Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Benjamin Gully gained his PhD in 2016 in the group of Professor Charlie Bond and Professor Swaminathan Iyer at the University of Western Australia, investigating the structural characterisation of a previously ill-defined RNA binding protein family.
He then moved to Monash University and joined Professor Jamie Rossjohn’s laboratory to investigate the molecular determinants of T cell recognition. Here he utilised a multitude of structural and biochemical techniques to study poorly understood - yet numerous - T cell subsets and other immune cell receptors. He expanded into using single-particle cryoEM and now runs a group studying unconventional T cell subsets
We investigate the ability of adaptive immune cells to respond to infections or disease. This specialised cellular system relies on the molecular determination of self, from non-self, via cell surface proteins. Thus understanding these protein complexes in high detail is of great interest and holds vast implications for therapeutic development. We study all three lineages of lymphocytes; B cells, ɑβ T cells and most prominently γδ T cells.
Research interests
We use world leading resources and techniques including use of the Monash Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy. Most notably use of Australia’s first Titan KRIOS fitted with a Falcon III Direct Electron Detector, a Gatan Energy Filter with a K2 Summit Direct Electron Detector, and Volta Phase Plate. In addition we have fortnightly access to the world leading facilities at the Australian Synchrotron after generating protein crystals with the Monash Molecular Crystallisation Facility. Using these resources we have charctersied novel and meritoroius immune complexes publishing in journals such as Science and Nature communications.
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
Structural biology, PhD, Structural charcaterisation of troublesome proteins, University of Western Australia
Award Date: 20 Apr 2016
External positions
Local Ambassador for the Biochemical Society in the Asia-Pacific, Biochemical Society
2012 → …
International Ambassador for the University of Huddersfield, UK , University of Huddersfield
2011 → …
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse
Gully, B. & Goyette, J.
Australian Research Council (ARC)
7/02/23 → 6/02/26
Project: Research
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NHMRC Equipment Grant - Alpine Direct Electron Detector
Ramm, G., Lithgow, T., Davidovich, C., Ellisdon, A., Dunstone, M., Cryle, M., Gully, B., Wong, W., Coulibaly, F. & Knott, G.
1/11/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Unconventional T cell immunity in the initiation of inflammatory bowel disease
Davey, M., Gully, B. & Giles, E.
15/03/21 → 14/09/23
Project: Research
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Direct recognition of an intact foreign protein by an αβ T cell receptor
Almeida, C. F., Gully, B. S., Jones, C. M., Kedzierski, L., Gunasinghe, S. D., Rice, M. T., Berry, R., Gherardin, N. A., Nguyen, T. T., Mok, Y. F., Reijneveld, J. F., Moody, D. B., Van Rhijn, I., La Gruta, N. L., Uldrich, A. P., Rossjohn, J. & Godfrey, D. I., Dec 2024, In: Nature Communications. 15, 1, 18 p., 8816.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Structure of a fully assembled γδ T cell antigen receptor
Gully, B. S., Ferreira Fernandes, J., Gunasinghe, S. D., Vuong, M. T., Lui, Y., Rice, M. T., Rashleigh, L., Lay, C. S., Littler, D. R., Sharma, S., Santos, A. M., Venugopal, H., Rossjohn, J. & Davis, S. J., 17 Oct 2024, In: Nature. 634, 8034, p. 729–736 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Atypical sideways recognition of CD1a by autoreactive γδ T cell receptors
Wegrecki, M., Ocampo, T. A., Gunasinghe, S. D., von Borstel, A., Tin, S. Y., Reijneveld, J. F., Cao, T-P., Gully, B. S., Le Nours, J., Moody, D. B., Van Rhijn, I. & Rossjohn, J., Dec 2022, In: Nature Communications. 13, 1, 15 p., 3872.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access19 Citations (Scopus) -
A natural product compound inhibits coronaviral replication in vitro by binding to the conserved Nsp9 SARS-CoV-2 protein
Littler, D. R., Liu, M., McAuley, J. L., Lowery, S. A., Illing, P. T., Gully, B. S., Purcell, A. W., Chandrashekaran, I. R., Perlman, S., Purcell, D. F. J., Quinn, R. J. & Rossjohn, J., Dec 2021, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 297, 6, 13 p., 101362.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access34 Citations (Scopus) -
Binding of a pyrimidine RNA base-mimic to SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 9
Littler, D. R., Mohanty, B., Lowery, S. A., Colson, R. N., Gully, B. S., Perlman, S., Scanlon, M. J. & Rossjohn, J., Sept 2021, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 297, 3, 10 p., 101018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access11 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Australian Research council, Australian postgraduate award (industry)
Gully, Ben (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Research council, Australian postgraduate award (industry), extension scholarship
Gully, Ben (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Australian Research council Nanotechnology Network, Short-term visitor scholarship
Gully, Ben (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, travel award
Gully, Ben (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, travel award
Gully, Ben (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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2nd CRYOZ conference
Ben Gully (Session chair)
2019 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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2nd CRYOZ conference
Ben Gully (Member of programme committee)
2019 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Using X-rays to shed light on the murky world of T cell communication
1/06/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities