Male to female sperm signalling – a new role for sperm in reproduction? Male seminal fluid is commonly thought simply to provide sperm for conception. This project aims to investigate a lesser known action of sperm: modifying the female immune response to increase the chances of reproductive success. The project aims to define the molecular pathway through which sperm interact with female cells, particularly how B-defensins on sperm bind to Toll-like receptors to stimulate female immune toleranc ....Male to female sperm signalling – a new role for sperm in reproduction? Male seminal fluid is commonly thought simply to provide sperm for conception. This project aims to investigate a lesser known action of sperm: modifying the female immune response to increase the chances of reproductive success. The project aims to define the molecular pathway through which sperm interact with female cells, particularly how B-defensins on sperm bind to Toll-like receptors to stimulate female immune tolerance. The project plans to use embryo transfer and genetic mouse models to determine the physiological benefit of sperm signalling. Evidence that seminal fluid signalling operates in mammals to ensure optimal female reproductive investment would advance knowledge of the male contribution to the reproductive process.Read moreRead less
Seminal fluid interferon-gamma: a potential inhibitor of reproductive success. This project aims to investigate mechanisms by which infection, heat stress and psycho-social stress interfere with fertility by inducing a signalling factor in seminal fluid that suppresses female immune adaptation for pregnancy. Factors in seminal fluid in addition to sperm parameters are known to affect male reproductive success, but these are not well defined. The cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNG) is variably prese ....Seminal fluid interferon-gamma: a potential inhibitor of reproductive success. This project aims to investigate mechanisms by which infection, heat stress and psycho-social stress interfere with fertility by inducing a signalling factor in seminal fluid that suppresses female immune adaptation for pregnancy. Factors in seminal fluid in addition to sperm parameters are known to affect male reproductive success, but these are not well defined. The cytokine interferon-gamma (IFNG) is variably present in seminal plasma of several mammalian species. It was recently discovered that IFNG interferes with the female immune response required for reproductive success. This project will investigate how seminal fluid IFNG alters female immune adaptation for pregnancy. This will define how environmental factors induce seminal fluid IFNG and determine whether inhibitory effects of IFNG can be overcome with pharmacological inhibitors to boost reproductive success.Read moreRead less
Optimising the Strategy for Breeding Micronutrient-Dense Staple Foods that Improve Human health and Nutrition. The project is part of a new paradigm for agriculture in which staple crops are bred with greater micronutrient density to improve human health. It generates strategic basic information on how nutrients interact in the body of animal models in absorption, transport and utilisation that will allow plant breeders to optimise the breeding strategy for maximum outcomes in health and minimum ....Optimising the Strategy for Breeding Micronutrient-Dense Staple Foods that Improve Human health and Nutrition. The project is part of a new paradigm for agriculture in which staple crops are bred with greater micronutrient density to improve human health. It generates strategic basic information on how nutrients interact in the body of animal models in absorption, transport and utilisation that will allow plant breeders to optimise the breeding strategy for maximum outcomes in health and minimum breeding cost. Animals deficient in the nutrients of most concern (iron, zinc, vitamin A - and inulin) will be fed new varieties with enhanced levels of these factors, and from the responses, a superior strategy will be developed.Read moreRead less