Honorary Research Fellow
BSc PhD
Dr Stephanie Trend completed her PhD at the University of Western Australia in 2015, where she studied preterm breast milk immune composition and anti-microbial activity in context of preterm infant sepsis. She joined the Inflammation team under Professor Prue Hart at Telethon Kids Institute in 2016 to contribute to the team’s ongoing work investigating changes in the immune cell populations in the blood of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and the role of UVB phototherapy in preventing disease relapse.
In 2019 Dr Trend was appointed as the MSWA Research Fellow at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Sciences and an Honorary Research Associate at Telethon Kids Institute, and was awarded an MSRA project grant for 2020-2021 to investigate the role of antibodies in driving inflammation in MS.
Dr Trend currently chairs the TKI early-mid career researcher (EMCR) council and the TKI Immunology Interest Group.
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Publications
February 2023
Assessing neutrophil subsets in autoimmune disease: Moving away from relying on density?
Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell in circulation. However, due to a number of technical challenges for researchers, including the neutrophil's short lifespan and difficulties with preservation, they are often discarded during blood processing and thus ignored in cohort studies. As such, the contribution of neutrophils to disease and their involvement in disease mechanisms is less explored compared with other immune cell types.
Published research Early Childhood Development Pregnancy and Early Life Immunology Inflammation Immune systemDecember 2022Genome Sequence of a Lytic Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriophage Isolated from Breast Milk
We identified a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophage appearing to belong to Herelleviridae, genus Kayvirus. The bacteriophage, Biyabeda-mokiny 1, was isolated from breast milk using a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus.
Published research Inflammation Airway Epithelial Research P4 Respiratory Health for Kids Respiratory Environmental Health Subsite: WalyanOctober 2022Epstein–Barr virus infection, B-cell dysfunction and other risk factors converge in gut-associated lymphoid tissue to drive the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: a hypothesis
Multiple sclerosis is associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, B-cell dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and environmental and genetic risk factors, including female sex.
Published research Infectious Diseases Pregnancy and Early Life Immunology InflammationFebruary 2022Sex-Specific Environmental Impacts on Initiation and Progression of Multiple Sclerosis
The immunological mechanisms that contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) differ between males and females. Females are 2-3 times more likely to develop MS compared to males, however the reason for this discrepancy is unknown. Once MS is established, there is a more inflammatory yet milder form of disease in females whereas males generally suffer from more severe disease and faster progression, neural degradation, and disability.
Published research Pregnancy and Early Life Immunology Inflammation Cardiometabolic SunhealthJanuary 2022Changes in serum neurofilament light chain levels following narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in clinically isolated syndrome
To determine whether serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels are suppressed in patients with the clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) following narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy (UVB-PT).
Published research InflammationJanuary 2021FcgammaRIIb Expression Is Decreased on Naive and Marginal Zone-Like B Cells From Females With Multiple Sclerosis
B cells are critical to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the mechanisms by which they contribute to the disease are poorly defined. We hypothesised that the expression of CD32b (FcγRIIb), a receptor for the Fc region of IgG with inhibitory activities in B cells, is lower on B cell subsets from people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or MS. CD32b expression was highest on post-naive IgM+ B cell subsets in healthy controls. For females with MS or CIS, significantly lower CD32b expression was identified on IgM+ B cell subsets, including naive and IgMhi MZ-like B cells, when compared with control females. Lower CD32b expression on these B cell subsets was associated with detectable anti-Epstein Barr Virus viral capsid antigen IgM antibodies, and higher serum levels of B cell activating factor. To investigate the effects of lower CD32b expression, B cells were polyclonally activated in the presence of IgG immune complexes, with or without a CD32b blocking antibody, and the expression of TNF and IL-10 in B cell subsets was assessed.
Published research InflammationAugust 2020Lactoferrin Expression Is Not Associated with Late-Onset Sepsis in Very Preterm Infants
Preterm infants are at a high risk of developing late-onset sepsis (LOS). Lactoferrin is one of the most abundant endogenous antimicrobial proteins expressed in breast milk, stools, and blood, and a candidate for preventive intervention. Large clinical trials have recently investigated whether enteral supplementation with bovine lactoferrin reduces LOS.
Published research Breastfeeding Vaccine Trials GroupOctober 2020Narrowband UVB phototherapy reduces TNF production by B-cell subsets stimulated via TLR7 from individuals with early multiple sclerosis
At the end of a 60-day course of narrowband UVB phototherapy, administered to individuals with early multiple sclerosis, there were changes in the relative proportions of circulating B-cell subsets. This study investigated phototherapy-associated changes to cytokine responses of B cells when exposed to a TLR7 ligand.
Published research Inflammation -
Education and Qualifications
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