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Professor Gilda Tachedjian is a virologist combining
interdisciplinary basic, translational and clinical research to discover and
advance effective drug-based strategies to prevent and control emerging
pathogens.
Prof Tachedjian was awarded a PhD in Microbiology from
Monash University and received an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship to undertake
postdoctoral studies at Columbia University in New York. Prof Tachedjian was
recruited to the Burnet Institute in 2002 and was awarded NHMRC RD Wright
Career Development Award in 2003 and NHMRC Senior Research Fellowships in 2009 and
2017.
Prof Tachedjian has made major contributions to HIV reverse
transcriptase, antivirals, drug resistance and HIV prevention research
including advancing knowledge on the role of the vaginal microbiome in
modulating HIV acquisition in women. Prof Tachedjian was among the first to
characterise retroviruses in bats and bat antiviral (restriction) factors.
Prof Tachedjian's current research interests include:
1. Discovering a new drug class for HIV treatment and
prevention using fragment-based drug design
2. Defining the role of the vaginal microbiome and their
metabolites in modulating adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
3. Characterising viruses that circulate in bats and
defining the role of their unique antiviral factors in controlling viruses that
are pathogenic in humans and other species.
Molecular virology/biology, virus propagation (e.g HIV, HSV,
gammaretroviruses), cell culture, antiviral assays, reverse transcriptase (RT) purification/expression,
enzyme assays (RT), cervicovaginal epithelial cell models, epithelial barrier
function (TEER, flux), Luminex (cytokines/chemokines quantitation), vaginal
microbiome characterisation (e.g. 16SrRNA gene sequencing), genomics, transcriptomics,
vaginal metabolite quantitation, vaginal bacteria propagation and bactericidal
assays.
Dr Joshua Hayward, Dr Paula Ellenberg, Dr Celine Deffrasnes, Ms Nancy Wilson
Vaginal microbiome characterisation
- The Impact of the Vaginal Microbiome and Microbial Metabolites on HIV Transmission at the Female Reproductive Tract Epithelial Barrier.
- Plasma proteome adaptations during feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy.
- Lactic acid produced by optimal vaginal Lactobacillus spp. potently and specifically inactivates HIV-1 in vitro by targeting the viral RNA genome and reverse transcriptase.
- Targeting HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Using a Fragment-Based Approach.
- Unique Evolution of Antiviral Tetherin in Bats.
- Retroviruses of Bats: a Threat Waiting in the Wings?
- HERV-K Gag RNA and Protein Levels Are Elevated in Malignant Regions of the Prostate in Males with Prostate Cancer.
- Infectious KoRV-related retroviruses circulating in Australian bats.
- Oxazole-Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives Inhibit HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Interaction with Cellular eEF1A and Reduce Viral Replication.
- Host and Viral Proteins Modulating Ebola and Marburg Virus Egress.
- Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Lactic Acid in Human Cervicovaginal Fluid.
