Areas of expertise

• Infectious Diseases 110309
• Cellular Immunology 110704
• Immunology 1107
• Medical Molecular Engineering Of Nucleic Acids And Proteins 100403
• Cellular Interactions (Incl. Adhesion, Matrix, Cell Wall) 060106
• Medical Virology 110804
• Immunology Not Elsewhere Classified 110799

Research interests

Available student projects

Publications

• Watterson, D, Wijesundara, D, Modhiran, N et al. 2021, 'Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2', Clinical and Translational Immunology, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 1-21.
• Chappell, K, Mordant, F, Li, Z et al. 2021, 'Safety and immunogenicity of an MF59-adjuvanted spike glycoprotein-clamp vaccine for SARS-CoV-2: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial', The Lancet Infectious Diseases, vol. 21, no. 10, pp. 1-13.
• Li, Z, Roy, S & Ranasinghe, C 2021, 'IL-13R alpha 2 Regulates the IL-13/IFN-gamma Balance during Innate Lymphoid Cell and Dendritic Cell Responses to Pox Viral Vector-Based Vaccination', Vaccines, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 1-21.
• Isaacs, A, Li, Z, Cheung, S et al. 2021, 'Adjuvant selection for influenza and RSV prefusion subunit vaccines', Vaccines, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1-14.
• Deimel, L, Li, Z, Roy, S et al. 2021, 'STAT3 determines IL-4 signalling outcomes in naïve T cells', Scientific Reports, vol. 11.
• Li, Z, Khanna, M, Grimley, S et al. 2020, 'Mucosal IL-4R antagonist HIV vaccination with SOSIP-gp140 booster can induce high-quality cytotoxic CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells and humoral responses in macaques', Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1.
• Roy, S, Liu, H, Jaeson, M et al. 2020, 'Unique IL-13Rα2/STAT3 mediated IL-13 regulation detected in lung conventional dendritic cells, 24 h post viral vector vaccination', Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1017, pp. 1-14.
• Mekonnen, Z, Grubor-Bauk, B, Masavuli, M et al. 2019, 'Toward DNA-Based T-Cell Mediated Vaccines to Target HIV-1 and Hepatitis C Virus: Approaches to Elicit Localized Immunity for Protection', Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, vol. 9, no. 91, pp. 1-8.
• Li, Z, Jackson, R & Ranasinghe, C 2019, 'A hierarchical role of IL-25 in ILC development and function at the lung mucosae following viral-vector vaccination', Vaccine: X, vol. 2, pp. 1-9.
• Khanna M., Jackson R.J., Alcantara S., Amarasena T.H., Li Z., Kelleher A.D., Kent S.J. and RANASINGHE C. 2019 Mucosal and systemic SIV-specific cytotoxic CD4(+) T cell hierarchy in protection following intranasal/intramuscular recombinant pox-viral vaccination of pigtail macaques. Scientific Reports. 2019;9(1):5661. Epub 2019/04/07 06:00. PubMed PMID: 30952887
• Roy S., Jaeson M., Li Z. Mahboob S., Jackson R.J., Grubor-Bauk B., Wijesundara D.K., Gowans E.J., RANASINGHE C. 2019 'Viral vector and route of administration determine the ILC and DC profiles responsible for downstream vaccine-specific immune outcomes', Vaccine, vol. 37, no. 10, pp. 1266-1276.
• Khanna M, RANASINGHE C, Browne AM, Li JP, Vlodavsky I, Parish CR. 2019 Is host heparanase required for the rapid spread of heparan sulfate binding viruses? Virology. 529:1-6.
• Hamid M.A., Jackson R.J., Roy S., Khanna M, and RANASINGHE C. 2018, 'Unexpected involvement of IL-13 signalling via a STAT6 independent mechanism during murine IgG2a development following viral vaccination', European Journal of Immunology, vol. 48, no. 7, pp. 1153-1163.
• Li Z., Jackson R.J., RANASINGHE C. 2018 Vaccination route can significantly alter the innate lymphoid cell subsets: A feedback between IL-13 and IFN-?. NPJ Vaccines. 12;3:10.
• RANASINGHE C, Roy S, Li Z, Khanna M and Jackson RJ. IL-4 and IL-13 receptors. 2018 Published In: Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, 2nd Edition. Springer publication, edited by Sangdun Choi (Invited book chapter) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67199-4.
• Wijesundara DK, Gummow J, Li Y, Yu W, Quah BJ, RANASINGHE C, Torresi J, Gowans EJ, Grubor-Bauk B. 2018 Induction of genotype-cross reactive, hepatitis C virus-specific cell mediuated immunity in DNA-vaccinated mice J Virol. pii: JVI.02133-17. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02133-17
• Khanna M, RANASINGHE C, Jackson R, Parish CR. 2017 'Heparan sulfate as a receptor for poxvirus infections and as a target for antiviral agents', Journal of General Virology, vol. 98, no. 10, pp. 2556-2568.
• Sedger, L, RANASINGHE, C, McDermott, M et al 2017, 'Therapeutic Antibody-Based Drugs in the Treatment of Human Inflammatory Disorders', in Krassimir Metodiev (ed.), Immunotherapy - Myths, Reality, Ideas, Future, InTech Open Access Publisher, USA, pp. 224-270pp.
