Allison Abendroth

Professor Allison Abendroth holds the position of Professor in the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, and is based at the Charles Perkins Centre. She is a Level 3 Supervisor for the Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Theme. Abendroth obtained her Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and a PhD in 1996 from the University of Adelaide, with her thesis examining the immunobiology of herpes simplex virus. Following her doctorate, she undertook postdoctoral research at Stanford University School of Medicine from 1996 to 1999. Upon returning to Australia, she established her research career at the University of Sydney, including as Research Group Leader at the Westmead Millennium Institute's Centre for Virus Research. Her research is supported by competitive grants, notably an NHMRC Ideas Grant awarding $1,740,497 for "Defining the tug-of-war between herpesviruses and innate-like unconventional T cells." She teaches immunology units and supervises honours and higher degree research students. As a recognized expert, she presented at the 45th Annual International Herpesvirus Workshop in 2021.

Abendroth's academic interests center on the molecular mechanisms of herpesvirus pathogenesis and the host immune response, particularly varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Her studies elucidate how VZV infects and modulates various immune cells, including mature dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. She investigates VZV strategies for immune evasion, such as retention of MHC class I in the Golgi, downregulation of antigen presentation molecules like MR1, and interference with cell death pathways including apoptosis and necroptosis. Abendroth has produced over 90 peer-reviewed publications, garnering more than 4,300 citations according to ResearchGate. Key works include the edited volume Varicella-zoster Virus: Genetics, Pathogenesis and Immunity (Springer, 2022); "Varicella Zoster Virus Immune Evasion Strategies" (Viruses, 2014); "Varicella-Zoster Virus Productively Infects Mature Dendritic Cells" (Journal of Virology, 2003); "Infection and Functional Modulation of Human Monocytes and Macrophages by Varicella-Zoster Virus" (Journal of Virology, 2019); and recent articles such as "Varicella Zoster Virus infects mucosal associated Invariant T cells" (Frontiers in Immunology, 2023) and "Varicella Zoster Virus Downregulates Expression of the Antigen Presentation Molecule MR1" (Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2024). She contributes editorially as a Section Board Member for the journal Viruses in the area of Viral Immunology, Vaccines, and Antivirals.

Professional Email: allison.abendroth@sydney.edu.au