Co-ordinating The Intrinsic And Extrinsic Arms Of Hematopoiesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$615,286.00
Summary
The cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. The stem cell uses a handfull of important master-regulatory genes that act in a hierarchy to promote the blood cell differentiation process. This research aims to understand how these master-regulators function in isolation and together in producing the white blood cells that are required for our immune response to microbes, vaccination and to prevent cancer.
The Transcriptional Regulation Of Lymphocyte And Dendritic Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,051.00
Summary
The distinct cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. An important characteristic of the stem cell is its ability to balance the need to proliferate and produce the distinct cell types (termed differentiation) and the need to maintain an adequate number of stem cells in their primitive state (termed self-renewal). The outcome of this balance is the production, throughout life, of an astounding number of cells that are requ ....The distinct cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. An important characteristic of the stem cell is its ability to balance the need to proliferate and produce the distinct cell types (termed differentiation) and the need to maintain an adequate number of stem cells in their primitive state (termed self-renewal). The outcome of this balance is the production, throughout life, of an astounding number of cells that are required to replace those lost each day. This feat is controlled by a handful of important master-regulatory genes that act in a hierarchy to promote the differentiation process. This tightly controlled and multi-step regulation is essential, as failure to coordinate blood cell production is the underlying cause of many blood cell cancers such as leukaemia as well as immune deficiency and anaemia. This research aims to understand how these master-regulators function in isolation and together in producing the white blood cells that are required for our immune response to microbes, vaccination and to prevent cancer.Read moreRead less
Induction Of Natural T-Regulatory Cells By Thymic Dendritic Cell Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,775.00
Summary
In this study, we will determine the roles of the antigen presenting cells, namely denderitic cells, in the induction of T-regulatory cell (T-reg) developemnt in the thymus. T-reg cells play important roles in controlling the development of autoimmunity. This study will help to understand the possible causes of autoimmune diseases and to develop new treatments for these diseases.
Consequences Of Disulfide Exchange In CD4 For Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,580.00
Summary
CD4 is a particular type of receptor on the surface of immune cells that participates in our response to infection. CD4 is also the primary receptor for the HIV virus which causes AIDS. We have discovered that a particular type of chemistry is occurring in CD4. This chemistry, which is known as redox chemistry, changes the shape of CD4. The shape change appears to be controlled by the immune cell. We have suggested that the redox chemistry in CD4 is important for controlling how immune cells res ....CD4 is a particular type of receptor on the surface of immune cells that participates in our response to infection. CD4 is also the primary receptor for the HIV virus which causes AIDS. We have discovered that a particular type of chemistry is occurring in CD4. This chemistry, which is known as redox chemistry, changes the shape of CD4. The shape change appears to be controlled by the immune cell. We have suggested that the redox chemistry in CD4 is important for controlling how immune cells respond to infection and how the HIV virus infects immune cells. Moreover, we have designed a small synthetic compound that blocks the redox chemistry in CD4 and prevents HIV infection in the test tube. We propose to investigate how the redox chemistry in CD4 controls the function of immune cells and infection by HIV.Read moreRead less
Differences In Neonatal Immune Regulation In The Developing And Developed World: Implications For Neonatal Vaccinations?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,083.00
Summary
This project will study the effect of adverse living conditions such as high microbial exposure, malnutrition, environmental tobacco smoke and malaria infection on the development of a newborn's immune system,by comparing immune response between newborns in Papua New Guinea and in Western Australia. This study will help us to understand the high susceptibility of children in the developing world for infectious diseases and to develop better prevention strategies.
Identification And Characterisation Of Nessy; A Novel Gene Important For T Cell Differentiation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,500.00
Summary
This project aims to identify, and understand the function of, a new gene involved in the immune system. The Nessy mouse strain was developed in Prof. Goodnow s Medical Genome Centre at the Australian National University. It has a mutation in an unknown gene which causes a defect in T lymphocytes- white blood cells which are important for fighting infection. This project has three major aims: 1) to identify the gene. 2) to understand the defects in T lymphocytes caused by the gene. 3) to identif ....This project aims to identify, and understand the function of, a new gene involved in the immune system. The Nessy mouse strain was developed in Prof. Goodnow s Medical Genome Centre at the Australian National University. It has a mutation in an unknown gene which causes a defect in T lymphocytes- white blood cells which are important for fighting infection. This project has three major aims: 1) to identify the gene. 2) to understand the defects in T lymphocytes caused by the gene. 3) to identify which other genes interact with the mutant gene. Thus will allow us to understand how the mutant gene causes the T lymphocyte defects. This project will improve our understanding of the development and functioning of T lymphocytes, which play a central role in the immune system. Since the genomes of mice and humans are very similar, it is likely that we will be able to identify a human counterpart to the Nessy gene.Read moreRead less
Cytokines In Milk Modulate The Development Of Immune Responses In The Infant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,912.00
Summary
There is substantial epidemiological evidence that formula fed infants are more susceptible than breast fed infants to auto-immune diseases later in life. However direct evidence is lacking and the mechanism is not understood. We aim to provide direct experimental evidence to test the hypothesis that maternal milk regulates infant immune responses by providing the factors that modulates antigen presentation and priming in the neonatal gut. The significance of the study lies in the absence of the ....There is substantial epidemiological evidence that formula fed infants are more susceptible than breast fed infants to auto-immune diseases later in life. However direct evidence is lacking and the mechanism is not understood. We aim to provide direct experimental evidence to test the hypothesis that maternal milk regulates infant immune responses by providing the factors that modulates antigen presentation and priming in the neonatal gut. The significance of the study lies in the absence of these regulatory factors in infant formula. The results will allow more fully informed decisions regarding breast feeding, and may lead to the development of infant formula that modulate immune responses in a manner analogous to natural maternal milk.Read moreRead less
A successful vaccine prevents infection. For HIV infection all candidate vaccines thus far have failed. From the many HIV-1 infected individuals there are a very small percentage that do not progress to disease. For these infected subjects we hypothesise that their immune responses are much better preserved and hence they will have stronger antibody responses. We have geared up our laboratory to characterise these strong antibodies and use them in making a better HIV-1 vaccine.