• Townsend, D, Trivedi, S, Jackson, R and RANASINGHE C 2017, 'Recombinant fowlpox virus vector-based vaccines: Expression kinetics, dissemination and safety profile following intranasal delivery', Journal of General Virology, vol. 98, no. 3, pp. 496-505pp.
• Trivedi, S, Neeman, T, Jackson, RJ, Ranasinghe R, Jack C, RANASINGHE C 2015, 'Identification of biomarkers to measure HIV-specific mucosal and systemic CD8+ T-cell immunity using single cell Fluidigm 48.48 Dynamic arrays', Vaccine, vol. 33, no. 51, pp. 7315-7327.
• Trivedi, S & RANASINGHE, C 2015, 'The influence of immunization route, tissue microenvironment, and cytokine cell milieu on HIV-specific CD8+ T cells measured using Fluidigm Dynamic arrays', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 1-21.
• Ravichandran, J, Jackson, R, Trivedi, S and RANASINGHE, C. 2015, 'IL-17A Expression in HIV-Specific CD8 T Cells Is Regulated by IL-4/IL-13 Following HIV-1 Prime-Boost Immunization', Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 176-185.
• DeRose R., S. J. Kent and RANASINGHE, C (2014). Prime-boost vaccination: Impact on the HIV vaccine field. Novel approaches and satrategies for biologics, vaccines and cancer therapies, Elsevier publication edited by Drs. Manmohan Singh and Maya Salnikova. 2014
• Jackson, R, Boyle, D & RANASINGHE C 2014, 'Progresses in DNA-based heterologous prime-boost immunization strategies.', in Monica Rinaldi, Daniela Fioretti, Sandra Iurescia (ed.), DNA Vaccines, Springer New York, New York, pp. 61-90.
• Jackson, RJ, Worley, M, Trivedi, S, RANASINGHE, C. 2014, 'Novel HIV IL-4R antagonist vaccine strategy can induce both high avidity CD8 T and B cell immunity with greater protective efficacy', Vaccine, vol. 32, no. 43, pp. 5703-5714.
• RANASINGHE, C, Trivedi, S, Wijesundara, DK, Jackson RJ. 2014, 'IL-4 and IL-13 receptors: Roles in immunity and powerful vaccine adjuvants', Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 437-442.
• Sedger, L, Seddiki, N & RANASINGHE, C 2014, 'Cytokines and cytokine receptors as immunotherapeutics: humble beginnings and exciting futures', Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 351-353.
• Quah, B, Wijesundara, D, RANASINGHE, C et al 2014, 'The use of fluorescent target arrays for assessment of T cell responses in vivo', Journal of Visualized Experiments, no. 88, pp. e51627-.
• Trivedi, S, Jackson, RJ & RANASINGHE, C 2014, 'Different HIV pox viral vector-based vaccines and adjuvants can induce unique antigen presenting cells that modulate CD8 T cell avidity', Virology, vol. 468, pp. 479-489.
• RANASINGHE, C 2014, 'New advances in mucosal vaccination', Immunology Letters, vol. 161, no. 2, pp. 204-206.
• Wijesundara, D, Xi, Y & RANASINGHE, C 2014, 'Unraveling the convoluted biological roles of type I interferons in infection and immunity: a way forward for the rapeutics and vaccine design', Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 5, no. August, pp. 1-7.
• Quah, B, Wijesundara, D, RANASINGHE, C, Parish, CR 2013, 'Fluorescent target array T helper assay: A multiplex flow cytometry assay to measure antigen-specific CD4+ T cell-mediated B cell help in vivo', Journal of Immunological Methods, vol. 387, no. 1-2, pp. 181-190.
• RANASINGHE, C., Trivedi, S, Stambas, J and Jackson RJ 2013, 'Unique IL-13Ralpha2-based HIV-1 vaccine strategy to enhance mucosal immunity, CD8+ T-cell avidity and protective immunity', Mucosal Immunology, vol. 6, pp. 1068-1080.
• Trivedi, S., Jackson, R.J. and RANASINGHE C. 2013. Interleukin-3 and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Expression, a Biomarker of Memory CD8+ T Cell Immunity and Vaccine Efficacy. Journal of Vaccines and Vaccination 3:1000166 (open access journal).
• Wiede, F., P. D. Fromm, I. Comerford, E. Kara, J. Bannan, W. Schuh, C. RANASINGHE, D. Tarlinton, T. Winkler, S. R. McColl, and H. Korner. 2013. CCR6 is transiently upregulated on B cells after activation and modulates the germinal center reaction in the mouse. Immunol Cell Biol vol. 91, no. 5, pp. 335-339.
• Wijesundara, D. K., Tscharke, D. C., Jackson, R. J. and RANASINGHE, C. 2013, 'Reduced Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Expression on CD8+ T Cells Correlates with Higher Quality Anti-Viral Immunity', PLoS ONE, vol. 8, no. 1, p. e55788.
• Wijesundara, DK, Jackson, RJ, Tscharke, DC and RANASINGHE, C. 2013, 'IL-4 and IL-13 mediated down-regulation of CD8 expression levels can dampen anti-viral CD8+ T cell avidity following HIV-1 recombinant pox viral vaccination', Vaccine, vol. 31, no. 41, pp. 4548-4555.
• Hamid M.A., Jackson R.J., Roy S., Khanna M, and RANASINGHE C. 2018 Unexpected involvement of IL-13 signalling via a STAT6 independent mechanism, during IgG2a development Following viral vaccination. European Journal of Immunology Jul;48(7):1153-1163.
