Doctor Scott Read

Adjunct Fellow,
Dean's Unit - School of Medicine

Biography
Contact
Publications
Projects
Supervision
Media

Biography

Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, Scott completed his master’s degree is Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Following the emergence of West Nile virus in North America, Scott’s master’s focused on gaining a molecular understanding of virus:pathogen protein interactions in mosquitoes; the vector for West Nile virus, and an annoying pest throughout Winnipeg summers.

Following guidance from his supervisor Dr. Steve Whyard, Scott travelled to Sydney, Australia in 2009 to undertake a PhD at the Storr Liver Centre at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney. Scott’s PhD focused on understanding the molecular basis of hepatitis C virus treatment failure and its association with insulin resistance. Under Drs. Mark Douglas and Jacob George, Scott demonstrated that PPARα agonists sensitized hepatocytes to interferons by modulating negative regulators of interferon signaling, including the receptor tyrosine kinase, AXL.

Following the identification of polymorphisms in the interferon lambda 3/4 gene locus by the Storr Liver group and others, Scott became deeply interested in interferon lambda biology. Following his PhD, Scott moved into a post-doctoral position in the liver immunology group of Dr. Golo Ahlenstiel at Storr Liver Centre. As a Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University, Scott is now focused on understanding how genetic and environmental factors can drive interferon lambda mediated inflammation and fibrosis in hepatic and gastrointestinal tissues.

This information has been contributed by Doctor Read.

Qualifications

PhD University of Sydney

Interests

Liver Immunology
Chronic Inflammation
Innate Immunity
Molecular Biology
Virology

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Dean's Unit - School of Medicine

Contact

Email:	S.Read@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:
Mobile:
Location:	Off Campus

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Publications

Journal Articles

Shek, D., Gloss, B., Lai, J., Ma, L., Zhang, H., Carlino, M., Mahajan, H., Nagrial, A., Gao, B., Read, S. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2023), 'Identification and characterisation of infiltrating immune cells in malignant pleural mesothelioma using spatial transcriptomics', Methods and Protocols, vol 6, no 2 .
Kalo, E., George, J., Read, S., Majumdar, A. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2023), 'Evolution of risk prediction models for post-operative mortality in patients with cirrhosis', Hepatology International, vol 17, no 3 , pp 542 - 545.
Abomughaid, M., Tay, E., Pickford, R., Malladi, C., Read, S., Coorssen, J., Gloss, B., George, J. and Douglas, M. (2023), 'PEMT mediates hepatitis c virus-induced steatosis, explains genotype-specific phenotypes and supports virus replication', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol 24, no 10 .
Rao, A., Zecchin, R., Newton, P., Read, S., Phillips, J., Digiacomo, M., Chang, S., Denniss, A. and Hickman, L. (2023), 'Feasibility of integrating MEditatioN inTO heaRt disease (the MENTOR Study) : a phase II randomized controlled trial', Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, vol 38, no 5 , pp 492 - 510.
Kalo, E., Read, S. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2022), 'Reprogramming : evolving path to functional surrogate ?-Cells', Cells, vol 11, no 18 .
Wijaya, R., Read, S., Truong, N., Han, S., Chen, D., Shahidipour, H., Fewings, N., Schibeci, S., Azardaryany, M., Parnell, G., Booth, D., Poorten, D., Lin, R., George, J., Douglas, M. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'HBV vaccination and HBV infection induces HBV-specific natural killer cell memory', Hepatology, vol 70, no 2 , pp 357 - 369.
Wijaya, R., Read, S., Selvamani, S., Schibeci, S., Azardaryany, M., Ong, A., Poorten, D., Lin, R., Douglas, M., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'Hepatitis C virus eradication with interferon free, DAA-based therapy results in KLRGI+, hepatitis C virus-specific memory natural killer cells', Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol 223, no 7 , pp 1183 - 1195.
Wijaya, R., Read, S., Schibeci, S., Han, S., Azardaryany, M., Van Der Poorten, D., Lin, R., Yuen, L., Lam, V., Douglas, M., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'Expansion of dysfunctional CD56-CD16+ NK cells in chronic hepatitis B patients', Liver International, vol 41, no 5 , pp 969 - 981.
Shek, D., Read, S., Nagrial, A., Carlino, M., Gao, B., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'Immune-checkpoint inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma : a synopsis of response rates', The Oncologist, vol 26, no 7 , pp 1216 - 1225.
Read, S., Gloss, B., Liddle, C., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'Interferon-[lambda]3 exacerbates the inflammatory response to microbial ligands : implications for SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis', Journal of Inflammation Research, vol 14 , pp 1257 - 1270.
Shek, D., Chen, D., Read, S. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'Examining the gut-liver axis in liver cancer using organoid models', Cancer Letters, vol 510 , pp 48 - 58.
Shek, D., Akhuba, L., Carlino, M., Nagrial, A., Moujaber, T., Read, S., Gao, B. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2021), 'Immune-checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic colorectal cancer : a systematic review of clinical outcomes', Cancers, vol 13, no 17 .
Njiomegnie, G., Read, S., Fewings, N., George, J., McKay, F. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2020), 'Immunomodulation of the natural killer cell phenotype and response during HCV infection', Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol 9, no 4 .
Nguyen, R., Bae, S., Zhou, G., Read, S., Ahlenstiel, G., George, J. and Qiao, L. (2020), 'Application of organoids in translational research of human diseases with a particular focus on gastrointestinal cancers', Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Reviews on Cancer, vol 1873, no 2 .
Shek, D., Read, S., Akhuba, L., Qiao, L., Gao, B., Nagrial, A., Carlino, M. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2020), 'Non-coding RNA and immune-checkpoint inhibitors : friends or foes?', Immunotherapy, vol 12, no 7 , pp 513 - 529.
Lam, T., Cheema, B., Hayden, A., Lord, S., Gurney, H., Gounden, S., Reddy, N., Shahidipour, H., Read, S., Stone, G., McLean, M. and Birzniece, V. (2020), 'Androgen deprivation in prostate cancer : benefits of home-based resistance training', Sports Medicine - Open, vol 6 .
Sasson, S., Zaunders, J., Nahar, K., Munier, C., Fairfax, B., Olsson-Brown, A., Jolly, C., Read, S., Ahlenstiel, G., Palendira, U., Scolyer, R., Carlino, M., Payne, M., Cheung, V., Gupta, T., Klenerman, P., Long, G., Brain, O., Menzies, A. and Kelleher, A. (2020), 'Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are activated in the gastrointestinal tissue of patients with combination ipilimumab and nivolumab therapy-related colitis in a pathology distinct from ulcerative colitis', Clinical and Experimental Immunology, vol 202, no 3 , pp 335 - 352.
Read, S., Obeid, S., Ahlenstiel, C. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2019), 'The role of zinc in antiviral immunity', Advances in Nutrition, vol 10, no 4 , pp 696 - 710.
Shek, D., Read, S., Ahlenstiel, G. and Piatkov, I. (2019), 'Pharmacogenetics of anticancer monoclonal antibodies', Cancer Drug Resistance, vol 2 , pp 69 - 81.
Wijaya, R., Read, S., Schibeci, S., Eslam, M., Azardaryany, M., El-Khobar, K., Van der Poorten, D., Lin, R., Yuen, L., Lam, V., George, J., Douglas, M. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2019), 'KLRG1+ natural killer cells exert a novel antifibrotic function in chronic hepatitis B', Journal of Hepatology, vol 71, no 2 , pp 252 - 264.
Gupta, S., Read, S., Shackel, N., Hebbard, L., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2019), 'The role of micronutrients in the infection and subsequent response to hepatitis C virus', Cells, vol 8, no 6 .
Chen, D., Le, T., Shahidipour, H., Read, S. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2019), 'The role of gut-derived microbial antigens on liver fibrosis initiation and progression', Cells, vol 8, no 11 .
Read, S., Wijaya, R., Ramezani-Moghadam, M., Tay, E., Schibeci, S., Liddle, C., Lam, V., Yuen, L., Douglas, M., Booth, D., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2019), 'Macrophage coordination of the interferon lambda immune response', Frontiers in Immunology, vol 10 .
Read, S., Parnell, G., Booth, D., Douglas, M., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2018), 'The antiviral role of zinc and metallothioneins in hepatitis C infection', Journal of Viral Hepatitis, vol 25, no 5 , pp 491 - 501.
Read, S., O'Connor, K., Suppiah, V., Ahlenstiel, C., Obeid, S., Cook, K., Cunningham, A., Douglas, M., Hogg, P., Booth, D., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2017), 'Zinc is a potent and specific inhibitor of IFN-3 signalling', Nature Communications, vol 8 .
Obeid, S., Wankell, M., Charrez, B., Sternberg, J., Kreuter, R., Esmaili, S., Ramezani-Moghadam, M., Devine, C., Read, S., Bhathal, P., Lopata, A., Ahlenstiel, G., Qiao, L., George, J. and Hebbard, L. (2017), 'Adiponectin confers protection from acute colitis and restricts a B cell immune response', Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 292, no 16 , pp 6569 - 6582.
O'Connor, K., Read, S., Wang, M., Schibeci, S., Eslam, M., Ong, A., Weltman, M., Douglas, M., Mazzola, A., Craxi, A., Petta, S., Stewart, G., Liddle, C., George, J., Ahlenstiel, G. and Booth, D. (2016), 'IFNL3/4 genotype is associated with altered immune cell populations in peripheral blood in chronic hepatitis C infection', Genes and Immunity, vol 17, no 6 , pp 328 - 334.
Read, S., Ramezani-Moghadam, M., Schibeci, S., George, J. and Ahlenstiel, G. (2016), 'Interferon lambda drives a pro-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages', European Journal of Immunology, vol 46, no Suppl. 1 , pp 438 - 438.
Read, S., Tay, E., Shahidi, M., McLauchlan, J., George, J. and Douglas, M. (2015), 'The mechanism of interferon refractoriness during hepatitis C virus infection and its reversal with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor a agonist', Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research, vol 35, no 6 , pp 488 - 497.
Read, S., Tay, E., Shahidi, M., O'Connor, K., Booth, D., George, J. and Douglas, M. (2015), 'Hepatitis C virus driven AXL expression suppresses the hepatic type I interferon response', PLoS One, vol 10, no 8 .
O'Connor, K., Parnell, G., Patrick, E., Ahlenstiel, G., Suppiah, V., Van Der Poorten, D., Read, S., Leung, R., Douglas, M., Yang, Y., Stewart, G., Liddle, C., George, J. and Booth, D. (2014), 'Hepatic metallothionein expression in chronic hepatitis C virus infection is IFNL3 genotype-dependent', Genes and Immunity, vol 15, no 2 , pp 88 - 94.
Read, S., Tay, E., Shahidi, M., George, J. and Douglas, M. (2014), 'Hepatitis C virus infection mediates cholesteryl ester synthesis to facilitate infectious particle production', Journal of General Virology, vol 95, no 9 , pp 1900 - 1910.
Read, S. and Douglas, M. (2014), 'Virus induced inflammation and cancer development', Cancer Letters, vol 345, no 2 , pp 174 - 181.
Shahidi, M., Tay, E., Read, S., Ramezani-Moghadam, M., Chayama, K., George, J. and Douglas, M. (2014), 'Endocannabinoid CB1 antagonists inhibit hepatitis C virus production, providing a novel class of antiviral host-targeting agents', Journal of General Virology, vol 95, no 11 , pp 2468 - 2479.
Read, S., George, J. and Douglas, M. (2010), 'Combination treatment with insulin sensitisers improves the antiviral effect of interferon against hepatitis C virus', Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, vol 25, no Suppl. S3 , pp 121 - 121.
Yuen, J., Read, S., Brubacher, J., Singh, A. and Whyard, S. (2008), 'Biolistics for high-throughput transformation and RNA interference in Drosophila melanogaster', Fly, vol 2, no 5 , pp 247 - 254.

Applications are currently being accepted for a number of 3 year PhD projects examining hepatic molecular biology, inflammation and immunology in the context chronic liver disease at Western Sydney University Blacktown and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. The project will be conducted in the research group of Professor Golo Ahlenstiel and will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Project 1:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterised by the accumulation of excess fat in the liver, termed steatosis. NAFLD can progress to an inflammatory state called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): a core driver of liver cirrhosis and cancer. This project will focus on the generation of colon and liver organoid culture systems to study the interaction between intestinal immunity and permeability with liver inflammation in NASH.

Project 2:

This project will focus on the role of interferon lambdas (IFN-λs) on the progression of liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. Interferon lambda (IFN-λ) is a central antiviral cytokine in the liver that is elevated in NASH, and that contributes to the progression of liver inflammation and fibrosis. The mechanism of IFN-λ induction, and cells involved however, remain unknown

Project 3:

Obesity is associated with alterations in metabolism, immune function, inflammation and microbiome, however the relationship between these factors remains ill-defined. Blacktown Hospital has recently implemented a large bariatric surgical program, which provides the ideal environment to address the poorly understood aspect of obesity. Samples will be used to understand how obesity and metabolic syndrome cause immune dysregulation promoting the development of obesity related complications in liver, gut and cardiovascular system.

Project 4:

Zinc is an essential trace element and a key component of numerous transcription factors and enzymes that represent approximately 10% of the human proteome. Importantly, zinc deficiency results in a compromised immune system, as evidenced by thymic atrophy, lymphopenia and defective lymphocyte responses. The project will examine the role of zinc in the acute phase immune response to viral and bacterial antigens in the liver.

Project 5:

Immunological memory defines the ability of the immune system to (1) rapidly and specifically recognize an antigen that has been previously encountered and (2) initiate a specific immune response. Traditionally, immune related memory has been attributed to T cells and B cells. Recent publications suggest that NK cells can, under certain conditions, express memory-like features. This project will examine the role of memory-like NK cells in acute and chronic infection as well as autoimmunity with a focus on liver disease

Project 6:

Chronic inflammation and altered protein metabolism caused by infection, alcohol, fat or autoimmune disease not only drive end-stage scarring, a state called liver cirrhosis, but also subsequent liver failure and hepatic decompensation with high mortality. Various markers have been associated with hepatic decompensation, but it remains ill understood what actually initiates the event and how such markers relate to survival. This project aims what to clarify how chronic inflammation and altered protein metabolism contribute to disease progression and activity