Dr Thimo Ruethers ~ Research Fellow Human Health & Aging; Adjunct Lecturer

Thimo is a researcher and science communicator with high expertise in protein-chemistry and clinical research, biochemical, immunological and analytical laboratory techniques, and thorough experience in leading interdisciplinary and international projects. He holds a PhD (cum laude) in Medical and Molecular Sciences from JCU (primary supervision by Prof. Andreas L. Lopata), and both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biochemistry from Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf (HHU, Germany) with specialised research training in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. His highest research expertise is in exploring food proteins and their role in allergic diseases. He is globally known for his work on fish allergy. In his pioneering PhD thesis and associated publications, he tackled this highly complex food allergy from the molecular to the global level. He has evaluated the allergenicity (ability to trigger an allergic reaction) of more than 100 fish species and other related vertebrates, unravelling the multifaceted causes of fish allergies and identifying better ways to diagnose and manage this potentially deadly immune disease, which afflicts millions globally.

His primary research activities focus on molecular interactions between food and humans with an emphasis on the immune system. Aiming for translational collaborative research excellence, he is always interested in hearing from students keen on HDR projects, academics, companies and other stakeholders. Overall and foremost, Thimo seeks to help overcome challenges in securing humanity's (alternative) food protein needs under careful consideration of food safety, allergic diseases and planetary health.

Currently, Thimo is a Research Fellow at the Tropical Futures Institute (TFI, JCU, Singapore) and is also part of JCU’s College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences (CPHMVS), Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), Centre for Molecular Therapeutics (CMT), Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology (CTBMB), and Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture (CSTFA), as well as the Centre for Food and Allergy Research (CFAR), a Centre of Research Excellence by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). He is also member of the World Allergy Organization (WAO), Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI), Asia Pacific Association of Pediatric Allergy, Respirology and Immunology (APAPARI), European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI), Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA), and inVIVO Planetary Health Network (inVIVO).

Interests

Professional

• Science Communication
• Planetary Health

Research

• Proteomics - Allergology – Immunology - Molecular medicine
• Food allergies - Seafood allergies - Allergy Diagnostics and Management
• Food safety - Sustainable food security

Teaching

• Training the next generation of scientists through translational collaborative research excellence

Research Disciplines

• Immunology (3204)
• Food sciences (3006)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Clinical health (2001)
• Expanding knowledge (2801)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU.

Journal Articles

• Nugraha R, Ruethers T, Taki A, Johnston E, Karnaneedi S, Kamath S and Lopata A (2022) Recombinant Tropomyosin from the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) for Better Diagnosis. Foods, 11 (3).
• Ruethers T, Nugraha R, Taki A, O'Malley A, Karnaneedi S, Zhang S, Kapingidza A, Mehr S, Kamath S, Chruszcz M, Mackay G, Campbell D and Lopata A (2022) The first reptilian allergen and major allergen for fish-allergic patients: Crocodile ?-parvalbumin. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 33 (5).
• Heidelberg C, Bang B, Thomassen M, Kamath S, Ruethers T, Lopata A, Madsen A, Sandsund M and Aasmoe L (2021) Exposure to Bioaerosols during Fish Processing on Board Norwegian Fishing Trawlers. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 65 (6). pp. 694-702
• Karnaneedi S, Huerlimann R, Johnston E, Nugraha R, Ruethers T, Taki A, Kamath S, Wade N, Jerry D and Lopata A (2021) Novel allergen discovery through comprehensive de novo transcriptomic analyses of five shrimp species. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (1).
• Nugraha R, Ruethers T, Johnston E, Rolland J, O’hehir R, Kamath S and Lopata A (2021) Effects of extraction buffer on the solubility and immunoreactivity of the pacific oyster allergens. Foods, 10 (2).
• Ruethers T, Taki A, Karnaneedi S, Nie S, Kalic T, Dai D, Daduang S, Leeming M, Williamson N, Breiteneder H, Mehr S, Kamath S, Campbell D and Lopata A (2021) Expanding the allergen repertoire of salmon and catfish. Allergy, 76 (5). pp. 1443-1453
• Sharp M, Taki A, Ruethers T, Stephen J, Daly N, Lopata A and Kamath S (2021) IgE and IgG4 epitopes revealed on the major fish allergen Lat c 1. Molecular Immunology, 131. pp. 155-163
• Kalic T, Kamath S, Ruethers T, Taki A, Nugraha R, Le T, Humeniuk P, Williamson N, Hira D, Rolland J, O'Hehir R, Dai D, Campbell D, Breiteneder H and Lopata A (2020) Collagen-an important fish allergen for improved diagnosis. Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 8 (9). pp. 3084-3092
• Ruethers T, Taki A, Khangurha J, Roberts J, Buddhadasa S, Clarke D, Hedges C, Campbell D, Kamath S, Lopata A and Koeberl M (2020) Commercial fish ELISA kits have a limited capacity to detect different fish species and their products. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 100 (12). pp. 4353-4363
• Sheridan M, Koeberl M, Hedges C, Biros E, Ruethers T, Clarke D, Buddhadasa S, Kamath S and Lopata A (2020) Undeclared allergens in imported packaged food for retail in Australia. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 37 (2). pp. 183-192
• Kalic T, Effinger I, Kamath S, Palladino C, Mayr V, Tscheppe A, Ruethers T, Waltl E, Niederberger V, Lengger N, Radauer C, Hafner C, Lopata A, Bublin M and Breiteneder H (2019) Fish-derived low molecular weight components modify bronchial epithelial barrier properties and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Molecular Immunology, 112. pp. 140-150
• Kalic T, Morel-Codreanu F, Radauer C, Ruethers T, Taki A, Swoboda I, Higer C, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Ollert M, Hafner C, Lopata A, Morisset M, Breiteneder H and Kuehn A (2019) Patients allergic to fish tolerate ray based on the low allergenicity of its parvalbumin. Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 7 (2). pp. 500-508

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 19+ research outputs authored by Dr Thimo Ruethers from 2016 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Understanding Protein differences to make Healthier and Safer Seafood (Masters , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.