Dr Ariel Isaacs

Research Fellow

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

a.isaacs@uq.edu.au

Primary research interests

Dr. Ariel Isaacs is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Queensland, where he contributes to the preclinical development of the Molecular Clamp vaccine technology for a range of emerging viral pathogens. With a keen focus on paramyxoviruses and coronaviruses, Dr. Isaacs is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative vaccines and therapeutics. His research leverages state-of-the-art techniques such as cryogenic electron microscopy and functional assays to design next-generation, broad-spectrum interventions aimed at mitigating viral infections.

About me

Dr. Ariel Isaacs completed his PhD at The University of Queensland in 2021, and has since continued his work as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences. During his doctoral studies, he contributed significantly to the preclinical development of Molecular Clamp vaccine technology, which has since advanced to human clinical trials on multiple fronts. Currently, Dr. Isaacs collaborates with Professor Daniel Watterson in the development of broad-spectrum vaccines and antibody-based therapies targeting high-priority viral diseases. In his work, Ariel remains committed to creating innovative solutions that enhance global readiness for future pandemics and mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations.

Research focus and collaborations

Dr. Isaacs’s primary research focus lies in the study of henipaviruses—a highly pathogenic viral genus transmitted by bats and rodents. Employing cutting-edge techniques, he explores innovative vaccine and immunotherapy strategies aimed at combating henipaviral infections. Dr. Isaacs has established a wide network of national and international collaborations to drive research on henipaviral diseases, with the overarching goal of pandemic preparedness. He is an active member of the CEPI Nipah Taskforce and the WHO Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) for Paramyxovirus Medical Countermeasures.

Funded projects

Chief Investigator A: NHMRC Ideas Grant (2024-2027) - Cross-neutralising & variant-resistant antibody therapies for henipaviruses

Chief Investigator B: MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant (2023-2025) - Broad-spectrum vaccine design for flaviviruses and henipaviruses

Chief Investigator B: Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre Outbreak Seed Funding (2023). Understanding the structure and glycosylation patterns of emerging henipaviruses with outbreak potential

Achievements and awards

2024 - Best ECR Oral – Hendra@30 Conference
2024 - Best ECR Oral - Australasian Virology Society Conference
2023 - High Impact Research ECR Award - SCMB
2022 - Best Poster Presentation Award – Australasian Virology Society conference
2022 - Best Early Career Researcher Award – Australasian Vaccine & Immunotherapeutics Development conference
2020 - UQ Award for Excellence & Innovation – Molecular Clamp Vaccines
2018 - Recipient of University Medal

Featured publications

Isaacs, Ariel, Low, Yu Shang, Macauslane, Kyle L., Seitanidou, Joy, Pegg, Cassandra L., Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Scott, Connor A. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Schulz, Benjamin L., Chappell, Keith J., Modhiran, Naphak, and Watterson, Daniel (2023). Structure and antigenicity of divergent Henipavirus fusion glycoproteins. Nature Communications 14 (1) 3577 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39278-8

Isaacs, Ariel, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Thakur, Nazia, Jaberolansar, Noushin, Young, Andrew, Modhiran, Naphak, Bailey, Dalan, Graham, Simon P., Young, Paul R., Chappell, Keith J., and Watterson, Daniel (2021). Combinatorial F-G Immunogens as Nipah and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Candidates. Viruses 13 (10) 1942 1942. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13101942

Isaacs, Ariel, Li, Zheyi, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Wijesundara, Danushka K., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Modhiran, Naphak, Young, Paul R., Ranasinghe, Charani, Watterson, Daniel, and Chappell, Keith J. (2021). Adjuvant selection for influenza and RSV prefusion subunit vaccines. Vaccines 9 (2) 71 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020071

Isaacs, Ariel, Amarilla, Alberto A., Aguado, Julio, Modhiran, Naphak, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Baradar, Alireza A., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, McMillan, Nigel A. J., Muller, David A., Young, Paul R., Woodruff, Trent M., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Chappell, Keith J., and Watterson, Daniel (2022). Nucleocapsid specific diagnostics for the detection of divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Frontiers in Immunology 13 926262 926262. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.926262

Young, Andrew, Isaacs, Ariel, Scott, Connor A. P., Modhiran, Naphak, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Cheung, Stacey T. M., Barr, Jennifer, Marsh, Glenn, Thakur, Nazia, Bailey, Dalan, Li, Kenneth S. M., Luk, Hayes K. H., Kok, Kin-Hang, Lau, Susanna K. P., Woo, Patrick C. Y., Furuyama, Wakako, Marzi, Andrea, Young, Paul R., Chappell, Keith J., and Watterson, Daniel (2022). A platform technology for generating subunit vaccines against diverse viral pathogens. Frontiers in Immunology 13 963023 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.963023

O’Donnell, Jake S., Isaacs, Ariel, Jakob, Virginie, Lebas, Celia, Barnes, James B., Reading, Patrick C., Young, Paul R., Watterson, Daniel, Dubois, Patrice M., Collin, Nicolas, and Chappell, Keith J. (2022). Characterization and comparison of novel adjuvants for a prefusion clamped MERS vaccine. Frontiers in Immunology 13 976968 976968. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.976968

Thakur, Nazia, Conceicao, Carina, Isaacs, Ariel, Human, Stacey, Modhiran, Naphak, McLean, Rebecca K., Pedrera, Miriam, Tan, Tiong Kit, Rijal, Pramila, Townsend, Alain, Taylor, Geraldine, Young, Paul R., Watterson, Daniel, Chappell, Keith J., Graham, Simon P., and Bailey, Dalan (2020). Micro-fusion inhibition tests: quantifying antibody neutralization of virus-mediated cell–cell fusion. Journal of General Virology 102 (1) 001506 . https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.001506

Watterson, Daniel, Wijesundara, Danushka K., Modhiran, Naphak, Mordant, Francesca L., Li, Zheyi, Avumegah, Michael S., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Lackenby, Julia, Guilfoyle, Kate, van Amerongen, Geert, Stittelaar, Koert, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Bibby, Summa, Daleris, Mallory, Hoger, Kym, Gillard, Marianne, Radunz, Eve, Jones, Martina L., Hughes, Karen, Hughes, Ben, Goh, Justin, Edwards, David, Scoble, Judith, Pearce, Lesley, Kowalczyk, Lukasz, Phan, Tram, La, Mylinh, Lu, Louis, Pham, Tam, ... Chappell, Keith J. (2021). Preclinical development of a molecular clamp-stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Clinical & Translational Immunology 10 (4) e1269 e1269. https://doi.org/10.1002/cti2.1269

Pedrera, Miriam, Macchi, Francesca, McLean, Rebecca K., Franceschi, Valentina, Thakur, Nazia, Russo, Luca, Medfai, Lobna, Todd, Shawn, Tchilian, Elma Z., Audonnet, Jean-Christophe, Chappell, Keith, Isaacs, Ariel, Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R., Marsh, Glenn A., Bailey, Dalan, Graham, Simon P., and Donofrio, Gaetano (2020). Bovine herpesvirus-4-vectored delivery of nipah virus glycoproteins enhances T cell immunogenicity in pigs. Vaccines 8 (1) 115 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010115

McMillan, Christopher L. D., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, Modhiran, Naphak, Amarilla, Alberto A., Isaacs, Ariel, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Azuar, Armira, Acharya, Dhruba, Kelly, Gabrielle, Fernando, Germain J. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R., McMillan, Nigel A. J., and Muller, David A. (2021). Complete protection by a single-dose skin patch–delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine. Science Advances 7 (44) eabj8065 eabj8065. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abj8065

Researcher biography

Dr. Ariel Isaacs specializes in the study of respiratory viruses, with a focus on highly pathogenic viruses like Nipah, Hendra, and SARS-CoV-2, as well as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). His research aims to advance the design of next-generation vaccines and antibody therapies to combat these emerging viral threats.

Using cryo-electron microscopy, Dr. Isaacs investigates the structures of viral glycoproteins, which play a crucial role in mediating viral entry into host cells. By analyzing these structures, he gains insights into the mechanisms by which viruses enter cells, enabling him to identify critical targets for therapeutic intervention. This understanding informs the design of vaccines and antibodies that can block viral entry, offering new strategies for antiviral treatment and prevention.

His work bridges structural biology with therapeutic development, contributing to the fight against both current and future respiratory viral pandemics. Currently, Dr. Isaacs is working to develop broad-spectrum antiviral solutions that can respond to a range of respiratory viruses, including those with high pathogenic potential. His research holds promise for advancing both vaccine and therapeutic strategies, ultimately improving global health outcomes and preparedness for future viral threats.