Faculty

Michael G. McHeyzer-Williams 
Professor
Immunology and Microbial Science
TSRI - 2001

Education 
1991 Ph.D. University of Melbourne, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia

Research Focus 
Regulating Adaptive Immunity to Optimize Vaccines

Helper T cells are the master regulators of adaptive immunity that control the development of antigen-specific B cell immunity. Our research seeks to define the cellular and molecular details of the major developmental checkpoints that regulate these cell fate decisions in vivo. We have recently extended our studies into the earliest innate immune events that initiate and shape this adaptive immune response. If we can understand the rules that control adaptive immunity, it will be possible to design safe and effective protein sub-unit vaccines.

Selected References 
Fazilleau, N.R. Eisenbraun, M.D., Malherbe, L.P., Ebright, J.N., McHeyzer-Williams, L.J. and McHeyzer-Williams, M.G. (2007) Lymphoid reservoirs of antigen-specific memory T helper cells. Nature Immunology. 8:753-761

McHeyzer-Williams, L.J. and McHeyzer-Williams, M.G. Antigen-Specific Memory B Cell Development. (2005) Annual Reviews Immunol. Vol. 23:487-513. PubMed Abstract

Malherbe L, Hausl C, Teyton L, McHeyzer-Williams MG. Clonal selection of helper T cells is determined by an affinity threshold with no further skewing of TCR binding properties. (2004) Immunity 21(5):669-79. PubMed Abstract

McHeyzer-Williams, L.J. and McHeyzer-Williams, M.G. Developmentally-distinct Th cells control plasma cell production in vivo. (2004) Immunity 20:231-242 PubMed Abstract