Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams’ career focuses on understanding how immune tolerance is disrupted leading to the development of type 1 diabetes. She received her PhD from the Australian National University in 2001 and later trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego. Currently an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, her laboratory now focuses on developing an immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes as well as understanding the role of the gut microbiota in as a potential trigger for type 1 diabetes. Her laboratory is using nanoparticle technology to deliver an immunotherapy that specifically tolerises the immune cells that cause type 1 diabetes and is working towards a first-in -human trial of this approach. She uses state-of-the-art protein sequencing techniques to probe how disturbances in the gut microbiota of children with type 1 diabetes impacts the function of the gut and the pancreas. She recently currently conducted a clinical trial of a microbiome-targeting dietary supplement aimed at restoring a healthy microbiome and immune tolerance with an ultimate aim of preventing type 1 diabetes.
Journal Article: Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation
Bell, Kirstine J., Saad, Sonia, Tillett, Bree J., McGuire, Helen M., Bordbar, Sara, Yap, Yu Anne, Nguyen, Long T., Wilkins, Marc R., Corley, Susan, Brodie, Shannon, Duong, Sussan, Wright, Courtney J., Twigg, Stephen, de St Groth, Barbara Fazekas, Harrison, Leonard C., Mackay, Charles R., Gurzov, Esteban N., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Mariño, Eliana (2022). Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation. Microbiome, 10 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.1186/s40168-021-01193-9
Journal Article: Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes
Gavin, Patrick G., Mullaney, Jane A., Loo, Dorothy, Cao, Kim-Anh Lê, Gottlieb, Peter A., Hill, Michelle M., Zipris, Danny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 41 (10), 2178-2186. doi: 10.2337/dc18-0777
Journal Article: Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota
Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Costello, Mary-Ellen, Fong, Cai, Geeling, Brooke E., Gavin, Patrick G., Wright, Casey M., Spector, Timothy D., Brown, Matthew A. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota. Microbiome, 6 (1) 35, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0417-4
(2023–2025) University of Adelaide
Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predictors of islet autoimmunity
(2023–2025) The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predicators of islet autoimmunity
(2023) Diabetes Australia Research Program
Nanoparticle delivery systems for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Restoration of regulatory T cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Doctor Philosophy
Gut microbiota-based interventions to prevent type 1 diabetes
Doctor Philosophy
Gut microbiota-targeting to prevent type 1 diabetes
We are using human cohort and intervention studies with a multi-omic analysis approach to understand how the host and microbiota interact in the lead-up to disease onset. We are using germ-free mice colonized with human derived microbiota or individual species to study how changes in the gut flora of patients may modify the immune response and lead to disease. Finally, we are investigating novel prebiotic diets for disease prevention.
Antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes
We are investigating the use of a liposome system for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. Our goal is to restore tolerance in autoreactive islet-specific T cells. We are using multi-dimensional profiling of antigen-specific T cells to optimize our immunotherapy strategy. We also use CRSIPR/Cas9 systems to study the molecular mediators of regulation induced during immunotherapy.
Bell, Kirstine J., Saad, Sonia, Tillett, Bree J., McGuire, Helen M., Bordbar, Sara, Yap, Yu Anne, Nguyen, Long T., Wilkins, Marc R., Corley, Susan, Brodie, Shannon, Duong, Sussan, Wright, Courtney J., Twigg, Stephen, de St Groth, Barbara Fazekas, Harrison, Leonard C., Mackay, Charles R., Gurzov, Esteban N., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Mariño, Eliana (2022). Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation. Microbiome, 10 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.1186/s40168-021-01193-9
Gavin, Patrick G., Mullaney, Jane A., Loo, Dorothy, Cao, Kim-Anh Lê, Gottlieb, Peter A., Hill, Michelle M., Zipris, Danny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 41 (10), 2178-2186. doi: 10.2337/dc18-0777
Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Costello, Mary-Ellen, Fong, Cai, Geeling, Brooke E., Gavin, Patrick G., Wright, Casey M., Spector, Timothy D., Brown, Matthew A. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota. Microbiome, 6 (1) 35, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0417-4
Microbiota derived factors as drivers of type 1 diabetes
Tillett, Bree J. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2020). Microbiota derived factors as drivers of type 1 diabetes. The microbiome in health and disease. (pp. 215-235) Cambridge, MA United States: Academic Press.
Influence of toll-like receptor ligands and danger signals on T cell cross-tolerance
Hamilton-Williams, E. E. and Kurts, C. (2006). Influence of toll-like receptor ligands and danger signals on T cell cross-tolerance. Towards an understanding of initiating T cell immunity. (pp. 147-168) edited by Anthony T. Vella. Kerala, India: Research Signpost.
Oakey, Helena, Giles, Lynne C, Thomson, Rebecca L, Lê Cao, Kim-Anh, Ashwood, Pat, Brown, James D, Knight, Emma J, Barry, Simon C, Craig, Maria E, Colman, Peter G, Davis, Elizabeth A, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E, Harrison, Leonard C, Haynes, Aveni, Kim, Ki Wook, Mallitt, Kylie-Ann, McGorm, Kelly, Morahan, Grant, Rawlinson, William D, Sinnott, Richard O, Soldatos, Georgia, Wentworth, John M, Couper, Jennifer J, Penno, Megan A S and ENDIA Study Group (2023). Protocol for a nested case-control study design for omics investigations in the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity cohort. Annals of Medicine, 55 (1) 2198255, 1-12. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2198255
Harrison, Leonard C., Bandala-Sanchez, Esther, Oakey, Helena, Colman, Peter G., Watson, Kelly, Kim, Ki Wook, Wu, Roy, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E, Stone, Natalie L., Haynes, Aveni, Thomson, Rebecca L., Vuillermin, Peter J., Soldatos, Georgia, Rawlinson, William D., McGorm, Kelly J., Morahan, Grant, Sinnott, Richard O., Barry, Simon C., Wentworth, John M., Couper, Jennifer J., Penno, Megan As and ENDIA Study Group (2023). A surge in serum mucosal cytokines associated with seroconversion in children at risk for type 1 diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 14 (9), 1092-1100. doi: 10.1111/jdi.14031
McGorm, Kelly D., Brown, James G., Roberts, Alison, Greenbank, Susan, Brasacchio, Daniella, Sawyer, Alyssa C. P., Oakey, Helena G., Colman, Peter E., Craig, Maria A., Davis, Elizabeth, Soldatos, Georgia L., Thomson, Rebecca M., Wentworth, John J., Couper, Jennifer, Penno, Megan A. S., ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2023). Experiences of caregivers and at-risk children enrolled in a prospective pregnancy-birth cohort study into the causes of type 1 diabetes: the ENDIA Study. Children, 10 (4), 1-12. doi: 10.3390/children10040637
Circulating biomarkers during progression to type 1 diabetes: a systematic review
Brenu, Ekua W., Harris, Mark and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2023). Circulating biomarkers during progression to type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14 1117076. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1117076
Okada, Mirei, Zhang, Vivian, Loaiza Naranjo, Jeniffer D., Tillett, Bree J., Wong, F. Susan, Steptoe, Raymond J., Bergot, Anne‐Sophie and Hamilton‐Williams, Emma E (2023). Islet‐specific CD8+ T cells gain effector function in the gut lymphoid tissues via bystander activation not molecular mimicry. Immunology and Cell Biology, 101 (1), 36-48. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12593
Multi-omic interactions in the gut of children at the onset of islet autoimmunity
Gavin, Patrick G., Kim, Ki Wook, Craig, Maria E., Hill, Michelle M. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2022). Multi-omic interactions in the gut of children at the onset of islet autoimmunity. Microbiome, 10 (1) 230. doi: 10.1186/s40168-022-01425-6
Hall, Madeleine, Oakey, Helena, Penno, Megan A. S., McGorm, Kelly, Anderson, Amanda J., Ashwood, Pat, Colman, Peter G., Craig, Maria E., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Harrison, Leonard C., Haynes, Aveni, Morbey, Claire, Sinnott, Richard O., Soldatos, Georgia, Vuillermin, Peter J., Wentworth, John M., Thomson, Rebecca L., Couper, Jennifer J., ENDIA Study Group., Barry, Simon C., Craig, Maria E., Colman, Peter G., Couper, Jennifer J., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Harrison, Leonard C., Haynes, Aveni, Kim, Ki Wook ... Cavenett, Leanne (2022). Mental health during late pregnancy and postpartum in mothers with and without type 1 diabetes: The ENDIA study. Diabetes Care, 45 (5), 1082-1090. doi: 10.2337/dc21-2335
Bell, Kirstine J., Saad, Sonia, Tillett, Bree J., McGuire, Helen M., Bordbar, Sara, Yap, Yu Anne, Nguyen, Long T., Wilkins, Marc R., Corley, Susan, Brodie, Shannon, Duong, Sussan, Wright, Courtney J., Twigg, Stephen, de St Groth, Barbara Fazekas, Harrison, Leonard C., Mackay, Charles R., Gurzov, Esteban N., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Mariño, Eliana (2022). Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation. Microbiome, 10 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.1186/s40168-021-01193-9
Buckle, Irina, Loaiza Naranjo, Jeniffer D., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Zhang, Vivian, Talekar, Meghna, Steptoe, Raymond J., Thomas, Ranjeny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2022). Tolerance induction by liposomes targeting a single CD8 epitope IGRP in a model of type 1 diabetes is impeded by co-targeting a CD4 islet epitope. Immunology and Cell Biology, 100 (1), 33-48. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12506
Rødahl, Inga, Gotley, James, Andersen, Stacey B., Yu, Meihua, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Christ, Angelika N., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Frazer, Ian H., Lukowski, Samuel W. and Chandra, Janin (2021). Acquisition of murine splenic myeloid cells for protein and gene expression profiling by advanced flow cytometry and CITE-seq. STAR Protocols, 2 (4) 100842, 1-27. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100842
Roth-Schulze, Alexandra J., Penno, Megan A. S., Ngui, Katrina M., Oakey, Helena, Bandala-Sanchez, Esther, Smith, Alannah D., Allnutt, Theo R., Thomson, Rebecca L., Vuillermin, Peter J., Craig, Maria E., Rawlinson, William D., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Soldatos, Georgia, Colman, Peter G., Wentworth, John M., Haynes, Aveni, Barry, Simon C., Sinnott, Richard O., Morahan, Grant, Bediaga, Naiara G., Smyth, Gordon K., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Couper, Jennifer J., Harrison, Leonard C., ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma (2021). Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy is associated with distinct changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. Microbiome, 9 (1) 167, 167. doi: 10.1186/s40168-021-01104-y
Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol
Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym, Fiveash, Corrine, Schagen, Johanna, James-McAlpine, Janelle, Friedlander, Frances, Thurston, Claire, Oliveri, Maria, Harmey, Theresa, Cavanagh, Erika, Edwards, Christopher, Fontanarosa, Davide, Perkins, Tony, de Zubicaray, Greig, Moritz, Karen, Kumar, Sailesh, Clifton, Vicki, Queensland Family Cohort Research Collaborative, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Bora, Samudragupta (2021). Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol. BMJ Open, 11 (6) e044463, 1-13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044463
Gavin, Patrick G., Wong, Justin, Loo, Dorothy, Zipris, Danny, Hill, Michelle M. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2021). Metaproteomic sample preparation methods bias the recovery of host and microbial proteins according to taxa and cellular compartment. Journal of Proteomics, 240 104219, 104219. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104219
A triple threat? The role of diet, nutrition, and the microbiota in T1D pathogenesis
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Lorca, Graciela L., Norris, Jill M. and Dunne, Jessica L. (2021). A triple threat? The role of diet, nutrition, and the microbiota in T1D pathogenesis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8 600756, 600756. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.600756
An acetate‐yielding diet imprints an immune and anti‐microbial programme against enteric infection
Yap, Yu Anne, McLeod, Keiran H., McKenzie, Craig I., Gavin, Patrick G., Davalos‐Salas, Mercedes, Richards, James L., Moore, Robert J., Lockett, Trevor J., Clarke, Julie M., Eng, Vik Ven, Pearson, Jaclyn S., Hamilton‐Williams, Emma E., Mackay, Charles R. and Mariño, Eliana (2021). An acetate‐yielding diet imprints an immune and anti‐microbial programme against enteric infection. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 10 (1) e1233, e1233. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1233
Musthaffa, Yassmin, Hamilton‐Williams, Emma E, Nel, Hendrik J., Bergot, Anne‐Sophie, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Harris, Mark and Thomas, Ranjeny (2021). Proinsulin‐specific T‐cell responses correlate with estimated c‐peptide and predict partial remission duration in type 1 diabetes. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 10 (7) e1315, e1315. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1315
Optimization of a method to detect autoantigen-specific t-cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Musthaffa, Yassmin, Nel, Hendrik J., Ramnoruth, Nishta, Patel, Swati, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Harris, Mark and Thomas, Ranjeny (2020). Optimization of a method to detect autoantigen-specific t-cell responses in type 1 diabetes. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 587469, 587469. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.587469
A Question of Tolerance—Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes
Loaiza Naranjo, Jeniffer D., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Buckle, Irina and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2020). A Question of Tolerance—Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes. Current Diabetes Reports, 20 (12) 70, 70. doi: 10.1007/s11892-020-01363-3
Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Buckle, Irina, Cikaluru, Sumana, Naranjo, Jennifer Loaiza, Wright, Casey Maree, Zheng, Guoliang, Talekar, Meghna, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Thomas, Ranjeny (2020). Regulatory T cells induced by single-peptide liposome immunotherapy suppress islet-Specific T cell responses to multiple antigens and protect from autoimmune diabetes. Journal of Immunology, 204 (7), ji1901128-1797. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901128
Early-life factors contributing to type 1 diabetes
Craig, Maria E., Kim, Ki Wook, Isaacs, Sonia R., Penno, Megan A., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Couper, Jennifer J. and Rawlinson, William D. (2019). Early-life factors contributing to type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 62 (10), 1823-1834. doi: 10.1007/s00125-019-4942-x
The gut microbiota in type 1 diabetes: friend or foe?
Gavin, Patrick G. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2019). The gut microbiota in type 1 diabetes: friend or foe?. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, 26 (4), 207-212. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000483
Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Geeling, Brooke E. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Early-life exposure to gut microbiota from disease protected mice does not impact disease outcome in type 1 diabetes susceptible NOD mice. Immunology and Cell Biology, 97 (1), 97-103. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12201
Gavin, Patrick G., Mullaney, Jane A., Loo, Dorothy, Cao, Kim-Anh Lê, Gottlieb, Peter A., Hill, Michelle M., Zipris, Danny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 41 (10), 2178-2186. doi: 10.2337/dc18-0777
Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Costello, Mary-Ellen, Fong, Cai, Geeling, Brooke E., Gavin, Patrick G., Wright, Casey M., Spector, Timothy D., Brown, Matthew A. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Correction to: Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota. Microbiome, 6 (1), 51. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0438-z
Mehdi, Ahmed M., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Cristino, Alexandre, Ziegler, Anette, Bonifacio, Ezio, Le Cao, Kim-Anh, Harris, Mark and Thomas, Ranjeny (2018). A peripheral blood transcriptomic signature predicts autoantibody development in infants at risk of type 1 diabetes. JCI Insight, 3 (5). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.98212
Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Costello, Mary-Ellen, Fong, Cai, Geeling, Brooke E., Gavin, Patrick G., Wright, Casey M., Spector, Timothy D., Brown, Matthew A. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota. Microbiome, 6 (1) 35, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0417-4
Brenu, Ekua W., Bartley, Timothy J., Wright, Casey M. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2017). CD11a/ICAM-1 blockade combined with IL-2 targeting therapy causes a paradoxical acceleration of type 1 diabetes. Immunology and Cell Biology, 95 (9), 803-813. doi: 10.1038/icb.2017.49
Reeves, Peta L. S., Rudraraju, Rajeev, Wong, F. Susan, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2017). Antigen presenting cell-targeted proinsulin expression converts insulin-specific CD8+ T-cell priming to tolerance in autoimmune-prone NOD mice. European Journal of Immunology, 47 (9), 1550-1561. doi: 10.1002/eji.201747089
APC-targeted proinsulin expression inactivates insulin-specific memory CD8+ T cells in NOD mice
Reeves, Peta L. S., Rudraraju, Rajeev, Liu, Xiao, Wong, F. Susan, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2017). APC-targeted proinsulin expression inactivates insulin-specific memory CD8+ T cells in NOD mice. Immunology and Cell Biology, 95 (9), 765-774. doi: 10.1038/icb.2017.48
Maintenance of peripheral tolerance to islet antigens
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Reeves, Peta L. S and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2016). Maintenance of peripheral tolerance to islet antigens. Journal of Autoimmunity, 72, 118-125. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.05.009
James, Cini R., Buckle, Irina, Muscate, Franziska, Otsuka, Masayuki, Nakao, Mari, Oon, Jack S. H., Steptoe, Raymond J., Thomas, Ranjeny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2016). Reduced interleukin-2 responsiveness impairs the ability of Treg cells to compete for IL-2 in nonobese diabetic mice. Immunology and Cell Biology, 94 (5), 509-519. doi: 10.1038/icb.2016.7
Expression profiling pre-diabetic mice to uncover drugs with clinical application to type 1 diabetes
Pang, Dimeng, Irvine, Katharine M., Mehdi, Ahmed M., Thomas, Helen E., Harris, Mark, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Thomas, Ranjeny (2015). Expression profiling pre-diabetic mice to uncover drugs with clinical application to type 1 diabetes. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 4 (8) e41, e41.1-e41.9. doi: 10.1038/cti.2015.17
Fine mapping of type 1 diabetes regions Idd9.1 and Idd9.2 reveals genetic complexity
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Rainbow, Daniel B., Cheung, Jocelyn, Christensen, Mikkel, Lyons, Paul A., Peterson, Laurence B., Steward, Charles A., Sherman, Linda A. and Wicker, Linda S. (2013). Fine mapping of type 1 diabetes regions Idd9.1 and Idd9.2 reveals genetic complexity. Mammalian Genome, 24 (9-10), 358-375. doi: 10.1007/s00335-013-9466-y
Lin, Xiaotian, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Rainbow, Daniel B., Hunter, Kara M., Dai, Yang D., Cheung, Jocelyn, Peterson, Laurence B., Wicker, Linda S. and Sherman, Linda A. (2013). Genetic interactions among Idd3, Idd5.1, Idd5.2, and Idd5.3 protective loci in the nonobese diabetic mouse model of type 1 diabetes. Journal of Immunology, 190 (7), 3109-3120. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1203422
PTPN22 alters the development of regulatory T cells in the thymus
Maine, Christian J., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Cheung, Jocelyn, Stanford, Stephanie M., Bottini, Nunzio, Wicker, Linda S. and Sherman, Linda A. (2012). PTPN22 alters the development of regulatory T cells in the thymus. Journal of Immunology, 188 (11), 5267-5275. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200150
Cellular mechanisms of restored β-cell tolerance mediated by protective alleles of Idd3 and Idd5
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Cheung, Jocelyn, Rainbow, Daniel B., Hunter, Kara M., Wicker, Linda S. and Sherman, Linda A. (2012). Cellular mechanisms of restored β-cell tolerance mediated by protective alleles of Idd3 and Idd5. Diabetes, 61 (1), 166-174. doi: 10.2337/db11-0790
Sheng, Huiming, Hassanali, Saleena, Nugent, Courtney, Wen, Li, Hamilton-Williams, Emma, Dias, Peter and Dai, Yang D. (2011). Insulinoma-released exosomes or microparticles are immunostimulatory and can activate autoreactive T cells spontaneously developed in nonobese diabetic mice. Journal of Immunology, 187 (4), 1591-1600. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1100231
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Wong, S.B. Justin, Martinez, Xavier, Rainbow, Daniel B., Hunter, Kara M., Wicker, Linda S. and Sherman, Linda A. (2010). Idd9.2 and Idd9.3 Protective Alleles Function in CD4(+) T-Cells and Nonlymphoid Cells to Prevent Expansion of Pathogenic Islet-Specific CD8(+) T-Cells. Diabetes, 59 (6), 1478-1486. doi: 10.2337/db09-1801
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Martinez, Xavier, Clark, Jan, Howlett, Sarah, Hunter, Kara M., Rainbow, Daniel B., Wen, Li, Shlomchik, Mark J., Katz, Jonathan D., Beilhack, Georg F., Wicker, Linda S. and Sherman, Linda A. (2009). Expression of diabetes-associated genes by dendritic cells and CD4 T cells drives the loss of tolerance in nonobese diabetic mice. Journal of Immunology, 183 (3), 1533-1541. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0900428
Heymann, Felix, Meyer-Schwesinger, Catherine, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Hammerich, Linda, Panzer, Ulf, Kaden, Sylvia, Quaggin, Susan E., Floege, Jurgen, Grone, Hermann-Josef and Kurts, Christian (2009). Correction to: Kidney dendritic cell activation is required for progression of renal disease in a mouse model of glomerular injury. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119 (7), 2114-2114. doi: 10.1172/JCI38399C1
Heymann, Felix, Meyer-Schwesinger, Catherine, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Hammerich, Linda, Panzer, Ulf, Kaden, Sylvia, Quaggin, Susan E., Floege, Jurgen, Grone, Hermann-Josef and Kurts, Christian (2009). Kidney dendritic cell activation is required for progression of renal disease in a mouse model of glomerular injury. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119 (5), 1286-1297. doi: 10.1172/JCI38399
CD25(+) T-reg specifically suppress auto-Ab generation against pancreatic tissue autoantigens
Ludwig-Portugall, Isis, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Gotot, Janine and Kurts, Christian (2009). CD25(+) T-reg specifically suppress auto-Ab generation against pancreatic tissue autoantigens. European Journal of Immunology, 39 (1), 225-233. doi: 10.1002/eji.200838699
Ludwig-Portugall, Isis, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Gottschalk, Catherine and Kurts, Christian (2008). Cutting edge: CD25(+) regulatory T cells prevent expansion and induce apoptosis of B cells specific for tissue autoantigens. Journal of Immunology, 181 (7), 4447-4451. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.7.4447
Benke, Dirk, Kruger, Thilo, Lang, Andreas, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Kurts, Christian (2006). Inclusion of Brefeldin A during dendritic cell isolation allows in vitro detection of cross-presented self-antigens. Journal of Immunological Methods, 310 (1-2), 12-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2005.10.019
Cutting edge: TLR ligands are not sufficient to break cross-tolerance to self-antigens
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Lang, Andreas, Benke, Dirk, Davey, Gayle M., Wiesmuller, Karl-Heinz and Kurts, Christian (2005). Cutting edge: TLR ligands are not sufficient to break cross-tolerance to self-antigens. Journal of Immunology, 174 (3), 1159-1163. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.3.1159
Lang, Andreas, Benke, Dirk, Eitner, Frank, Engel, Daniel, Ehrlich, Svenja, Breloer, Minka, Hamilton-Williams, Emma, Specht, Sabine, Hoerauf, Achim, Floege, Jürgen, von Bonin, Arne and Kurts, Christian (2005). Heat shock protein 60 is released in immune-mediated glomerulonephritis and aggravates disease: In vivo evidence for an immunologic danger signal. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 16 (2), 383-391. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2004040276
Kruger, T, Benke, D, Eitner, F, Lang, A, Wirtz, M, Hamilton-Williams, EE, Engel, D, Giese, B, Muller-Newen, G, Floege, J and Kurts, C (2004). Identification and functional characterization of dendritic cells in the healthy murine kidney and in experimental glomerulonephritis. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 15 (3), 613-621. doi: 10.1097/01.ASN.0000114553.36258.91
