Dr Natalee Newton

NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

natalee.newton@uq.edu.au

Primary research interest

Molecular virology and structure of flaviviruses

About Me

I completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Microbiology at The University of Queensland where I studied the antigenic properties of novel mosquito viruses in Australia. I then completed my PhD (2017-2021) at SCMB (UQ) with A/Prof Daniel Watterson, Dr Jody Hobson-Peters and Prof Roy Hall studying the infection and structure of mosquito and tick-borne flaviviruses. I continued my research on arboviruses as a Postdoctoral Researcher in A/Prof Daniel Watterson’s laboratory and was awarded an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship starting January 2022. My project aims to explore the structural evolution of flaviviruses to improve outbreak preparedness and design safer and more effective vaccines.

Research Focus and Collaborations

My main focus is on using cryo-electron microscopy to provide insights into flavivirus structure, with implications for viral evolution, rational vaccine design and therapeutic antibody development. I am currently working on utilising cutting-edge structural biology in combination with this chimeric virus system to explore pathogenic viral emergence and evolution at the molecular level. With a unique toolset my research is positioned to reveal the structural details of flavivirus evolution in the context of the infectious virion superstructure. I aim to translate these findings into new vaccines and strategies to overcome current epidemics and counter emerging flaviviral threats.

Funded Projects

NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (2022-2026) Reconstructing ancestral viruses to fight current and future flavivirus outbreaks. Total value of grant: $650,740

Researcher biography

Dr Natalee Newton is a molecular and structural virologist passionate about understanding the structure of flaviviruses and using these findings for the design and development of vaccines and therapeutics. Dr Newton completed her PhD at SCMB, UQ, developing a chimeric system to safely study the structure, using cryo-EM, of highly pathogenic tick- and mosquito-borne flaviviruses such as West Nile virus, dengue virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus. She also investigated the maturation and virion structure of an insect-specific flavivirus, which changed the way we view flavivirus architecture. Following this, Dr Newton began her post doc at SCMB UQ where she is now assessing the structure and immune profile of ancestral and sylvatic flaviviruses.

Publications

Journal Articles (25)

Thesis (1)

Journal Articles

Parry, Rhys H., Slonchak, Andrii, Campbell, Lewis J., Newton, Natalee D., Debat, Humberto J., Gifford, Robert J. and Khromykh, Alexander A. (2023). A novel tamanavirus (Flaviviridae) of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) from the UK. Journal of General Virology, 104 (12) 001927. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001927

Speck, Peter, Mackenzie, Jason, Bull, Rowena A., Slobedman, Barry, Drummer, Heidi, Fraser, Johanna, Herrero, Lara, Helbig, Karla, Londrigan, Sarah, Moseley, Gregory, Prow, Natalie, Hansman, Grant, Edwards, Robert, Ahlenstiel, Chantelle, Abendroth, Allison, Tscharke, David, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Kriiger-Loterio, Robson, Parry, Rhys, Marsh, Glenn, Harding, Emma, Jacques, David A., Gartner, Matthew J., Lee, Wen Shi, McAuley, Julie, Vaz, Paola, Sainsbury, Frank, Tate, Michelle D., Sinclair, Jane ... Young, Paul (2023). Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”. Journal of Virology, 97 (5), e0045123. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00451-23

Torres, Francisco J., Parry, Rhys, Hugo, Leon E. , Slonchak, Andrii , Newton, Natalee D. , Vet, Laura J. , Modhiran, Naphak, Pullinger, Brody , Wang, Xiaohui , Potter, James , Winterford, Clay , Hobson-Peters, Jody , Hall, Roy A. and Khromykh, Alexander A. (2022). Reporter flaviviruses as tools to demonstrate homologous and heterologous superinfection exclusion. Viruses, 14 (7) 1501, 1501. doi: 10.3390/v14071501

O’Brien, Caitlin A., Huang, Bixing, Warrilow, David, Hazlewood, Jessamine E., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, Pegg, Cassandra L., Harrison, Jessica J., Paramitha, Devina, Newton, Natalee D., Schulz, Benjamin L., Suhrbier, Andreas, Hobson-Peters, Jody and Hall, Roy A. (2022). Extended characterisation of five archival tick-borne viruses provides insights for virus discovery in Australian ticks. Parasites and Vectors, 15 (1) 59, 59. doi: 10.1186/s13071-022-05176-z

Scott, Connor A. P., Amarilla, Alberto A., Bibby, Summa, Newton, Natalee D., Hall, Roy A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Muller, David A., Chappell, Keith J., Young, Paul R., Modhiran, Naphak and Watterson, Daniel (2021). Implications of dengue virus maturation on vaccine induced humoral immunity in mice. Viruses, 13 (9) 1843, 1843. doi: 10.3390/v13091843

O'Brien, Caitlin A., Harrison, Jessica J., Colmant, Agathe M. G., Traves, Renee J., Paramitha, Devina, Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Vet, Laura J., Piyasena, Thisun B. H., Newton, Natalee D., Yam, Alice W., Hobson-Peters, Jody and Hall, Roy A. (2021). Improved detection of flaviviruses in Australian mosquito populations via replicative intermediates. Journal of General Virology, 102 (7) 001617. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001617

Hardy, Joshua M., Newton, Natalee D., Modhiran, Naphak, Scott, Connor A. P., Venugopal, Hariprasad, Vet, Laura J., Young, Paul R., Hall, Roy A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Coulibaly, Fasséli and Watterson, Daniel (2021). A unified route for flavivirus structures uncovers essential pocket factors conserved across pathogenic viruses. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 3266, 3266. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22773-1

Newton, Natalee D., Hardy, Joshua M., Modhiran, Naphak, Hugo, Leon E., Amarilla, Alberto A., Bibby, Summa, Venugopal, Hariprasad, Harrison, Jessica J., Traves, Renee J., Hall, Roy A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Coulibaly, Fasséli and Watterson, Daniel (2021). The structure of an infectious immature flavivirus redefines viral architecture and maturation. Science Advances, 7 (20) eabe4507, 1-12. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4507

Modhiran, Naphak, Song, Hao, Liu, Lidong, Bletchly, Cheryl, Brillault, Lou, Amarilla, Alberto A., Xu, Xiaoying, Qi, Jianxun, Chai, Yan, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Traves, Renee, Setoh, Yin Xiang, Bibby, Summa, Scott, Connor A. P., Freney, Morgan E., Newton, Natalee D., Khromykh, Alexander A., Chappell, Keith J., Muller, David A., Stacey, Katryn J., Landsberg, Michael J., Shi, Yi, Gao, George F., Young, Paul R. and Watterson, Daniel (2021). A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein. Science, 371 (6525), 190-194. doi: 10.1126/science.abb9425

O’Brien, Caitlin A., Pegg, Cassandra L., Nouwens, Amanda S., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Huang, Bixing, Warrilow, David, Harrison, Jessica J., Haniotis, John, Schulz, Benjamin L., Paramitha, Devina, Colmant, Agathe M. G., Newton, Natalee D., Doggett, Stephen L., Watterson, Daniel, Hobson-Peters, Jody and Hall, Roy A. (2020). A unique relative of Rotifer birnavirus Isolated from Australian mosquitoes. Viruses, 12 (9) 1056, 1056. doi: 10.3390/v12091056

Harrison, Jessica J., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Colmant, Agathe M. G., Koh, Joanna, Newton, Natalee D., Warrilow, David, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Piyasena, Thisun B. H., O’Brien, Caitlin A., Vet, Laura J., Paramitha, Devina, Potter, James R., Davis, Steven S., Johansen, Cheryl A., Setoh, Yin Xiang, Khromykh, Alexander A. and Hall, Roy A. (2020). Antigenic characterization of new lineage II insect-specific flaviviruses in Australian mosquitoes and identification of host restriction factors. mSphere, 5 (3) e00095, 1-19. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00095-20

Vet, Laura J., Setoh, Yin Xiang, Amarilla, Alberto A., Habarugira, Gervais, Suen, Willy W., Newton, Natalee D., Harrison, Jessica J., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Hall, Roy A. and Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle (2020). Protective efficacy of a chimeric insect-specific flavivirus vaccine against West Nile virus. Vaccines, 8 (2) 258, 258. doi: 10.3390/vaccines8020258

Colmant, Agathe M. G., O'Brien, Caitlin A., Newton, Natalee D., Watterson, Daniel, Hardy, Joshua, Coulibaly, Fasséli, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Warrilow, David, Huang, Bixing, Paramitha, Devina, Harrison, Jessica J., Hall, Roy A. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2020). Novel monoclonal antibodies against Australian strains of negeviruses and insights into virus structure, replication and host -restriction. Journal of General Virology, 101 (4), 440-452. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001388

Hobson-Peters, Jody, Harrison, Jessica J., Watterson, Daniel, Hazlewood, Jessamine E., Vet, Laura J., Newton, Natalee D., Warrilow, David, Colmant, Agathe M. G., Taylor, Carmel, Huang, Bixing, Piyasena, Thisun B. H., Chow, Weng Kong, Setoh, Yin Xiang, Tang, Bing, Nakayama, Eri, Yan, Kexin, Amarilla, Alberto A., Wheatley, Sarah, Moore, Peter R., Finger, Mitchell, Kurucz, Nina, Modhiran, Naphak, Young, Paul R., Khromykh, Alexander A., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Suhrbier, Andreas and Hall, Roy A. (2019). A recombinant platform for flavivirus vaccines and diagnostics using chimeras of a new insect-specific virus. Science Translational Medicine, 11 (522) eaax7888, 1-15. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax7888

Piyasena, Thisun B H, Newton, Natalee D, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Vet, Laura J, Setoh, Yin X, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Khromykh, Alexander A and Hall, Roy A (2019). Chimeric viruses of the insect-specific flavivirus Palm Creek with structural proteins of vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses identify barriers to replication of insect-specific flaviviruses in vertebrate cells. The Journal of general virology, 100 (11), 1580-1586. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001326

Piyasena, Thisun B. H., Setoh, Yin X., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Newton, Natalee D., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, McLean, Breeanna J., Vet, Laura J., Khromykh, Alexander A. and Hall, Roy A. (2019). Author Correction: Infectious DNAs derived from insect-specific flavivirus genomes enable identification of pre- and post-entry host restrictions in vertebrate cells. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 8431, 8431. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44657-7

Warrilow, David, Huang, Bixing, Newton, Natalee D., Harrison, Jessica J., Johnson, Karyn N., Chow, Weng Kong, Hall, Roy A. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2018). The taxonomy of an Australian nodavirus isolated from mosquitoes. PLoS One, 13 (12) e0210029, 1-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210029

Colmant, Agathe M. G., Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, Ritchie, Scott A., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Harrison, Jessica J., Newton, Natalee D., O’Brien, Caitlin A., Cazier, Chris, Johansen, Cheryl A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Hall, Roy A. and van den Hurk, Andrew F. (2018). The recently identified flavivirus Bamaga virus is transmitted horizontally by Culex mosquitoes and interferes with West Nile virus replication in vitro and transmission in vivo. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12 (10) e0006886, e0006886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006886

Piyasena, Thisun B. H. , Setoh, Yin X., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Newton, Natalee D. , Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, McLean, Breeanna J. , Vet, Laura J. , Khromykh, Alexander A. and Hall, Roy A. (2017). Infectious DNAs derived from insect-specific flavivirus genomes enable identification of pre- and post-entry host restrictions in vertebrate cells. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 2940, 2940.1-2940.11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03120-1

O'Brien, Caitlin A., McLean, Breeanna J., Colmant, Agathe M. G., Harrison, Jessica J., Hall-Mendelin, Sonja, van den Hurk, Andrew F., Johansen, Cheryl A., Watterson, Daniel, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Newton, Natalee D., Schulz, Benjamin L., Hall, Roy A. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2017). Discovery and characterisation of castlerea virus, a new species of Negevirus isolated in Australia. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 13, 1176934317691269. doi: 10.1177/1176934317691269

Hall, Roy A., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, McLean, Breeanna J., O'Brien, Caitlin A., Colmant, Agathe M.G., Piyasena, Thisun B.H., Harrison, Jessica J., Newton, Natalee D., Barnard, Ross T., Prow, Natalie A., Deerain, Joshua M., Mah, Marcus G.K.Y. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2017). Commensal viruses of mosquitoes: Host restriction, transmission, and interaction with arboviral pathogens. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 12 (Suppl 2), 35-44. doi: 10.4137/EBO.S40740

Thesis

Newton, Natalee Denise (2021). Binjari virus structure and use as a universal platform for flavivirus cryo-electron microscopy. PhD Thesis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/833b177

Areas of research

Biochemistry and molecular biology discipline

Infection and immunity theme

Microbiology discipline