Analysis Of Killer T Cell Geometry During An Anti-tumour Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,216.00
Summary
Cancer is a major health problem around the world. Currently used treatment options of cancer have the drawback that they also damage healthy tissues. This limits the dosages that can be administered, frequently resulting in treatment failure. Anti-tumour killer T cells are a naturally occurring cell type that can cause tumour regression. In the present proposal, we explore how the efficiency of these cell-types can be further enhanced to induce rejection of progressing tumours.
Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Synapse Formation And Serial Killing: When Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,688.00
Summary
Killer T cells are a specialised group of immune cells, which destroy cancerous and infected cells. When killer T cells find a target, they attach and secrete toxic molecules. It then detaches from the dying target, so that it may go on to kill other cells. If it doesn’t detach properly, it remains bound to the target cell and results in an improper immune response. This proposal will investigate how the killer cell detaches, which is essential for an efficient immune response.
The Role Of The Transcription Factor IRF4 In Peripheral Cd8 T Cell Differentiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,176.00
Summary
T cells protect against viral infections and fight cancer cells. In order to fulfill these roles T cells have to undergo significant phenotypic and functional changes. Our preliminary data indicate a central role for the regulator protein IRF4 in this process, as T cells that lack this protein are unable to grow and acquire the cellular tools necessary to provide protection. We wish to characterize the role of IRF4 in T cells in detail and aim to identify the processes regulated by IRF4.