Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Shahine received a BSc (2008) from the University of Melbourne, before moving to Monash University to complete an M.BSc(part 1) (2009) and PhD (2016) under the supervision of A/Prof Travis Beddoe and Prof. Jamie Rossjohn. Their postgraduate research into the structural and functional characterisation of novel enzymes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis provided a solid biochemical skillset. Upon completion, Dr Shahine has been employed by The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, since 2014. Here, Dr Shahine research has focused on the field of structural immunology, where they aim to understand the critical events in lipid-mediated immunity in the context of autoreactivity and bacterial infection.
Through Dr Shahine's research, they employ a complementary set of biochemical, cellular, and biophysical techniques; including recombinant protein production, x-ray crystallography, surface plasmon resonance, enzymatic assays, flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry.
Dr Shahine was previously funded by an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship (2021-2023), and is currently an National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leader Fellow (2024-2028). Since 2023, Dr Shahine is a Group Leader within the Immunity Program at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and leads the lipid mediated structural immunology lab.
Research interests
Our research lab focuses on the role of lipids in human T-cell mediated immune responses. Lipid antigens are presented by MHC class I like proteins, denoted as CD1 molecules, on the surface of specialised antigen presenting cells, to receptors on T cells (TCRs). CD1 molecules are generally grouped into two groups: Group 1 (CD1a, CD1b, CD1c), and Group 2 (CD1d), based on sequence similarities, intracellular trafficking pathways, and antigen binding groove architecture. Group 2 CD1 molecules have been the most well characterised molecules in the context of lipid antigen presentation to invariant Natural Killer T cells, however little is known on the mechanisms of Group 1 CD1 molecules.
Our group focuses on characterising the molecular mechanisms of Group 1 CD1 molecule lipid antigen presentation, and subsequent TCR recognition. Group 1 CD1 molecules have been found to play a role in bacterial infection, namely by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and autoimmunity, such as in skin hypersensitivities, psoriasis, cellular stress, and cancer.
Using biophysical techniques and structural biology, namely x-ray crystallography, we aim to a) elucidate the mechanisms of self- and foreign- lipid antigen presentation by CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c, b) characterise the molecular mechanisms of TCR recognition, and c) determine their roles in the context of bacterial and autoimmune diseases.
Our focus will not only provide a deeper understanding of the role of lipid antigens in the context of human T-cell mediated immunity, but will provide a molecular basis for the development of novel therapeutics against targeted diseases.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Biochemistry, PhD, Structural Characterization of Novel Proteins from Mycobacterium species implicated in survivability, MONASH UNIVERSITY
2010 → 2016
Award Date: 21 Jul 2016
Biochemistry, Masters of Biomedical Sciences (Part 1), A Structural Investigation of the Tetrahydrolipstatin Drug Target, Rv3802c, from M. tuberculosis, MONASH UNIVERSITY
2009
Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, BSc, University of Melbourne
2006 → 2008
Research area keywords
- adaptive immunity
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- antigen presentation/processing
- Lipids
- Structural Biology
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Lipid antigen mediators of T cell responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
1/01/24 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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Defining the structural basis of lipid mediated T cell immunity
Shahine, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
Australian Research Council (ARC)
1/01/21 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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CD1 lipidomes reveal lipid-binding motifs and size-based antigen-display mechanisms
Huang, S., Shahine, A., Cheng, T.-Y., Chen, Y.-L., Ng, S. W., Balaji, G. R., Farquhar, R., Gras, S., Hardman, C. S., Altman, J. D., Tahiri, N., Minnaard, A. J., Ogg, G. S., Mayfield, J. A., Rossjohn, J. & Moody, D. B., 12 Oct 2023, In: Cell. 186, 21, p. 4583-4596.e13 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access15 Citations (Scopus) -
A single-domain bispecific antibody targeting CD1d and the NKT T-cell receptor induces a potent antitumor response
Lameris, R., Shahine, A., Pellicci, D. G., Uldrich, A. P., Gras, S., Le Nours, J., Groen, R. W. J., Vree, J., Reddiex, S. J. J., Quiñones-Parra, S. M., Richardson, S. K., Howell, A. R., Zweegman, S., Godfrey, D. I., de Gruijl, T. D., Rossjohn, J. & van der Vliet, H. J., Nov 2020, In: Nature Cancer. 1, 11, p. 1054-1065 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
29 Citations (Scopus) -
CD1 displays its own negative regulators
Shahine, A., Van Rhijn, I., Rossjohn, J. & Moody, D. B., Aug 2023, In: Current Opinion in Immunology. 83, 7 p., 102339.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
6 Citations (Scopus) -
Enhanced CD1d phosphatidylserine presentation using a single-domain antibody promotes immunomodulatory CD1d-TIM-3 interactions
Lameris, R., Shahine, A., Veth, M., Westerman, B., Godfrey, D. I., Lutje Hulsik, D., Brouwer, P., Rossjohn, J., de Gruijl, T. D. & van der Vliet, H. J., 1 Dec 2023, In: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 11, 12, 10 p., e007631.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Staphylococcal phosphatidylglycerol antigens activate human T cells via CD1a
Monnot, G. C., Wegrecki, M., Cheng, T.-Y., Chen, Y. L., Sallee, B. N., Chakravarthy, R., Karantza, I. M., Tin, S. Y., Khaleel, A. E., Monga, I., Uwakwe, L. N., Tillman, A., Cheng, B., Youssef, S., Ng, S. W., Shahine, A., Garcia-Vilas, J. A., Uhlemann, A. C., Bordone, L. A. & Han, A. & 5 others, , Jan 2023, In: Nature Immunology. 24, 1, p. 110-122 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
19 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Research: Early Career Research
Shahine, Adam (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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ECR Publication Prize: Fellows Publication Prize for Laboratory Sciences
Shahine, A. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Activities
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12th EMBO CD1/MR1 conference, Sweden
Adam Shahine (Organiser)
23 May 2022 → 26 May 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Australian Biochemistry Lunch seminar series
Adam Shahine (Organiser)
28 Mar 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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12th Lorne Infection & Immunity Conference
Adam Shahine (Organiser)
16 Feb 2022 → 18 Feb 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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UMC Utrecht Faculty of Medicine Tumorimmunology Seminar
Adam Shahine (Organiser)
24 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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SCANZ Crystal 34
Adam Shahine (Organiser)
7 Dec 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Novel immune-oncology approach for potential cancer treatment
15/09/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Researchers create “Lipidomic Map,” offering insights into immunology
19/09/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Paper: A molecule with more to say in autoimmune diseases
Shahine, A., Rossjohn, J. & Moody, D. B.
23/10/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The skinny on lipid immunology
Shahine, A. & Moody, D. B.
20/10/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment