A specialised set of T lymphocytes called Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells react against bacteria and yeast, and reside at mucosal sites where the body's immune defences are most easily breached, e.g. respiratory tract and intestinal mucosa. This study investigates the role of MAIT cells in both protection and pathology in bacterial infections. Controlling MAIT cells could help in treating these conditions.
I am a Clinical Immunologist, Immunopathologist, clinical researcher and laboratory scientist exploring the interactions between T cell and viral infections. My area of particular interest is the mechanisms by which HIV infection subverts effective T cel
Urinary tract infections are among the most common infectious diseases in humans, with approximately 40% of adult women having experienced at least one. I aim to characterise and compare the dynamics of the innate immune response in the urinary tract, in response to uropathogens and characterise bacterial factors affecting such responses. Understanding immune function provides important new understanding into these disease processes that may result in the development of new treatment approaches.
The Importance Of GM-CSF In Determining The Fate And Function Of Dendritic Cell (DC) Subsets: Resident DC, Inflammatory DC And Suppressive DC.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,053.00
Summary
The hormone GM-CSF determines how infections are seen by the immune system GM-CSF is a hormone already in use for increasing the production of white blood cells. We have found that it also affects their function, especially that of specialised white blood cells that process infectious materials to be recognised by the immune system. This project aims to detail the effects of GM-CSF on specialised white blood cells.