Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan leads the Molecular Imaging and Computational Modelling Team at the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute. His team combines mathematical modelling and quantitative imaging techniques to discover pathomechanisms underlying the progression of several infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kneynsberg, Andrew, Cruz, Esteban, Amor, Rumelo, Sibarita, Jean‐Baptiste and Götz, Jürgen (2022). Single‐molecule imaging reveals Tau trapping at nanometer‐sized dynamic hot spots near the plasma membrane that persists after microtubule perturbation and cholesterol depletion. The EMBO Journal, 41 (19) e111265, 1-16. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111265
Journal Article: Modeling how antibody responses may determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2022). Modeling how antibody responses may determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Nature Computational Science, 2 (2), 123-131. doi: 10.1038/s43588-022-00198-0
Journal Article: Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kneynsberg, Andrew and Götz, Jürgen (2021). Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 22 (12), 723-740. doi: 10.1038/s41583-021-00531-y
Journal Article: Targeting TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L together may be synergistic against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2020). Targeting TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L together may be synergistic against SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS Computational Biology, 16 (12) e1008461, e1008461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008461
Journal Article: Frontotemporal dementia mutant Tau promotes aberrant Fyn nanoclustering in hippocampal dendritic spines
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Xia, Di, Götz, Jürgen and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2019). Frontotemporal dementia mutant Tau promotes aberrant Fyn nanoclustering in hippocampal dendritic spines. eLife, 8 e45040. doi: 10.7554/elife.45040
Journal Article: Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Goodhill, Geoffrey J. (2018). Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 285 (1877) 20172618, 20172618. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2618
Journal Article: Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus entry may be potent ingredients of optimal drug combinations
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2017). Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus entry may be potent ingredients of optimal drug combinations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (23), E4524-E4526. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1704531114
Journal Article: Emergent properties of the interferon-signalling network may underlie the success of hepatitis C treatment
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Garaigorta, Urtzi and Dixit, Narendra M. (2014). Emergent properties of the interferon-signalling network may underlie the success of hepatitis C treatment. Nature Communications, 5 (1) 3872, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4872
Journal Article: Mathematical model of viral kinetics in vitro estimates the number of E2-CD81 complexes necessary for hepatitis C virus entry
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2011). Mathematical model of viral kinetics in vitro estimates the number of E2-CD81 complexes necessary for hepatitis C virus entry. PLoS Computational Biology, 7 (12) e1002307, e1002307-e1002307. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002307
Mathematical modelling of neural wiring development
(2015–2017) UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
In vitro microscopy studies into the organization and dynamics of key proteins that form the blood-brain barrier in physiological and pathological ageing and in response to therapeutic ultrasound
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and cellular studies of neurodegenerative disease and neuronal protein synthesis
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kneynsberg, Andrew, Cruz, Esteban, Amor, Rumelo, Sibarita, Jean‐Baptiste and Götz, Jürgen (2022). Single‐molecule imaging reveals Tau trapping at nanometer‐sized dynamic hot spots near the plasma membrane that persists after microtubule perturbation and cholesterol depletion. The EMBO Journal, 41 (19) e111265, 1-16. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111265
Modeling how antibody responses may determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2022). Modeling how antibody responses may determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Nature Computational Science, 2 (2), 123-131. doi: 10.1038/s43588-022-00198-0
Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kneynsberg, Andrew and Götz, Jürgen (2021). Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 22 (12), 723-740. doi: 10.1038/s41583-021-00531-y
Targeting TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L together may be synergistic against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2020). Targeting TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L together may be synergistic against SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS Computational Biology, 16 (12) e1008461, e1008461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008461
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Xia, Di, Götz, Jürgen and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2019). Frontotemporal dementia mutant Tau promotes aberrant Fyn nanoclustering in hippocampal dendritic spines. eLife, 8 e45040. doi: 10.7554/elife.45040
Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Goodhill, Geoffrey J. (2018). Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 285 (1877) 20172618, 20172618. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2618
Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus entry may be potent ingredients of optimal drug combinations
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2017). Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus entry may be potent ingredients of optimal drug combinations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (23), E4524-E4526. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1704531114
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Garaigorta, Urtzi and Dixit, Narendra M. (2014). Emergent properties of the interferon-signalling network may underlie the success of hepatitis C treatment. Nature Communications, 5 (1) 3872, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4872
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2011). Mathematical model of viral kinetics in vitro estimates the number of E2-CD81 complexes necessary for hepatitis C virus entry. PLoS Computational Biology, 7 (12) e1002307, e1002307-e1002307. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002307
Bistability in virus–host interaction networks underlies the success of hepatitis C treatments
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Raja, Rubesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2020). Bistability in virus–host interaction networks underlies the success of hepatitis C treatments. Phenotypic switching: implications in biology and medicine. (pp. 131-156) edited by Herbert Levine, Mohit Kumar Jolly, Prakash Kulkarni and Vidyanand Nanjundiah. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-817996-3.00024-4
Single-molecule imaging of recycling synaptic vesicles in live neurons
Joensuu, Merja, Martínez-Mármol, Ramon, Mollazade, Mahdie, Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2020). Single-molecule imaging of recycling synaptic vesicles in live neurons. Single molecule microscopy in neurobiology. (pp. 81-114) edited by Nobuhiko Yamamoto and Yasushi Okada. New York, NY United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0532-5_5
Models of viral population dynamics
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2016). Models of viral population dynamics. Quasispecies: from theory to experimental systems. (pp. 277-302) edited by Domingo, Esteban and Schuster, Peter. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/82_2015_458
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2023). Modelling how increased Cathepsin B/L and decreased TMPRSS2 usage for cell entry by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may affect the efficacy and synergy of TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L inhibitors. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 572 111568, 111568. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2023.111568
Clinical relevance of animal models in aging-related dementia research
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Götz, Jürgen (2023). Clinical relevance of animal models in aging-related dementia research. Nature Aging, 3 (5), 481-493. doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00402-4
Chen, Liyu, Cruz, Esteban, Oikari, Lotta E., Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Song, Jae and Götz, Jürgen (2022). Opportunities and challenges in delivering biologics for Alzheimer's disease by low-intensity ultrasound. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 189 114517, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114517
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kneynsberg, Andrew, Cruz, Esteban, Amor, Rumelo, Sibarita, Jean‐Baptiste and Götz, Jürgen (2022). Single‐molecule imaging reveals Tau trapping at nanometer‐sized dynamic hot spots near the plasma membrane that persists after microtubule perturbation and cholesterol depletion. The EMBO Journal, 41 (19) e111265, 1-16. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111265
Ultrasound-mediated bioeffects in senescent mice and Alzheimer’s mouse models
Balbi, Matilde, Blackmore, Daniel G., Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Götz, Jürgen (2022). Ultrasound-mediated bioeffects in senescent mice and Alzheimer’s mouse models. Brain Sciences, 12 (6) 775, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12060775
Mechanistic models of COVID-19: insights into disease progression, vaccines, and therapeutics
Desikan, Rajat, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kierzek, Andrzej M. and van der Graaf, Piet H. (2022). Mechanistic models of COVID-19: insights into disease progression, vaccines, and therapeutics. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 60 (1) 106606, 106606. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2022.106606
Modeling how antibody responses may determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2022). Modeling how antibody responses may determine the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Nature Computational Science, 2 (2), 123-131. doi: 10.1038/s43588-022-00198-0
Garg, Amar K., Mittal, Soumya, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2021). Increased B cell selection stringency in germinal centers can explain improved COVID-19 vaccine efficacies with low dose prime or delayed boost. Frontiers in Immunology, 12 776933, 776933. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.776933
Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kneynsberg, Andrew and Götz, Jürgen (2021). Super-resolution microscopy: a closer look at synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 22 (12), 723-740. doi: 10.1038/s41583-021-00531-y
Targeting TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L together may be synergistic against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Desikan, Rajat and Dixit, Narendra M. (2020). Targeting TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin B/L together may be synergistic against SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS Computational Biology, 16 (12) e1008461, e1008461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008461
Gormal, Rachel S., Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Kasula, Ravikiran, Bademosi, Adekunle T., Coakley, Sean, Giacomotto, Jean, Blum, Ailisa, Joensuu, Merja, Wallis, Tristan P., Lo, Harriet P., Budnar, Srikanth, Rae, James, Ferguson, Charles, Bastiani, Michele, Thomas, Walter G., Pardon, Els, Steyaert, Jan, Yap, Alpha S., Goodhill, Geoffrey J., Hilliard, Massimo A., Parton, Robert G. and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2020). Modular transient nanoclustering of activated β2-adrenergic receptors revealed by single-molecule tracking of conformation-specific nanobodies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117 (48), 30476-30487. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2007443117
Radial contractility of actomyosin rings facilitates axonal trafficking and structural stability
Wang, Tong, Li, Wei, Martin, Sally, Papadopulos, Andreas, Joensuu, Merja, Liu, Chunxia, Jiang, Anmin, Shamsollahi, Golnoosh, Amor, Rumelo, Lanoue, Vanessa, Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2020). Radial contractility of actomyosin rings facilitates axonal trafficking and structural stability. Journal of Cell Biology, 219 (5) e201902001, 1-S7. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201902001
Opening of smaller toxin pores by lipid micelle formation
Desikan, Rajat, Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Ganapathy Ayappa, K. (2020). Opening of smaller toxin pores by lipid micelle formation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117 (10), 5107-5108. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1921467117
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Xia, Di, Götz, Jürgen and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2019). Frontotemporal dementia mutant Tau promotes aberrant Fyn nanoclustering in hippocampal dendritic spines. eLife, 8 e45040. doi: 10.7554/elife.45040
Need for speed: Super-resolving the dynamic nanoclustering of syntaxin-1 at exocytic fusion sites
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Bademosi, Adekunle T., Kasula, Ravikiran, Lauwers, Elsa, Verstreken, Patrik and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2019). Need for speed: Super-resolving the dynamic nanoclustering of syntaxin-1 at exocytic fusion sites. Neuropharmacology, 169 107554, 107554. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.02.036
Kasula, Ravikiran, Blum, Ailisa, Salla-Martret, Merce, Chai, Ye Jin, Jiang, Anmin, Wallis, Tristan P., Gormal, Rachel S., Brouillet, Julie Z., Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Weeratunga, Saroja K., Livingstone, Emma K., Mollazade, Mahdie, Joensuu, Merja, Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Collins, Brett M. and Meunier, Frederic (2019). VAMP2 Binding to Munc18-1 Domain 3a Controls the Nanoscale Reorganization of the Plasma Membrane and Vesicle Interface During Vesicular Priming. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3362260
Venugopal, Vishnu, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Raja, Rubesh and Dixit, Narendra M (2018). Modelling how responsiveness to interferon improves interferon-free treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. PLoS Computational Biology, 14 (7) e1006335, e1006335. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006335
Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Goodhill, Geoffrey J. (2018). Axon growth regulation by a bistable molecular switch. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 285 (1877) 20172618, 20172618. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2618
Joensuu, Merja, Martinez-Marmol, Ramon, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Glass, Nick R., Durisic, Nela, Pelekanos, Matthew, Mollazade, Mahdie, Balistreri, Giuseppe, Amor, Rumelo, Cooper-White, Justin J., Goodhill, Geoffrey J. and Meunier, Frederic A. (2017). Visualizing endocytic recycling and trafficking in live neurons by subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules. Nature Protocols, 12 (12), 2590-2622. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2017.116
Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus entry may be potent ingredients of optimal drug combinations
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2017). Inhibitors of hepatitis C virus entry may be potent ingredients of optimal drug combinations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (23), E4524-E4526. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1704531114
Bademosi, Adekunle T., Lauwers, Elsa, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Odierna, Lorenzo, Chai, Ye Jin, Papadopulos, Andreas, Goodhill, Geoffrey J., Verstreken, Patrik, van Swinderen, Bruno and Meunier, Frédéric A (2017). Erratum: In vivo single-molecule imaging of syntaxin1A reveals polyphosphoinositide- and activity-dependent trapping in presynaptic nanoclusters. Nature Communications, 8 (1) 14492. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14492
Bademosi, Adekunle T., Lauwers, Elsa, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Odierna, Lorenzo, Chai, Ye Jin, Papadopulos, Andreas, Goodhill, Geoffrey J., Verstreken, Patrik, Van Swinderen, Bruno and Meunier, Frederic A. (2016). In vivo single-molecule imaging of syntaxin1A reveals polyphosphoinositide- and activity-dependent trapping in presynaptic nanoclusters. Nature Communications, 7 (1) 13660, 13660. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13660
Joensuu, Merja, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Durisic, Nela, Bademosi, Adekunle T. D., Cooper-Williams, Elizabeth, Morrow, Isabel C., Harper, Callista B., Jung, WooRam, Parton, Robert G., Goodhill, Geoffrey J., Papadopulos, Andreas and Meunier, Frederic A. (2016). Subdiffractional tracking of internalized molecules reveals heterogeneous motion states of synaptic vesicles. Journal of Cell Biology, 215 (2), 277-292. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201604001
Padmanabhan, P. and Dixit, N.M. (2015). Modeling Suggests a Mechanism of Synergy between Hepatitis C Virus Entry Inhibitors and Drugs of Other Classes. CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology, 4 (8), 445-453. doi: 10.1002/psp4.12005
Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Garaigorta, Urtzi and Dixit, Narendra M. (2014). Emergent properties of the interferon-signalling network may underlie the success of hepatitis C treatment. Nature Communications, 5 (1) 3872, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4872
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2012). Viral kinetics suggests a reconciliation of the disparate observations of the modulation of claudin-1 expression on cells exposed to hepatitis C virus. PLoS One, 7 (4) e36107, e36107-e36107. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036107
Padmanabhan, Pranesh and Dixit, Narendra M. (2011). Mathematical model of viral kinetics in vitro estimates the number of E2-CD81 complexes necessary for hepatitis C virus entry. PLoS Computational Biology, 7 (12) e1002307, e1002307-e1002307. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002307
Joensuu, Merja, Blum, Ailisa, Mollazade, Mahdie, Lanoue, Vanessa, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Small, Christopher, Mahrhold, Stefan, Krez, Nadja, Rummel, Andreas and Meunier, Frederic A. (2018). Super-resolving botulinum neurotoxin type A molecules: from surface landing to internalization in synaptic vesicles. TOXINS 2019: Basic Science and Clinical Aspects of Botulinum and Other Neurotoxins, Copenhagen, Denmark, 16-19 January 2019. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.122
Mathematical modelling of neural wiring development
(2015–2017) UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
In vitro microscopy studies into the organization and dynamics of key proteins that form the blood-brain barrier in physiological and pathological ageing and in response to therapeutic ultrasound
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Molecular and cellular studies of neurodegenerative disease and neuronal protein synthesis
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: