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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Role #2 (postdoc): Structural biology of antibody responses to virulence factors and toxins. au.seek.com/job/92197972...

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Role #1 (postdoc/senior postdoc): Cellular immunology of CD4+ T cell and B cells. au.seek.com/job/92198342

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

My lab is recruiting! To coincide with my relocation to WEHI in July, I’m recruiting for two Research Officer (Postdoc) positions. Both roles will be involved in advancing development of vaccines and therapeutics for Streptococcus pyogenes. Please spread the word! 📣 See 🧵for details 👇

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I’m really excited to begin this next chapter for my research at @wehi-research.bsky.social later this year. I also want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all my colleagues from @monashuniversity.bsky.social for their support these past 5 years.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

It is such fantastic work Lauren! Congrats.

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Reposted by Dr Danika Hill

Cyril Seillet, PhD @seilletlab.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

🎓 PhD positions available @MonashUni Join our lab to explore how neurons and immune cells shape gut immunity! 🧬 Single-cell RNAseq 🔬 3D imaging 🧠 Neuro-immune interactions 👥 Great mentoring & collaborations Apply now 👉 tinyurl.com/Seilletlab

tinyurl.com

Understanding the neuroimmune regulation of innate immunity | Supervisor Connect

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Congrats @linterman.bsky.social @smguillaume.bsky.social and team for this nice study about B cells fighting on the front lines (the 🫁)

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

It seems these sugar-specific B cells don’t follow some of the “rules” for selection, which could in theory mean differences for tolerance checkpoints too! Many anti-sugar Abs are unmutated IgM’s, including those that recognise host-glycans. So this may be a restricted phenomenon.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

That’s an interesting question, particularly as the Strep A glycan has also been implicated as an autoantibody involved in rheumatic fever. Right now, it’s still unclear.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Congrats to first authors @hollyfryer.bsky.social and Cathy Pitt, and all my co-authors many of whom provided the amazing clinical samples that powered this research. @joshosowicki.bsky.social @njmoreland.bsky.social @melanieneeland.bsky.social (and many more not on 🦋)

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

These findings reveal how age and infection history can influence the quality, quantity, and isotype use of sugar-specific B cells. This work has important implications for the design and schedule of glycan-containing vaccines.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

We conclude that mucosal pathogen encounters elicit glycan responses that class-switch, evolve and diversify through the GC. 📖🥊 take that textbook!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

We found that Strep A infection induced sugar B cells to enter the Germinal centre where they became highly mutated. How were they doing this? By comparing to protein responses (SpyCEP) we found that sugar B cells had a molecular signature consistent with receiving reduced T cell help.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

By studying human blood, spleen and tonsils, including samples from a Strep A human challenge model, we show that sugar B cell responses shift from IgM towards IgG and IgA memory with age and antigen exposure.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

We asked - is this dogma correct when sugar-specific B cells could engulf whole bacteria? (that contain proteins for T cells to recognise). We focussed on Strep A, where the sugar (GAC) is a leading glycoconjugate vaccine candidate. Image: Natalia Korotkova

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

As T cells can’t “see” sugar molecules via their T cell receptor, text books say that antibodies to sugars occur without T cell help. T cell help is critical for germinal centres (GC), the structure in which the antibody sequence on B cells gets mutated with the aim of increasing binding strength.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

New preprint alert 🚨 My team and I are pleased to share our most recent story about how bacterial pathogen (Streptococcus pyogenes, Strep A) exposure induces antibody responses against glycan and protein antigens. For paper: SSRN ssrn.com/abstract=519... biorxiv : doi: doi.org/10.1101/2025...

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I’m so excited to be a chief investigator for this $10M Wellcome Trust grant, and for all the important things we’re going to learn about immunity against Strep A with researchers spanning three continents.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

I would love to see this 📖 one day!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Really important #ImmunoSky findings from @jenjuno.viralvaxlab.com and co-authors about the pitfalls of using activation markers to detect antigen-specific T cells. Good news is they’ve found a marker combination that gets rid of bystander activated cells! Check out the preprint and 🧵 below 👀

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Reposted by Dr Danika Hill

Jennifer Juno @jenjuno.viralvaxlab.com · 20/12/2024

8/9 In short, we suggest in vitro stimulation activates ag-specific T cells, which secrete cytokines and activate Treg and Th17/22 cells. Without careful phenotyping, all of these cells can get picked up as AIM+, accounting for the Th17-like memory cells found in many virus-specific AIM datasets.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

My n=1 experiment confirms that this scientifically tested recipe makes a delicious Cacio e Pepe, and the pre-print is surprisingly thorough!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

This is phenomenal!! What a creative bunch!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I’m loving these! Keep them coming!

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Reposted by Dr Danika Hill

Nikki Moreland @njmoreland.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Finally jumping into 🦋 - and what better way to do than highlighting this super thread. Wonderful to have been involved in this study with our Strep A friends across the Tasman

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

@rhcmcg.bsky.social my fantastic co-author Reuben McGregor from University of Auckland is on 🦋 too!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Thanks @drnatsampaio.bsky.social ! I believe can’t do great team science without caring about the individuals. It’s such a privilege to be able to nurture and support trainees and ECRs and so fulfilling to watch them kick science goals!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Thanks @alexjkeeley.bsky.social ! I think there’s so much we can learn by comparing human challenge to surveillance studies. Looking forward to reading your story when it comes out!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Thanks Claudine. So far it’s been a wild ride of downs and ups! 🎢

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I’ll take this opportunity to announce that I’ll have multiple postdoc positions opening early next year. Come join us in Melbourne! 🇦🇺🐨🦘 If you’re interested in mucosal immunology, microbiology, parasitology, vaccine design or bioinformatics, get in touch ✉️! #ImmunoSky #MicroSky #IDSky

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Piotr!! So lovely to hear from you after so long!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Thanks Mohamed! I’ve got an exciting story about antibody secreting cells in the works too, so keep an eye out for that one!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Yes, would be great to know this @altmetric.com as this was a link provided by the journal.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

It’s so exciting Michael. Comparing immune responses in Australian with Gambia is going to be so illuminating. Excited to be part of it!

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Thanks Mauro! That means the world coming from you !

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Thanks Gabriele. What a lovely idea !

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Overall, we find that past exposure to this ubiquitous pathogen leaves a complex humoral imprint. There is MUCH more data in the paper for #Strep A enthusiasts. We are particularly excited about finding baseline antibody signatures that associate with susceptibility or resistance to pharyngitis.

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Dr Danika Hill @precisionvaxlab.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

"But does a human challenge mimic a real infection?" I hear you ask. We need a #Strep A vaccine to work for kids. We found that the magnitude of antibody made in the human challenge was similar to what children make 1 month after natural pharyngitis.

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