Beta cell MHC class I is a late requirement for diabetes
Hamilton-Williams, EE, Palmer, SE, Charlton, B and Slattery, RM (2003). Beta cell MHC class I is a late requirement for diabetes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 100 (11), 6688-6693. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1131954100
Development of new strategies to prevent type diabetes: the role of animal models
Hanninen, A, Hamilton-Williams, E and Kurts, C (2003). Development of new strategies to prevent type diabetes: the role of animal models. Annals of Medicine, 35 (8), 546-563. doi: 10.1080/07853890310014597
Acute reversible renal failure in acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
Brandenburg, VM, Kurts, C, Eitner, F, Hamilton-Williams, E and Heintz, B (2002). Acute reversible renal failure in acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 17 (10), 1857-1858. doi: 10.1093/ndt/17.10.1857
Hamilton-Williams, EE, Serreze, DV, Charlton, B, Johnson, EA, Marron, MP, Mullbacher, A and Slattery, RM (2001). Transgenic rescue implicates beta(2)-microglobulin as a diabetes susceptibility gene in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 98 (20), 11533-11538. doi: 10.1073/pnas.191383798
Antigen-Specific CD4 regulation by Liposomes encapsulating calcitriol and ChgA mimotope in NOD mice
Bergot, A. S., Buckle,, Wright, C., Talekar, M., Hamilton-Williams, E. and Thomas, R. (2018). Antigen-Specific CD4 regulation by Liposomes encapsulating calcitriol and ChgA mimotope in NOD mice. 15th International Symposium on Dendritic Cells (DC), Aachen, Germany, 10-14 June 2018. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/eji.201871000
Antigen specific immunotherapy for autoimmune disease targeting dendritic cells
Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Talekar, Meghna, Nel, Hanno, Galea, Ryan, Harris, Mark, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Thomas, Ranjeny (2017). Antigen specific immunotherapy for autoimmune disease targeting dendritic cells. 5th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS), Kanazawa Japan, 29 October - 2 November 2017. London United Kingdom: Elsevier.
Development of a model for antigen-specific tolerising immunotherapy and response in NOD mice
Buckle, I, Steptoe, R. J., Thomas, R. and Hamilton-Williams, E. E. (2016). Development of a model for antigen-specific tolerising immunotherapy and response in NOD mice. International Congress of Immunology (ICI 2016), Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley.
Mullaney, J., Stephens, J. and Hamilton-Williams, E. (2016). Type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes impair gut physiology and lead to perturbations in the microbiota. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - V C H Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
Dai, Yang, Sheng, Huiming, Hassanali, Saleema, Nugent, Courtney, Wen, Li, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Dias, Peter (2011). Exosome-like microparticles can stimulate both innate and adaptive autoimmunity in non-obese diabetes mice. AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS.
Kurts, Christian, Ludwig-Portugall, Isis, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Gottschalk, Catherine and Gotot, Janine (2009). Antigen-specific suppression of non-lymphoid tissue auto-antibody production by CD25(+) FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells. BETHESDA: AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS.
Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Martinez, Xavier, Hunter, Kara M., Rainbow, Dan, Wicker, Linda S. and Sherman, Linda A. (2009). Expression of the Diabetes Associated Alleles of ldd3 and ldd5 in DCs Drives Loss of Tolerance in NOD Mice. 9th Annual Meeting of the Federation-of-Clinical-Immunology-Societies, San Francisco Ca, Jun 11-14, 2009. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2009.03.270
Heymann, F., Hamilton-Williams, E. E., Ludwig-Portugall, I., Quaggin, S., Floege, J., Groene, H. and Kurts, C. (2008). CD8 T cells specific for a glomerular antigen induce renal inflammation in a CD4 help dependent fashion and may cause progressing Glomerulonephritis. SPRINGER WIEN.
