Background

Dr. Andy Poumbourios is co-Head of the Viral Entry and Vaccines research group at Burnet Institute and the lead of the SARS-CoV-2 stream of the Burnet Vaccine Initiative. His career has followed an interest in the therapeutic and immunogenic potential of viral envelope proteins that mediate cellular entry.

With a focus on understanding how the Spike proteins of HIV-1, human T cell leukemia virus and hepatitis C virus perform their functions and how this relates to their structures, Andy has applied this knowledge to the development of Burnet hepatitis C vaccine, publishing and patenting its development over the last decade. This knowledge has now facilitated the discovery of the Burnet vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2, which in turn brought about the formation of the Burnet Vaccine Initiative.

Andy has won multiple NHMRC grants and holds granted patents.

Projects (6)

Current (5)

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  Burnet COVID-19 Vaccine | Burnet Vaccine Initiative (BVI)

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  COVID-19 Vaccine Development

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  Development of a universal prophylactic vaccine for Hepatitis C

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  HepSeeVax: Proof-of-concept study of an HCV vaccine candidate

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  Neutralising antibody assays for COVID-19

Publications (57)

2022 (2)

• A pan-genotype hepatitis C virus viral vector vaccine generates T-cells and neutralizing antibodies in mice.
  Donnison T, McGregor J, Chinnakannan S, Hutchings C, Center RJ, Poumbourios P, Klenerman P, Drummer HE, Barnes E
  Hepatology. 2022 Mar; 76(4):1190-1202
• Virus-Like Particles Containing the E2 Core Domain of Hepatitis C Virus Generate Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies in Guinea Pigs.
  McGregor J, Hardy JM, Lay CS, Boo I, Piontek M, Suckow M, Coulibaly F, Poumbourios P, Center RJ, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2022 Mar; 96(5): e01675-21

2021 (1)

• Differential Expression of HIV Envelope Epitopes on the Surface of HIV-Infected Macrophages and CD4+ T cells.
  Kek H, Laumaea A, Parise S, Poumbourios P, Hearps AC, Jaworowski A
  Antiviral Res. 2021 May; 191:105085

2020 (2)

• Enhancing the antigenicity and immunogenicity of monomeric forms of hepatitis C virus E2 for use as a preventive vaccine.
  Center RJ, Boo I, Phu L, McGregor J, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Biol Chem. 2020 Apr; 295(21):7179-7192
• Infectious KoRV-related retroviruses circulating in Australian bats.
  Hayward JA, Tachedjian M, Kohl C, Johnson A, Dearnley M, Jesaveluk B, Langer C, Solymosi PD, Hille G, Nitsche A, Sánchez CA, Werner A, Kontos D, Crameri G, Marsh GA, Baker ML, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE, Holmes EC, Wang LF, Smith I, Tachedjian G
  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Apr; 117(7):9529–9536

2019 (1)

• Conjugation of an scFab domain to the oligomeric HIV envelope protein for use in immune targeting.
  King HAD, Gonelli CA, Tullett KM, Lahoud MH, Purcell DFJ, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P, Center RJ
  PLoS One. 2019 Aug; 14(8):e0220986

2018 (2)

• Distinct functions for the membrane proximal ectodomain region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41 in cell-free and cell-cell viral transmission and cell-cell fusion.
  Narasimhulu VGS, Bellamy-McIntyre AK, Laumaea AE, Lay CS, Harrison DN, King HAD, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P
  J Biol Chem. 2018 Apr; 293(16):6099-6120
• Escape of Hepatitis C virus from epitope I neutralization increases sensitivity of other neutralization epitopes.
  Gu J, Hardy J, Boo I, Vietheer P, McCaffrey K, Alhammad Y, Chopra A, Gaudieri S, Poumbourios P, Coulibaly F, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2018 Feb; 92(9):e02066-17

2017 (2)

• An optimized hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein core adopts a functional homodimer that efficiently blocks virus entry.
  McCaffrey K, Boo I, Owczarek CM, Hardy MP, Perugini MA, Fabri L, Scotney P, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2017 Feb; 91(5):e01668
• The core domain of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 generates potent cross-neutralizing antibodies.
  Vietheer P, Boo I, Gu J, McCaffrey K, Edwards S, Owczarek C, Hardy MP, Fabri L, Center RJ, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  Hepatol. 2017 Jan; Epub ahead of print

2015 (2)

• Monoclonal antibodies directed towards the Hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 detect antigenic differences modulated by HVR1, HVR2 and the igVR.
  Alhammad Y, Gu J, Boo I, Harrison D, McCaffrey K, Vietheer PT, Edwards S, Quinn C, Coulibaly F, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2015 Sep; 89(24):12245-12261
• Longitudinal Sequence and Functional Evolution within Glycoprotein E2 in Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3a Infection.
  Alhammad YM, Maharajh S, Butcher R, Eden JS, White PA, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  PLoS One. 2015 May; 10(5):e0126397

2013 (2)

• Forced virus evolution reveals functional crosstalk between the disulfide bonded region and membrane proximal ectodomain region of HIV-1 gp41.
  Khasawneh AI, Laumaea A, Harrison DN, Bellamy-McIntyre AK, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P
  Retrovirology. 2013 Apr; 10(1):44
• Allosteric Modulation of the HIV-1 gp120-gp41 Association Site by Adjacent gp120 Variable Region 1 (V1) N-Glycans Linked to Neutralization Sensitivity.
  Drummer HE, Hill MK, Maerz AL, Wood S, Ramsland PA, Mak J, Poumbourios P
  PLoS Pathog. 2013 Apr; 9(4):e1003218

2012 (2)

• The role of conserved cysteine residues in hepatitis C virus glycoprotein e2 folding and function.
  McCaffrey K, Boo I, Tewierek K, Edmunds ML, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2012 Apr; 86(7):3961-3974
• Distinct roles in folding, CD81 receptor binding and viral entry for conserved histidine residues of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E1 and E2.
  Boo I, Tewierek K, Douam F, Lavillette D, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  Biochem J. 2012 Apr; 443(1):85-94

2011 (3)

• Role for the terminal clasp of HIV-1 gp41 in the initiation of membrane fusion.
  Lay CS, Ludlow LE, Stapleton D, Bellamy-McIntyre AK, Ramsland PA, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P
  J Biol Chem. 2011 Oct
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins e1 and e2 contain reduced cysteine residues essential for virus entry.
  Fraser J, Boo I, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Biol Chem. 2011 Sep; 286(37):31984-31992
• The variable regions of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 have an essential structural role in glycoprotein assembly and virion infectivity.
  McCaffrey K, Gouklani H, Boo I, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Gen Virol. 2011 Jan; 92(Pt 1):112-121

2010 (2)

• An altered and more efficient mechanism of CCR5 engagement contributes to macrophage tropism of CCR5-using HIV-1 envelopes.
  Sterjovski J, Roche M, Churchill MJ, Ellett A, Farrugia W, Gray LR, Cowley D, Poumbourios P, Lee B, Wesselingh SL, Cunningham AL, Ramsland PA, Gorry PR
  Virology. 2010 Sep; 404(2):269-278
• Role for the disulfide-bonded region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 in receptor-triggered activation of membrane fusion function.
  Bellamy-McIntyre AK, Bär S, Ludlow L, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P
  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2010 Apr; 394(4):904-908

2009 (1)

• Tissue-specific sequence alterations in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope favoring CCR5 usage contribute to persistence of dual-tropic virus in the brain.
  Gray L, Roche M, Churchill MJ, Sterjovski J, Ellett A, Poumbourios P, Sheffief S, Wang B, Saksena N, Purcell DF, Wesselingh S, Cunningham AL, Brew BJ, Gabuzda D, Gorry PR
  J Virol. 2009 Jun; 83(11):5430-5441

2007 (5)

• Expression and characterization of a minimal hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 core domain that retains CD81 binding.
  McCaffrey K, Boo I, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2007 Sep; 81(17):9584-9590
• An N-terminal glycine-rich sequence contributes to retrovirus trimer of hairpins stability.
  Wilson KA, Maerz AL, Bar S, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P
  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Aug; 359(4):1037-1043
• Functional links between the fusion peptide-proximal polar segment and membrane-proximal region of human immunodeficiency virus gp41 in distinct phases of membrane fusion.
  Bellamy-McIntyre AK, Lay CS, Bar S, Maerz AL, Talbo GH, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P
  J Biol Chem. 2007 Aug; 282(32):23104-23116
• Mutagenesis of a conserved fusion peptide-like motif and membrane-proximal heptad-repeat region of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E1.
  Drummer HE, Boo I, Poumbourios P
  J Gen Virol. 2007 Apr; 88(Pt 4):1144-1148
• Recent advances in our understanding of receptor binding, viral fusion and cell entry of hepatitis C virus: new targets for the design of antiviral agents.
  Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  Antivir Chem Chemother. 2007 Jan; 18(4):169-189

2006 (2)

• A conserved Gly436-Trp-Leu-Ala-Gly-Leu-Phe-Tyr motif in hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 is a determinant of CD81 binding and viral entry.
  Drummer HE, Boo I, Maerz AL, Poumbourios P
  J Virol. 2006 Aug; 80(16):7844-7853
• Genetic and functional analysis of R5X4 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoproteins derived from two individuals homozygous for the CCR5delta32 allele.
  Gray L, Churchill MJ, Keane N, Sterjovski J, Ellett AM, Purcell DF, Poumbourios P, Kol C, Wang B, Saksena NK, Wesselingh SL, Price P, French M, Gabuzda D, Gorry PR
  J Virol. 2006 Apr; 80(7):3684-3691

2005 (2)

• The conserved glycine-rich segment linking the N-terminal fusion peptide to the coiled coil of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein gp21 is a determinant of membrane fusion function.
  Kirilee A Wilson, Severine Bar, Anne L Maerz, Marc Alizon, Pantelis Poumbourios
  J Virol. 2005 Apr; 79(7):4533-4539
• Determinants of CD81 dimerization and interaction with hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2.
  Drummer HE, Wilson KA, Poumbourios P
  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Mar; 328(1):251-257

2004 (2)

• Hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 contains a membrane-proximal heptad repeat sequence that is essential for E1E2 glycoprotein heterodimerization and viral entry.
  Heidi E Drummer, Pantelis Poumbourios
  J Biol Chem. 2004 Jul; 279(29):30066-30072
• Expression and biochemical analysis of the entire HIV-2 gp41 ectodomain: determinants of stability map to N- and C-terminal sequences outside the 6-helix bundle core.
  Chan-Sien Lay, Kirilee A Wilson, Bostjan Kobe, Bruce E Kemp, Heidi E Drummer, Pantelis Poumbourios
  FEBS Lett. 2004 Jun; 567(2-3):183-188

2003 (3)

• Functional evolution of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 120 association site of glycoprotein 41.
  Pantelis Poumbourios, Anne L Maerz, Heidi E Drummer
  J Biol Chem. 2003 Oct; 278(43):42149-42160
• The dimer initiation sequence stem-loop of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is dispensable for viral replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
  Hill MK, Shehu-Xhilaga M, Campbell SM, Poumbourios P, Crowe SM, Mak J
  J Virol. 2003 Aug; 77(15):8329-8335
• Cell surface expression of functional hepatitis C virus E1 and E2 glycoproteins.
  Heidi E Drummer, Anne Maerz, Pantelis Poumbourios
  FEBS Lett. 2003 Jul; 546(2-3):385-390

2002 (2)

• Identification of the hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein binding site on the large extracellular loop of CD81.
  Heidi E Drummer, Kirilee A Wilson, Pantelis Poumbourios
  J Virol. 2002 Nov; 76(21):11143-11147
• Disulfide exchange in domain 2 of CD4 is required for entry of HIV-1.
  Lisa J Matthias, Patricia T W Yam, Xing-Mai Jiang, Nick Vandegraaff, Peng Li, Pantelis Poumbourios, Neil Donoghue, Philip J Hogg
  Nat Immunol. 2002 Aug; 3(8):727-732

2001 (2)

• Evidence that the transmembrane domain proximal region of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 fusion glycoprotein gp21 has distinct roles in the prefusion and fusion-activated states.
  K A Wilson, A L Maerz, P Poumbourios
  J Biol Chem. 2001 Dec; 276(52):49466-49475
• Functional analysis of the disulfide-bonded loop/chain reversal region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 reveals a critical role in gp120-gp41 association.
  A L Maerz, H E Drummer, K A Wilson, P Poumbourios
  J Virol. 2001 Jul; 75(14):6635-6644

2000 (1)

• Functional implications of the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein helical hairpin structure.
  A L Maerz, R J Center, B E Kemp, B Kobe, P Poumbourios
  J Virol. 2000 Jul; 74(14):6614-6621

1999 (2)

• Evolutionary conservation of the membrane fusion machine.
  P Poumbourios, R J Center, K A Wilson, B E Kemp, B Kobe
  IUBMB Life. 1999 Aug; 48(2):151-156
• Crystal structure of human T cell leukemia virus type 1 gp21 ectodomain crystallized as a maltose-binding protein chimera reveals structural evolution of retroviral transmembrane proteins.
  B Kobe, R J Center, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Apr; 96(8):4319-4324

1998 (3)

• Crystallization of a trimeric human T cell leukemia virus type 1 gp21 ectodomain fragment as a chimera with maltose-binding protein.
  R J Center, B Kobe, K A Wilson, T Teh, G J Howlett, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  Protein Sci. 1998 Jul; 7(7):1612-1619
• Efficacy of fusion peptide homologs in blocking cell lysis and HIV-induced fusion.
  Silburn KA, McPhee DA, Maerz AL, Poumbourios P, Whittaker RG, Kirkpatrick A, Reilly WG, Manthey MK, Curtain CC
  AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1998 Mar; 14(5):385-392
• Mutation-directed chemical cross-linking of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 oligomers.
  T L McInerney, W El Ahmar, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  J Virol. 1998 Feb; 72(2):1523-1533

1997 (2)

• Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 envelope glycoproteins oligomerize through conserved sequences.
  R J Center, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  J Virol. 1997 Jul; 71(7):5706-5711
• Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein oligomerization requires the gp41 amphipathic alpha-helical/leucine zipper-like sequence.
  P Poumbourios, K A Wilson, R J Center, W El Ahmar, B E Kemp
  J Virol. 1997 Mar; 71(3):2041-2049

1995 (2)

• Determinants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein oligomeric structure.
  Poumbourios P, el Ahmar W, McPhee DA, Kemp BE
  J Virol. 1995 Feb; 69(2):1209-1218
• Synthetic peptides representing sequences within gp41 of HIV as immunogens for murine T- and B-cell responses.
  Brown LE, White DO, Agius C, Kemp BE, Yatzakis N, Poumbourios P, McPhee DA, Jackson DC
  Arch Virol. 1995 Jan; 140(4):635-654

1993 (1)

• Studies on the antibody response of mice and humans after immunization with potential influenza virus A (H1N1) vaccines.
  P Poumbourios, J S Oxford, D C Jackson
  Immunol Cell Biol. 1993 Feb; 71 ( Pt 1):13-25

1992 (1)

• Antibody epitopes sensitive to the state of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 oligomerization map to a putative alpha-helical region.
  Poumbourios P, McPhee DA, Kemp BE
  AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1992 Dec; 8(12):2055-2062

1991 (2)

• N-terminal residues 105-117 of HIV-1 gp120 are not involved in CD4 binding.
  el Ahmar W, Poumbourios P, McPhee DA, Kemp BE
  AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1991 Oct; 7(10):855-858
• Three antibody molecules can bind simultaneously to each monomer of the tetramer of influenza virus neuraminidase and the trimer of influenza virus hemagglutinin.
  D C Jackson, B S Crabb, P Poumbourios, W R Tulip, W G Laver
  Arch Virol. 1991 Jan; 116(1-4):45-56

1990 (1)

• The stoichiometry of binding between monoclonal antibody molecules and the hemagglutinin of influenza virus.
  P Poumbourios, L E Brown, D O White, D C Jackson
  Virology. 1990 Dec; 179(2):768-776

1988 (1)

• Simultaneous binding of two monoclonal antibodies to epitopes separated in sequence by only three amino acid residues.
  D C Jackson, P Poumbourios, D O White
  Mol Immunol. 1988 May; 25(5):465-471

1987 (1)

• Direct role of viral hemagglutinin in B-cell mitogenesis by influenza viruses.
  P Poumbourios, E M Anders, A A Scalzo, D O White, A W Hampson, D C Jackson
  J Virol. 1987 Jan; 61(1):214-217

News Articles (13)

2022 (2)

• Burnet welcomes grant for mRNA vaccine development
• Burnet Institute partners with Moderna to develop novel mRNA vaccines

2021 (1)

• NHMRC Ideas Grant for Burnet HIV research

2020 (1)

• New virus in bats linked to AIDS-like disease decimating koalas

2019 (2)

• ACH2 grants a terrific outcome
• 25 ways we're working to eliminate HIV

2018 (3)

• ACH2 grants a fabulous outcome
• World AIDS Day 2018: Everybody Counts
• ACH2 grants for Burnet research

2016 (3)

• NHMRC grants for Burnet researchers
• Prestigious 2016 Frank Fenner Award for Heidi Drummer
• Burnet Institute and ARTES join forces to develop novel hepatitis C vaccine

2013 (1)

• Congratulations to Burnet's NHMRC grant recipients