Dr. John Emmins

Current Position:
Senior Lecturer

Phone:
+ 61 3 9903 0281
+ 61 3 9903 0279

Facsimile:
+ 61 3 9903 0038

Email:
john.emmins@med.monash.edu.au

Offices:
Department of Immunology
Level 1, Monash University Building, AMREP
Commercial Road
Melbourne 3004

Biosketch:

Dr. John Emmins graduated with a BSc from Monash University in 1976. His focus then shifted towards Veterinary diagnostic research spending 3 years as a Scientific Officer in the Veterinary Research Institute Parkville before a 4 year diplomatic posting to Bogor West Java under the auspices of the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB/Department of Foreign Affairs) teaching veterinary bacteriology and microbiology techniques during outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, anthrax, tuberculosis and other exotic diseases. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Education (Asian Studies) and returned to Australia, and completed a Masters of Veterinary Science in the Department of Tropical Veterinary Science at James Cook University, Townsville on the differential diagnosis of Bovine Tuberculosis. Upon his return to Melbourne in 1988 he commenced his present employment in the Department of Immunology and has played a pivotal role in undergraduate teaching ever since. During this time he also completed his PhD studies (1996) entitled “The Victorian Koala: Genetic Heterogeneity, Immune Responsiveness and Epizootiology of Chlamydiosis”. He also maintains a significant ongoing research profile and is currently supervising post-graduate students in different areas of immunological research.

Current Research Focus:
Microbial Immunopathology Laboratory

Dr. Emmins maintains an interest in marsupial and monotreme diseases and management, however his current research focus covers several other areas in collaborative ventures. These include studies into the immunopathogenesis of Gas-gangrene (in collaboration Professor Julian Rood, Department of Microbiology, Monash University and Dr. Michael Hickey, Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre), studies into the immune system of the chicken particularly as it relates to the threat of avian influenza pandemics as well as porcine cytokine profiles in pigs infected with intestinal nematodes (in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Bean, Australian Animal Health Laboratories, CSIRO).  In association with Professor Richard Boyd, Director, Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories (MISCL), he is also involved is a collaborative project looking at the factors affecting the differentiation of non-embryologically derived human mesenchymal stem cells.

Selected Publications:

Morris KR, Bean AG, Bruce MP, Broadway MM, O'Neil TE, Andrew ME, Emmins JJ, Strom DG. Administration of porcine interleukin-3 induces increased levels of blood eosinophils. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2008 Jul;28(7):435-44.

Hickey MJ, Kwan RY, Awad MM, Kennedy CL, Young LF, Hall P, Cordner LM, Lyras D, Emmins JJ, Rood JI. Molecular and cellular basis of microvascular perfusion deficits induced by Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium septicum.  PLoS Pathog. 2008 Apr 11;4(4):e1000045.

Kennedy C, Krejany E, Young L, O’Conner J, Awad M, Boyd R, Emmins J, Lyras D and Rood J. The alpha toxin of Clostridium septicum is essential for virulence. Molecular Microbiology. 2005; 57(5):1357-1363.

Whittington RJ, Connolly JH, Obendorf DL, Emmins J, Grant TR and Handasyde KA. Serological responses against the pathogenic dimorphic fungus Mucor amphibiorum in populations of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) with and without ulcerative mycotic dermatitis. Veterinary Microbiology. 2002; 87(1):59-71.

Awad MM, Ellemor DM, Boyd RL, Emmins JJ and Rood JI. Synergistic effects of alpha-toxin and perfringolysin O in Clostridium perfringens-mediated gas gangrene. Infection and Immunity. 2001; 69(12):7904-7910.

Awad MM, Ellemor DM, Bryant AE, Matsushita O, Boyd RL, Stevens DL, Emmins JJ and Rood JI. Construction and virulence testing of a collagenase mutant of Clostridium perfringens. Microbial Pathogenesis. 2000; 28:107-117.

Ellemor D, Baird R, Awad M, Rood J, Emmins J and Boyd RL. Use of genetically manipulated strains of Clostridium perfringens reveals both alpha-toxin and theta toxin are required for vascular leukostasis to occur in experimental gas gangrene. Infection and Immunity. 1999; 67:4902-4907.