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Dr. Janet M Davies BSc, PhD

Dr Janet Davies

Current Position:
Research Fellow, Allergy Research Laboratory

Phone:
+ 61 3 9903 0697

Facsimile:
+ 61 3 9903 038

Email:
janet.davies@med.monash.edu.au

Office and Laboratory:
Department of Immunology
Level 2, Monash University Building, AMREP
Commercial Road
Melbourne 3004

Research Background:
The unifying theme of my research is the molecular interaction between antibody and antigen.  I have developed this interest in relation to IgE antibody responses to grass pollen allergens and features of IgE cross-reactivity.  My research has described the mapping of binding sites of antibodies to autoantigens, viral antigens, as well as grass pollen allergens, the immunogenetic features of IgE antibodies, and molecular mimicry in lentiviral infections.

Awards and Grants:
2005: Helen MacPherson Smith Grant, Asthma Foundation of Victoria
2004: Paul Clarke Poster Prize, Australian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy
2003: Paul Clarke Poster Prize, Australian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy
2002: Monash Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship (2 years)
1999: Allan Watkinson Memorial Fellowship, Arthritis Foundation of Australia
1999: Monash University Research Travel Fund Award
1997: Australian Rotary Health Research Travel Award
1992: Murdoch University Research Student Conference Travel Award
1992: Australian Postgraduate Research Award
1990: National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia Postgraduate Scholarship (2 years) 

Current Research Focus:
Cloning novel allergens from Bahia grass, a newly recognized allergenic grass of clinical importance for seasonal asthma and rhinitis

Identification of putative mutations in the gene encoding lyn kinase, an intracellular signaling molecule, that may have reduced activity in asthmatics

Characterisation of B cell epitopes on the major allergens of peanuts using phage display.

Selected Publications:

  1. Davies JM, Bright M, Rolland JM and O’Hehir RE. Bahia grass pollen is IgE reactivity in patients with seasonal rhinitis; limited cross-reactivity with rye grass. Allergy. 2005; 60: 251-255.
  2. Linn M, Eble JA, Lubken C, Slade RW, Heino J, Davies J and Suhrbier A.An arthritogenic alphavirus uses the alpha1beta1 integrin collagen receptor. Virology. 2005; 336:229-239.
  3. Davies JM and O’Hehir RE. VH gene usage in immunoglobulin E responses of seasonal rhinitis patients allergic to grass pollen is oligoclonal and antigen-driven.Clin Exp All. 2004; 34: 429-436.
  4. Suphioglu C, Schappi G, Kenrick J, Levy D, Davies JM and O'Hehir RE. A novel grass pollen allergen mimotope identified by phage display peptide library inhibits allergen-human IgE antibody interaction. FEBS Lett. 2001; 502:46-52.
  5. Davies JM, O’Hehir RE and Suphioglu C. Use of phage display technology to investigate allergen-antibody interactions. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000; 105,:1083-1092.
  6. Myers MA, Davies JM, Tong JC, Whisstock J, Scealy M, Mackay IR, and Rowley MJ. Conformational epitopes on the diabetes autoantigen GAD65 identified by peptide phage-display and molecular modelling. J Immunol. 2000; 165:3830-3838.
  7. Davies JM,Cai Y-P and Rowley MJ. Characterisation of epitopes for virus-neutralising monoclonal antibodies to Ross River Virus E2 using phage-displayed random peptide libraries.Virology. 2000;  275:67-76.
  8. Davies JM, Scealy M, Cai Y-P, Whisstock J, Mackay IR and Rowley MJ. Multiple alignment and sorting of peptides derived from phage-displayed random peptide libraries with polyclonal sera allows discrimination of relevant phagotopes.Mol Immunol. 1999; 36:659-667.
  9. Davies JM, Mackay IR and Rowley MJ. Sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis react with a phage-displayed peptide selected by a monoclonal antibody to type II collagen with homology with Epstein Barr virus nuclear antigen-1.Autoimmunity. 1999;  30:53-59.
  10. Davies JM. Molecular mimicry revisited: can epitope mimicry induce autoimmune disease?  Immunol Cell Biol. 1997; 75:113-126.