The effect of age on regulatory T cell control of the innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses. Viral pathogens are a lead cause of infant mortality in the world. This project will define how T regulatory cells limit protective antiviral immune responses in the young. This information is critical for the development of potent antiviral vaccines that are effective from the newborn period without inducing autoimmunity. It will also provide novel insight into the way T regulatory cells can b ....The effect of age on regulatory T cell control of the innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses. Viral pathogens are a lead cause of infant mortality in the world. This project will define how T regulatory cells limit protective antiviral immune responses in the young. This information is critical for the development of potent antiviral vaccines that are effective from the newborn period without inducing autoimmunity. It will also provide novel insight into the way T regulatory cells can be manipulated both to dampen immunity, which can be used to develop strategies to reduce immune mediated disease and limit transplant rejection. Read moreRead less
New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based intervent ....New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based interventions and vaccines that protect the gut and lung from infectious and inflammatory issues. The harnessing of effective immune responses to control such challenges, are of enormous fundamental and long-standing biological interest, and are amongst the most important areas of current scientific research.Read moreRead less
A New Model for 3D Migration Involving Claw Structures and Metalloproteinases. This proposal will revolutionize ideas related to cell movement through three-dimensional (3D) matrix. Our method in mimicking the body's dense 3D matrix environment have led to the discovery of a new cell structure called Claws, and the formulation of a new model for 3D invasion in high density matrix. We will study the genes that control this type of migration including those involved in the formation of the cell fr ....A New Model for 3D Migration Involving Claw Structures and Metalloproteinases. This proposal will revolutionize ideas related to cell movement through three-dimensional (3D) matrix. Our method in mimicking the body's dense 3D matrix environment have led to the discovery of a new cell structure called Claws, and the formulation of a new model for 3D invasion in high density matrix. We will study the genes that control this type of migration including those involved in the formation of the cell front (Claw region), the back of the cells and matrix digestion. This work will have significant impact on normal and pathological human conditions from immune responses to tissue regeneration and cancer.Read moreRead less
Real-time imaging of the initiation of adaptive immunity in vivo. Understanding the first few hours of an immune response is fundamental to understanding how the human immune system functions. The immune system mounts our responses to infectious diseases, but can also cause autoimmune disease, allergy, and organ graft rejection. We will study how naive antigen-specific T cells first contact antigen in lymph nodes using 2-photon intravital microscopy. The research has the potential to change the ....Real-time imaging of the initiation of adaptive immunity in vivo. Understanding the first few hours of an immune response is fundamental to understanding how the human immune system functions. The immune system mounts our responses to infectious diseases, but can also cause autoimmune disease, allergy, and organ graft rejection. We will study how naive antigen-specific T cells first contact antigen in lymph nodes using 2-photon intravital microscopy. The research has the potential to change the way we think about the clonal selection of lymphocytes, the fundamental theory underlying our understanding of the immune system.Read moreRead less
CD4 T cell programming by neonatal and early-life infection. T lymphocytes (T cells) are white blood cells that play a critical role in protecting the body from infection. Before T cells can function they need to be programmed so that they can specifically respond to an infectious agent (a type of bacteria or virus). Inappropriate programming can lead to disease. Whether T cells respond to an infectious agent or foreign substance in a protective or destructive manner may critically depend on the ....CD4 T cell programming by neonatal and early-life infection. T lymphocytes (T cells) are white blood cells that play a critical role in protecting the body from infection. Before T cells can function they need to be programmed so that they can specifically respond to an infectious agent (a type of bacteria or virus). Inappropriate programming can lead to disease. Whether T cells respond to an infectious agent or foreign substance in a protective or destructive manner may critically depend on the age that an individual first encounters the infection. Our project will identify critical periods in life that direct T cell programming to subsequent protective or destructive responses, providing new insights into the developing immune system that may be exploited to treat disease or develop vaccines.Read moreRead less
Analysing the protective role of platelets during malaria infection. Platelets protect the host during malarial infection. This project aims to study how platelets kill the malaria parasite by investigating the role of host molecules and their potential as novel antimalarial agents. The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria syndrome will also be investigated.
Development of microbial bioproducts for the suppression of inflammation. Asthma and inflammatory diseases are serious health problems that result from excessive inflammation. Exposure to bacteria may reduce inflammation. This project will identify the bacterial components that reduce inflammation and develop them into new anti-inflammatory therapies for asthma.
Understanding the dynamics of T cell responses to chronic infection. The health, social, and economic impact of chronic infections on the Australian and global populations is enormous. A major obstacle to the development of vaccines against chronic infections is that we have a poor understanding of immune responses to persistent infections. We aim to use bioinformatics and mathematical modelling to understand immune responses to persistent viruses so that we can improve the long-term immune cont ....Understanding the dynamics of T cell responses to chronic infection. The health, social, and economic impact of chronic infections on the Australian and global populations is enormous. A major obstacle to the development of vaccines against chronic infections is that we have a poor understanding of immune responses to persistent infections. We aim to use bioinformatics and mathematical modelling to understand immune responses to persistent viruses so that we can improve the long-term immune control of chronic viral infections such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This project will strengthen Australian research in the area of interdisciplinary approaches to immunology, which is becoming crucial to interpreting the rapidly increasing volume of data obtained using advanced experimental techniques.Read moreRead less
Understanding the T cell repertoire in health and disease. Immune recognition of viruses usually involves a large number of different 'killer T cells' that kill cells infected by virus. However, during prolonged infection or in the elderly the number of different killer T cells that recognise the virus is greatly reduced. This reduction in the diversity of the immune response allows the virus to avoid immune recognition, and leads to more severe infection. We aim to understand how diversity is ....Understanding the T cell repertoire in health and disease. Immune recognition of viruses usually involves a large number of different 'killer T cells' that kill cells infected by virus. However, during prolonged infection or in the elderly the number of different killer T cells that recognise the virus is greatly reduced. This reduction in the diversity of the immune response allows the virus to avoid immune recognition, and leads to more severe infection. We aim to understand how diversity is generated in the immune response, and how it becomes narrowed with age or prolonged infection. This information can be used to design vaccines for persistent infections such as HIV, and to improve immune control of infection in the elderly.Read moreRead less
Statistical Methods for Flow Cytometric Data. The project will aid users of flow cytometry throughout Australia. It will help foster collaborations between the biological and mathematical scientists. Biological research is an important part of Australia's future and is becoming very quantitative. During the course of the project, two PhD students will be provided strong training in Statistics geared towards biological applications. The project is aligned with the 8th Human Leucocyte Differentiat ....Statistical Methods for Flow Cytometric Data. The project will aid users of flow cytometry throughout Australia. It will help foster collaborations between the biological and mathematical scientists. Biological research is an important part of Australia's future and is becoming very quantitative. During the course of the project, two PhD students will be provided strong training in Statistics geared towards biological applications. The project is aligned with the 8th Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigen workshop to culminate in Adelaide in December 2004 and will aid the fight against blood cell cancers. The project will also aid research on plankton with potential commercial benefits for Australia's marine scallop industry.
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