• Wijesundara, D & RANASINGHE, C 2012, 'Prime boost regimens for enhancing immunity: magnitude, quality of mucosal and systemic gene vaccines', in J Thalhamer, R Weiss, S Scheiblhofer (ed.), Gene Vaccines, Landes Bioscience/Springer Science+Business Media, New York, pp. 183-204.
• Xi, Y, Day, S, Jackson, RJ, RANASINGHE, C. 2012, 'Role of novel type I interferon epsilon in viral infection and mucosal immunity', Mucosal Immunology, vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 610-622.
• Quah, B., Wijesundara, D.K., RANASINGHE, C. and Parish, C.R. 2012, Fluorescent target array killing assay: A multiplex cytotoxic T-cell assay to measure detailed T-cell antigen specificity and avidity in vivo. Cytometry A, Vol 81 (8), 679-90.
• RANASINGHE, C., and Trivedi. S. 2011. Heterologous prime-boost immunization: HIV-specific systemic/mucosal immunity, cytokine milieu and CD8+ T cell avidity. Novel Approaches to Vaccine Research by Research Snapshot, Transworld Research Network. Ed: K.L. Hofferon
• RANASINGHE, C., Eyers, F., Stambas, J. et al 2011, 'A comparative analysis of HIV-specific mucosal/systemic T cell immunity and avidity following rDNA/rFPV and poxvirus-poxvirus prime boost immunisations', Vaccine, vol. 29, no. 16, pp. 3008-3020.
• Wijesundara, DK., Jackson, RJ., Ramshaw, IA. and RANASINGHE, C. 2011, 'Human immunodeficiency virus-1 vaccine design: where do we go now?', Immunology and Cell Biology, vol. 89, pp. 367-374.
• Sutherland D.B., RANASINGHE C., Regner M., Phipps S., Matthaei K.I., Day S.L., Ramshaw I.A. 2010. Evaluating vaccinia virus cytokine co-expression in TLR GKO mice. Immunol Cell Biol Dec 2010:21.
• RANASINGHE, C & Ramshaw, I 2009, 'Immunisation route-dependent expression of IL-4/IL-13 can modulate HIV-specific CD8(+) CTL avidity', European Journal of Immunology, vol. 39, pp. 1819-1830.
• RANASINGHE, C & Ramshaw, I 2009, 'Genetic heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategies for improved systemic and mucosal immunity', Expert Review of Vaccines, vol. 8, no. 9, pp. 1171-1181.
• Day, S. L., I. A. Ramshaw, A. J. Ramsay, and C. RANASINGHE. 2008. Differential effects of the type I interferons alpha4, beta, and epsilon on antiviral activity and vaccine efficacy. J Immunol 180:7158-7166
• RANASINGHE, C., S. J. Turner, C. McArthur, D. B. Sutherland, J. H. Kim, P. C. Doherty, and I. A. Ramshaw. 2007. Mucosal HIV-1 pox virus prime-boost immunization induces high-avidity CD8+ T cells with regime-dependent cytokine/granzyme B profiles. J Immunol 178:2370-2379.
• Harrison, J. M., E. M. Bertram, D. B. Boyle, B. E. Coupar, C. RANASINGHE, and I. A. Ramshaw. 2006. 4-1BBL coexpression enhances HIV-specific CD8 T cell memory in a poxvirus prime-boost vaccine. Vaccine 24:6867-6874.
• Thomson, S. A., A. B. Jaramillo, M. Shoobridge, K. J. Dunstan, B. Everett, C. RANASINGHE, S. J. Kent, K. Gao, J. Medveckzy, R. A. Ffrench, and I. A. Ramshaw. 2005. Development of a synthetic consensus sequence scrambled antigen HIV-1 vaccine designed for global use. Vaccine 23:4647-4657
• RANASINGHE, C., J. C. Medveczky, D. Woltring, K. Gao, S. Thomson, B. E. Coupar, D. B. Boyle, A. J. Ramsay, and I. A. Ramshaw. 2006. Evaluation of fowlpox-vaccinia virus prime-boost vaccine strategies for high-level mucosal and systemic immunity against HIV-1. Vaccine 24:5881-5895.
• Kent, S. J., C. J. Dale, C. RANASINGHE, I. Stratov, R. De Rose, S. Chea, D. C. Montefiori, S. Thomson, I. A. Ramshaw, B. E. Coupar, D. B. Boyle, M. Law, K. M. Wilson, and A. J. Ramsay. 2005. Mucosally-administered human-simian immunodeficiency virus DNA and fowlpoxvirus-based recombinant vaccines reduce acute phase viral replication in macaques following vaginal challenge with CCR5-tropic SHIVSF162P3. Vaccine 23:5009-5021.
• Thomson SA, Jaramillo AB, Shoobridge M, Dunstan K. J., Everett B., RANASINGHE C, Kent SJ, Gao K, Medveckzy J, Ffrench RA, and Ramshaw. IA;, 2005, 'Development of a synthetic consensus sequence scrambled antigen HIV-1 vaccine designed for global use', Vaccine, vol. 23, pp. 4647-4657.
• Dale, C. J., R. De Rose, K. M. Wilson, H. A. Croom, S. Thomson, B. E. Coupar, A. Ramsay, D. F. Purcell, R. Ffrench, M. Law, S. Emery, D. A. Cooper, I. A. Ramshaw, D. B. Boyle, S. J. Kent, and AustralianThai Vaccine Consortimum. 2004. Evaluation in macaques of HIV-1 DNA vaccines containing primate CpG motifs and fowlpoxvirus vaccines co-expressing IFNgamma or IL-12. Vaccine 23:188-197
• Skinner, M. A., A. J. Ramsay, G. S. Buchan, D. L. Keen, C. RANASINGHE, L. Slobbe, D. M. Collins, G. W. de Lisle, and B. M. Buddle. 2003. A DNA prime-live vaccine boost strategy in mice can augment IFN-gamma responses to mycobacterial antigens but does not increase the protective efficacy of two attenuated strains of Mycobacterium bovis against bovine tuberculosis. Immunology 108:548-555
• RANASINGHE, C., and R. J. Akhurst. 2002. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for detecting novel Bt toxins. J Invertebr Pathol 79:51-58

