Research Focus Area Head, Early Environment
PhD
Associate Prof Strickland completed her PhD at the University of WA in the regulation of immune homeostatic processes in the respiratory tract. She received a prestigious Elizabeth Albeiz Fellowship (Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia) for post-doctoral studies at the Centenary Institute, Sydney.
Following this, her postdoctoral work focused on establishing an independent program of research to explore the pathogenic mechanisms associated with risk for allergic asthma inception and progression, particularly during early life. In parallel, she has established a complimentary research program to explore how inflammatory responses that occur in the mother during gestation can perturb the developing fetal immune system to result in increased risk for a range of diseases (including respiratory, metabolic, and neurological systems) in later life.
Her research program is targeted towards addressing key fundamental gaps in the understanding of immune development, homeostatic mechanisms and how the immune system can be programmed to drive increased disease susceptibility, or trained to mitigate disease risk, with the overarching goal of developing potential preventive strategies. Her current positions are as Team Leader Experimental Immunology, Athena Swan Chair, Early Environment Research Focus Area chair, Adjunct Assoc Prof UWA.
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Projects
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Publications
April 2021
Metabolic dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet modulates hematopoietic stem and myeloid progenitor cells in brown adipose tissue of mice
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) may be an important metabolic regulator of whole-body glucose. While important roles have been ascribed to macrophages in regulating metabolic functions in BAT, little is known of the roles of other immune cells subsets, particularly dendritic cells (DCs). Eating a high-fat diet may compromise the development of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs)-which give rise to DCs-in bone marrow, with less known of its effects in BAT. We have previously demonstrated that ongoing exposure to low-dose ultraviolet radiation (UVR) significantly reduced the 'whitening' effect of eating a high-fat diet upon interscapular (i) BAT of mice.
Experimental Immunology Inflammation Diabetes and ObesityJune 2021OMIP 076: High-dimensional immunophenotyping of murine T-cell, B-cell, and antibody secreting cell subsets
There is now considerable evidence demonstrating that both prenatal and postnatal exposure to particular classes of microbial stimuli can provide beneficial signals during early life immune development, resulting in the protection against future inflammatory disease.
Asthma Published research Experimental ImmunologyJuly 2021Protection against neonatal respiratory viral infection via maternal treatment during pregnancy with the benign immune training agent OM-85
Incomplete maturation of immune regulatory functions at birth is antecedent to the heightened risk for severe respiratory infections during infancy. Our forerunner animal model studies demonstrated that maternal treatment with the microbial-derived immune training agent OM-85 during pregnancy promotes accelerated postnatal maturation of mechanisms that regulate inflammatory processes in the offspring airways.
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyJuly 2021Prebiotic Supplementation During Pregnancy Modifies the Gut Microbiota and Increases Metabolites in Amniotic Fluid, Driving a Tolerogenic Environment In Utero
The gut microbiota is influenced by environmental factors such as food. Maternal diet during pregnancy modifies the gut microbiota composition and function, leading to the production of specific compounds that are transferred to the fetus and enhance the ontogeny and maturation of the immune system. Prebiotics are fermented by gut bacteria, leading to the release of short-chain fatty acids that can specifically interact with the immune system, inducing a switch toward tolerogenic populations and therefore conferring health benefits.
Published research Nutrition Experimental ImmunologyJuly 2021Protection against neonatal respiratory viral infection via maternal treatment during pregnancy with the benign immune training agent OM-85
Incomplete maturation of immune regulatory functions at birth is antecedent to the heightened risk for severe respiratory infections during infancy. Our forerunner animal model studies demonstrated that maternal treatment with the microbial-derived immune training agent OM-85 during pregnancy promotes accelerated postnatal maturation of mechanisms that regulate inflammatory processes in the offspring airways.
Published research Early Childhood Development Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyJuly 2021IRF7-Associated Immunophenotypes Have Dichotomous Responses to Virus/Allergen Coexposure and OM-85-Induced Reprogramming
High risk for virus-induced asthma exacerbations in children is associated with an IRF7lo immunophenotype, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we applied a Systems Biology approach to an animal model comprising rat strains manifesting high versus low susceptibility to experimental asthma, induced by virus/allergen coexposure, to elucidate the mechanism(s)-of-action of the high-risk asthma immunophenotype.
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Inflammation Human Immunology Systems Immunology Respiratory Environmental HealthDecember 2020Transplacental Innate Immune Training via Maternal Microbial Exposure: Role of XBP1-ERN1 Axis in Dendritic Cell Precursor Programming
We recently reported that offspring of mice treated during pregnancy with the microbial-derived immunomodulator OM-85 manifest striking resistance to allergic airways inflammation, and localized the potential treatment target to fetal conventional dendritic cell (cDC) progenitors. Here, we profile maternal OM-85 treatment-associated transcriptomic signatures in fetal bone marrow, and identify a series of immunometabolic pathways which provide essential metabolites for accelerated myelopoiesis.