Restoration of CD8 self-tolerance in NOD mice by protective Idd9 genes
Hamilton-Williams, Emma, Martinez, Javier, Wong, Justin, Wicker, Linda and Sherman, Linda (2008). Restoration of CD8 self-tolerance in NOD mice by protective Idd9 genes. FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL.
The use of Idd congenic mice to identify checkpoints of peripheral tolerance to islet antigen
Hamilton-Williams, E.E., Martinez, X., Lyman, M., Hunter, K., Wicker, L.S. and Sherman, L.A. (2007). The use of Idd congenic mice to identify checkpoints of peripheral tolerance to islet antigen. Conference on How Do We Best Employ Animal Models for Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis, San Francisco, CA, United States, 8-9 November 2006. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1196/annals.1394.003
Release of heat shock protein 60 is an endogenous enhancer of nephrotoxic nephritis
Kurts, C, Lang, A, Kruger, T, Benke, D, Hamilton-Williams, E, Wirtz, M, Ehrlich, S, von Bonin, A, Assmann, K, Eitner, F and Floege, J (2003). Release of heat shock protein 60 is an endogenous enhancer of nephrotoxic nephritis. 36th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Nephrology, San Diego California, Nov 12-17, 2003. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
(2023–2025) University of Adelaide
Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predictors of islet autoimmunity
(2023–2025) The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predicators of islet autoimmunity
(2023) Diabetes Australia Research Program
Microbiota-targeted dietary intervention in children with type 1 diabetes
(2021–2026) Research Donation Generic
Influence of early life and maternal host-microbiota interactions on type1 diabetes risk
(2021–2024) JDRF Australia and Helmsley Charitable Trust ENDIA Early-Mid Career Science Accelerator Awards
Tolerising antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes
(2021–2023) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
(2021) Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
A specialised dietary supplement for manipulating the gut microbiota to treat type 1 diabetes
(2020–2022) The Children's Hospital Foundation
Crosstalk between host and intestinal microorganisms in progression to islet autoimmunity
(2019–2023) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - International
(2018–2020) Monash University
Maintaining immune tolerance to prevent type 1 diabetes
(2018–2019) The Children's Hospital Foundation
Oral liposomes for antigen-specific immunotherapy of type 1 diabetes
(2018–2019) Diabetes Australia Research Trust
The Australian human microbiota project-microbe isolation facility
(2016) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Antigen-specific peptide immunotherapy targeting dendritic cells in type 1 diabetes
(2015–2017) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - International
(2014–2016) University of Colorado
A genetic link between gut microbial flora and T1D susceptibility
(2013–2019) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
A novel role for the IL-2 pathway in type-1-diabetes.
(2012–2016) NHMRC Project Grant
Restoration of regulatory T cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Gut microbiota-based interventions to prevent type 1 diabetes
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Antigen-specific T-cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The receptor for advanced glycation end products and its role in Type 1 diabetes development
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Proteomic discovery of heterogeneity in lupus
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Islet-specific T cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Nanoparticle delivery systems for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Host-microbiota interactions involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Antigen-specific peptide immunotherapy for treatment and prevention of type 1 diabetes.
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Development of an assay for T-cell response to myeloperoxidase in MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis
(2022) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2016) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Development of biomarkers in peripheral blood that could predict onset of type 1 diabetes
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Gut microbiota-targeting to prevent type 1 diabetes
We are using human cohort and intervention studies with a multi-omic analysis approach to understand how the host and microbiota interact in the lead-up to disease onset. We are using germ-free mice colonized with human derived microbiota or individual species to study how changes in the gut flora of patients may modify the immune response and lead to disease. Finally, we are investigating novel prebiotic diets for disease prevention.
Antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes
We are investigating the use of a liposome system for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. Our goal is to restore tolerance in autoreactive islet-specific T cells. We are using multi-dimensional profiling of antigen-specific T cells to optimize our immunotherapy strategy. We also use CRSIPR/Cas9 systems to study the molecular mediators of regulation induced during immunotherapy.