Professor James Ussher
Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 3 479 5942
- james.ussher@otago.ac.nz
- Position
- Professor
- Department
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
- Qualifications
- MBChB PhD FRCPA
- Research summary
- Applied and molecular immunology, medical microbiology, vaccines
Research
My research interest is infection and immunity. In particular, I am interested in mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, their role in antibacterial immunity, and how they might be harnessed to prevent or treat bacterial infection. I have been involved in several fundamental discoveries in MAIT cell biology.
I am also interested in the antimicrobial resistance, in particular its rapid detection, characterisation, and transmission, especially in Enterobacteriaceae.
My clinical specialty is medical microbiology.
For more detail see:
micro.otago.ac.nz/our-people/teaching-research-and-support/james-ussher/
Publications
Ussher, J. E., Bilton, M., Attwod, E., Shadwell, J., Richardson, R., de Lara, C., … Willberg, C. B. (2014). CD161++CD8+ T cells, including the MAIT cell subset, are specifically activated by IL-12+IL-18 in a TCR-independent manner. European Journal of Immunology, 44(1), 195-203. doi: 10.1002/eji.201343509
Cosgrove, C., Ussher, J. E., Rauch, A., Gärtner, K., Kurioka, A., Hühn, M. H., … Klenerman, P. (2013). Early and nonreversible decrease of CD161++/MAIT cells in HIV infection. Blood, 121(6), 951-961. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-06-436436
Sheppard, H. M., Ussher, J. E., Verdon, D., Chen, J., Taylor, J. A., & Dunbar, P. R. (2013). Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6 efficiently transduces primary human melanocytes. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e62753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062753
Locke, M., Ussher, J. E., Mistry, R., Taylor, J. A., & Dunbar, P. R. (2011). Transduction of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 17(9), 949-959. doi: 10.1089/ten.tec.2011.0153
Ussher, J. E., & Taylor, J. A. (2010). Optimized transduction of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6. Human Gene Therapy, 21(12), 1675-1686. doi: 10.1089/hum.2010.087
Ussher, J. E., Bilton, M., Attwod, E., Shadwell, J., Richardson, R., de Lara, C., … Willberg, C. B. (2014). CD161++CD8+ T cells, including the MAIT cell subset, are specifically activated by IL-12+IL-18 in a TCR-independent manner. European Journal of Immunology, 44(1), 195-203. doi: 10.1002/eji.201343509
Journal - Research Article
Cosgrove, C., Ussher, J. E., Rauch, A., Gärtner, K., Kurioka, A., Hühn, M. H., … Klenerman, P. (2013). Early and nonreversible decrease of CD161++/MAIT cells in HIV infection. Blood, 121(6), 951-961. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-06-436436
Journal - Research Article
Sheppard, H. M., Ussher, J. E., Verdon, D., Chen, J., Taylor, J. A., & Dunbar, P. R. (2013). Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6 efficiently transduces primary human melanocytes. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e62753. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062753
Journal - Research Article
Locke, M., Ussher, J. E., Mistry, R., Taylor, J. A., & Dunbar, P. R. (2011). Transduction of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 17(9), 949-959. doi: 10.1089/ten.tec.2011.0153
Journal - Research Article
Ussher, J. E., & Taylor, J. A. (2010). Optimized transduction of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6. Human Gene Therapy, 21(12), 1675-1686. doi: 10.1089/hum.2010.087
Journal - Research Article
Ge, Y., Mansell, A., Ussher, J. E., Brooks, A. E. S., Manning, K., Wang, C. J. H., & Taylor, J. A. (2013). Rotavirus NSP4 triggers secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines from macrophages via toll-like receptor 2. Journal of Virology, 87(20), 11160-11167. doi: 10.1128/JVI.03099-12
Journal - Research Article
Smith, K., Pandey, S. K., & Ussher, J. E. (2012). Bacteraemia caused by Catabacter hongkongensis. Anaerobe, 18(3), 366-368. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2012.03.006
Journal - Research Other
Ussher, J. E., Wilson, E., Campanella, S., Taylor, S. L., & Roberts, S. A. (2007). Haemophilus ducreyi causing chronic skin ulceration in children visiting Samoa. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 44, e85-e87. doi: 10.1086/515404
Journal - Research Other
Briggs, S., Ussher, J., & Taylor, S. (2005). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae at Middlemore Hospital. New Zealand Medical Journal, 118(1218). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1218/1578/content.pdf
Journal - Research Article
Chambers, S., Heckert, K. A., Bagshaw, S., Ussher, J., Birch, M., & Wilson, M. A. (2001). Maternity care providers' attitudes and practices concerning HIV testing during pregnancy: Results of a survey of the Canterbury and upper South Island region. New Zealand Medical Journal, 114(1144), 513-516.
Journal - Research Article