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyMarch 2020Oestrogen amplifies pre-existing atopy-associated Th2 bias in an experimental asthma model
The role of oestrogen in experimental atopic asthma, and guide future research on sex-related variations in atopic asthma susceptibility/intensity
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMarch 2020Nasal delivery of a commensal Pasteurellaceae species inhibits nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae colonisation and delays onset of otitis media in mice
We have demonstrated that a single dose of a closely related commensal can delay onset of NTHi otitis media in vivo
Published research Ear Infections Infectious Diseases Experimental Immunology Vaccine Trials Group Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group Skin HealthFebruary 2020A method for the generation of large numbers of dendritic cells from CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood
Neonatal dendritic cells generated form CD34+ cord blood progenitors have a higher inflammatory potential when exposed to viral than bacterial related stimuli
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMarch 2019Quantification of Serum Ovalbumin-specific Immunoglobulin E Titre via in vivo Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis Assay
We describe herein a highly reproducible in vivo passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay using Sprague Dawley rats for the quantification of ovalbumin-specific IgE
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMarch 2019Early Life Ovalbumin Sensitization and Aerosol Challenge for the Induction of Allergic Airway Inflammation in a BALB/c Murine Model
This protocol adapted an experimental animal model of disease for sensitization to ovalbumin during the immediate post-weaning period beginning at 21 days of age
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMay 2019Pregnancy Induces a Steady-State Shift in Alveolar Macrophage M1/M2 Phenotype That Is Associated With a Heightened Severity of Influenza Virus Infection
Pregnancy is associated with an alternatively activated phenotype of alveolar macrophage before infection
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyJune 2019Personalized transcriptomics reveals heterogeneous immunophenotypes in children with viral bronchiolitis
Dysregulated expression of IFN-dependent pathways after respiratory viral infections is a defining immunophenotypic feature of AVB-susceptible infants
Published research Bronchiolitis Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologySeptember 2019Progressive increase of FcεRI expression across several PBMC subsets is associated with atopy and atopic asthma within school-aged children
The expression pattern of FcεRI on DC and basophils differentiates asthmatic from non-asthmatic atopic children
Asthma Published research Academic Biostatistics Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyNovember 2019Immunoinflammatory responses to febrile lower respiratory infections in infants display uniquely complex/intense transcriptomic profiles
the association between infant LRTI and risk for persistent wheeze/asthma in this cohort is generally stronger for fLRTIs than for other infection categories
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyNovember 2018Transplacental immune modulation with a bacterial-derived agent protects against allergic airway inflammation
These data provide proof of concept supporting the rationale for developing transplacental immune reprogramming approaches for primary disease prevention
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Respiratory Environmental HealthNovember 2018Basophil counts in PBMC populations during childhood acute wheeze/asthma are associated with future exacerbations
Our findings suggest that the proportion of degranulated basophils can also be associated with recurrent exacerbations
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyAugust 2018Atopy-dependent and independent immune responses in the heightened severity of atopics to respiratory viral infections: Rat model studies
The co-exposure responses in the Th2high BN incorporated type I interferon/Th1, alternative macrophage activation/Th2 and Th17 signatures
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyMay 2018Immunological processes driving IgE sensitisation and disease development in males and females
In this review, we discuss recent mechanistic studies casting further light on how the expression of sex hormones may influence the innate and adaptive immune system
Published research Experimental ImmunologyMarch 2018Functional differences in airway dendritic cells determine susceptibility to IgE-sensitization
Respiratory IgE-sensitization to innocuous antigens increases the risk for developing diseases such as allergic asthma.
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMarch 2017Cord blood Streptococcus pneumoniae-specific cellular immune responses predict early pneumococcal carriage in high-risk infants in Papua New Guinea
We aimed to explore whether newborns in high-risk areas have pre-existing pneumococcal-specific cellular immune responses that effects early acquisition.
Published research Ear Health Vaccine Trials GroupMay 2017Protection against maternal infection-associated fetal growth restriction: Proof-of-concept with a microbial-derived immunomodulator
This study suggests that broad-spectrum protection-of-pregnancy against infection-associated inflammatory stress represents an achievable therapeutic goal
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyNovember 2016A pathogenic role for the integrin CD103 in experimental allergic airways disease
Role for CD103 in the pathogenesis of experimental allergic airways disease in BALB/c mice through local control of CD4+ T cell and DC subset recruitment
Published research Experimental Immunology Cardiometabolic SunhealthJanuary 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 Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Systems ImmunologyNovember 2014Persistent and compartmentalised disruption of dendritic cell subpopulations in the lung following influenza A virus infection
Immunological homeostasis in the respiratory tract is thought to require balanced interactions between networks of dendritic cell (DC) subsets in lung...
Published research Influenza Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Respiratory Environmental HealthJune 2014Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling identifies a folate-sensitive region of differential methylation upstream of ZFP57-imprinting regulator in humans
This study identified that expsoure to folate has effects on the regulation of DNA methylation during fetal development.
Published research Nutrition Experimental Immunology ORIGINSApril 2014Connective tissue growth factor is expressed in bone marrow stromal cells and promotes interleukin-7-dependent B lymphopoiesis
Hematopoiesis occurs in a complex bone marrow microenvironment in which bone marrow stromal cells provide critical support to the process through direct cell...
Children's Cancers Published research Experimental Immunology Leukaemia Translational ResearchFebruary 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 Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyJuly 2013Size-Dependent Uptake of Particles by Pulmonary Antigen-Presenting Cell Populations
The respiratory tract is an attractive target organ for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications with nano-sized carriers, but their immune effects and...
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyJune 2013Altered immunity and dendritic cell activity in the periphery of mice after long-term engraftment with bone marrow from ultraviolet-irradiated mice
To investigate the immune capabilities of peripheral tissue DCs generated in vivo from the BM of UV-irradiated mice, chimeric mice were established.
Published research Experimental Immunology Inflammation Cancer Immunotherapy Cardiometabolic SunhealthNovember 2012Neonatal antigen-presenting cells are functionally more quiescent in children born under traditional compared with modern environmental conditions
One explanation for the high burden of allergic and autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries is inappropriate immune development under modern...
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Vaccine Trials Group ORIGINSAugust 2012Toward homeostasis: Regulatory dendritic cells from the bone marrow of mice with inflammation
Inflammatory mediators from peripheral tissues may control dendritic cell (DC) development in the bone marrow.
Published research Experimental Immunology Inflammation Cardiometabolic SunhealthMay 2012Ontogeny of toll-like and NOD-like receptor-mediated innate immune responses in Papua New Guinean infants
Studies addressing the ontogeny of the innate immune system in early life have reported mainly on Toll-like receptor (TLR) responses in infants living in...
Published research Child Allergy & Immunology Human Immunology ORIGINSMay 2012Defective aeroallergen surveillance by airway mucosal dendritic cells as a determinant of risk
A hallmark of atopic asthma is development of chronic airways hyper-responsiveness (AHR) that persists in the face of ongoing exposure to perennial...
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Respiratory Environmental HealthApril 2012Virus infection and allergy in the development of asthma: What is the connection?
Information is accumulating which implicates airway inflammation resulting from respiratory viral infections, acting against a background of atopy.
Asthma Published research Infectious Diseases Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMarch 2012Comparison of neonatal T regulatory cell function in Papua New Guinean and Australian newborns
We compared neonatal T reg from children born in western conditions (Australia) with those of neonates born in high microbial conditions (Papua New Guinea)...
Published research Child Allergy & Immunology Human Immunology ORIGINSFebruary 2012Inert 50-nm Polystyrene Nanoparticles That Modify Pulmonary Dendritic Cell Function and Inhibit Allergic Airway Inflammation
Nanoparticles are being developed for diverse biomedical applications, but there is concern about potential to promote inflammation, particularly in the lungs.
Published research Experimental ImmunologySeptember 2011T regulatory cells in childhood asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways, most commonly driven by immuno-inflammatory responses to ubiquitous airborne antigens.
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyAugust 2011Restricted aeroallergen access to airway mucosal dendritic cells in vivo limits allergen-specific
Chronic innocuous aeroallergen exposure attenuates CD4+ T cell-mediated airways hyperresponsiveness in mice; however, the mechanism(s) remain unclear
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyJanuary 2011Boosting airway T-regulatory cells by gastrointestinal stimulation as a strategy for asthma control
The hallmark of atopic asthma is transient airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) preceded by aeroallergen-induced Th-cell activation.
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology Respiratory Environmental HealthDecember 2010Epithelial-dendritic cell interactions in allergic disorders
Airway epithelial cells act through multiple mechanisms to function as an important component of the pulmonary defence strategy that is crucial...
Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyMay 2010Interactions between innate and adaptive immunity in asthma pathogenesis: new perspectives from studies on acute exacerbations
Atopic asthma, which is at its highest prevalence during childhood/young adulthood, represents the main focus of this review.
Asthma Published research Experimental Immunology Human ImmunologyApril 2010UV exposure and protection against allergic airways disease
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the small and large conducting airway mucosa characterised by Th2 cell immunity.
Asthma Published research Vitamin D and Sunlight Experimental Immunology Inflammation Cardiometabolic SunhealthJanuary 2010The role of dendritic cells and regulatory T cells in the regulation of allergic asthma
Airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is one of the major clinical features of allergic airways disease including allergic asthma
Asthma Published research Experimental ImmunologyJanuary 2010Identification and Isolation of Rodent Respiratory Tract Dendritic Cells
This chapter describes the preparation of respiratory tract tissue from both mice and rats for the isolation of respiratory tract dendritic cells (RTDC).
Published research Experimental Immunology Human Immunology