Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Understanding mechanisms and functions of evolutionary divergence in innate immune genes. Microorganisms constantly challenge the immune systems of all multi-cellular organisms, and host immune genes must be able to co-evolve with microbes in order for a species to propagate. This project will investigate how host immune genes in a species evolve to enable that species to continue.
Why do neutrophils swarm? This project aims to combine novel immunology, microscopy and computational approaches to investigate how immune cells called neutrophils cooperate to protect the host against microbes. Neutrophils are rapidly recruited to sites of inflammation and then utilise a type of highly coordinated collective behaviour termed swarming. However, the role of neutrophil swarms in fighting off infection is poorly understood. The project is poised to generate new knowledge on the imp ....Why do neutrophils swarm? This project aims to combine novel immunology, microscopy and computational approaches to investigate how immune cells called neutrophils cooperate to protect the host against microbes. Neutrophils are rapidly recruited to sites of inflammation and then utilise a type of highly coordinated collective behaviour termed swarming. However, the role of neutrophil swarms in fighting off infection is poorly understood. The project is poised to generate new knowledge on the importance of immune cell cooperation by developing in silico models of the immune response. The project will provide benefit through enhanced understanding of fundamental principles of immunity and develop new computational tools to model complex immune function in silico.Read moreRead less