suppurative lung disease have a reduced capacity to synthesize interferon-gamma in vitro in response to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae
The aim of this study was to identify features of innate, cell-mediated and humoral immunity that may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections in...
Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesApril 2014Comparison of rhinovirus antibody titers in children with asthma exacerbations and species-specific rhinovirus infection
Asthma exacerbations are associated with human rhinovirus (HRV) infections, and more severe exacerbations are associated with HRV-C.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesFebruary 2014Defective respiratory tract immune surveillance in asthma : A primary causal factor in disease onset and progression
The relative importance of respiratory viral infections vs inhalant allergy in asthma pathogenesis is the subject of ongoing debate.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Pregnancy and Early Life Immunology Human ImmunologyAugust 2013Species-Specific and Cross-Reactive IgG1 Antibody Binding to Viral Capsid Protein 1 (VP1) Antigens of Human Rhinovirus Species A, B and C
Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are associated with upper and lower respiratory illnesses, including severe infections causing hospitalization in both children...
Published research Infectious Diseases Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2013IgE and IgG binding patterns and T-cell recognition of fel d 1 and Non-Fel d 1 cat allergens
To compare IgE and IgG antibody binding and T-cell recognition of the major cat allergen Fel d 1 with other cat proteins with known IgE binding properties.
Asthma Published researchOctober 2012Quantitation of IgE Binding to the Chitinase and Chitinase-Like House Dust Mite Allergens
The prevalence of IgE binding to the group 15 and 18 house dust mite (HDM) allergens of the Dermatophagoides species...
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJuly 2012Reduced rhinovirus-specific antibodies are associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are often linked to respiratory infections.
Published research Infectious Diseases Allergy & Infectious DiseasesApril 2012Antibacterial antibody responses associated with the development of asthma in house dust mite-sensitised and non-sensitised children
We aimed to measure the antibody development to 2 bacteria in a birth cohort at high risk of allergic disease, and to assess which responses are asthma-linked.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Human ImmunologyMarch 2012Effect of early carriage of streptococcus pneumoniae on the development of pneumococcal protein-specific cellular immune responses in infancy
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization in early life and the development of T cell responses.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Infectious Diseases Allergy & Infectious Diseases Human Immunology Vaccine Trials GroupSeptember 2011A diagnostic test for scabies: IgE specificity for a recombinant allergen of Sarcoptes scabiei
Scabies infestations are difficult to diagnose clinically and current serologic tests have less than 50% accuracy...
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesMay 2011Two newly identified cat allergens: The von Ebner gland protein Fel d 7 and the latherin-like protein Fel d 8
Characterization of the complete IgE binding spectrum of cat allergens is important for the development of improved diagnosis and effective immunotherapeutics.
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesSeptember 2010Th2-associated immunity to bacteria in asthma in teenagers and susceptibility to asthma
Bacterial colonisation of the airways is associated with increased risk of childhood asthma
Asthma Published research Academic Biostatistics Allergy & Infectious Diseases Human Immunology Youth HealthJuly 2010House dust mite allergens in asthma and allergy
IgE antibodies in house dust mite (HDM) allergy follow a predictable pattern. Half are directed against two dominant allergens and the remainder largely against
Asthma Published research Allergy & Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2010Early aberrant antibody responses of aeroallergen sensitised people to subclinical bacterial infection
Early aberrant antibody responses, aeroallergen sensitised people, subclinical bacterial infection
Published research Allergy & Infectious Diseases Human Immunology -
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