Projects and Grants

Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.

• Rapid Response Pipeline for Stabilized Subunit Vaccines (Secondary Investigator)
• Env-Gag MicroCubes as a vaccine targeting broadly neutralising and mucosal responses (Secondary Investigator)
• Mucosal human immunodeficiency virus vaccine late pre-clinical evaluation (Primary Investigator)
• Advancement of a novel HIV vaccine for pre-clinical evaluation (DTF230) (Primary Investigator)
• Preclinical evaluation of a novel mucosal HIV-1 vaccine strategy (Primary Investigator)
• Evaluation of a novel mucosal vaccine delivery device (Primary Investigator)
• Pre-clinical evaluation of a novel mucosal HIV-1 vaccine strategy (Primary Investigator)
• Evaluation of a novel mucosal vaccine delivery device (Primary Investigator)
• Validation of an effective HIV vaccine for pre-clinical evaluation (Primary Investigator)
• EcoHIV, a convenient, biosafety Level 2, mouse model for animal testing of HIV vaccines and anti-retroviral drugs (Secondary Investigator)
• Design an effective poxvirus based vaccine for HIV-1 by modulating immune cell milieu using an IL-10 antagonist (Primary Investigator)
• A novel vaccine cytokine trap technology to induce robust mucosal/systemic immunity (Primary Investigator)
• Use of cytokine trap technology to augment T cell avidity against HIV vaccine antigens (Primary Investigator)
• A novel strategy to enhance T cell-mediated immunity to vaccine antigens (Primary Investigator)
• Enhancement of mucosal immunity and CTL avidity against HIV-1 (Primary Investigator)