The Role Of CCR6 In IL-17-producing CD8+ T Lymphocyte Activation And Trafficking
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$514,041.00
Summary
T lymphocytes play an important role in the control of infection, but can also contribute to diseases such as autoimmune disease and cancer. This research will identify the function of a new subtype of T lymphocyte and determine whether inhibiting its function prevents disease.
This project will investigate the factors that regulate the development and maintenance of a recently identified population of white blood cells called MAIT cells. MAIT cells are abundant in humans yet poorly understood. A better understanding of how these cells are regulated, and how they can be targeted in diseases, is necessary if we want to ultimately use these cells for immunotherapy.
CD8+ T cells provide us with protection against viruses and can also mediate potent anti-tumour effects. Understanding the signals that initiate and sustain an effective CD8+ T cell response is important if we are to intervene in diseases where CD8+ T cell function is defective. We will study patients with inherited gene defects that disrupt some of the signals that T cells receive to determine the role those signals usually play in instructing CD8+ T cells to fight viral infection.
Identification Of E-protein Complexes Controlling Natural Killer Cell Fate And Tumour Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,742.00
Summary
Diverse immune cell types are essential for effective broad-spectrum immunity. Master regulators control this diversity and have a well-characterized role in the development of antigen-specific immunity. In contrast, we lack mechanistic understanding of how master regulators control antigen-unspecific, innate immunity. Understanding the mechanism behind this will explain how diverse white blood cells can develop and reveal strategies to skew their development to improve immunity in humans.
Roles Of ID2 In Regulating Critical Innate And Adaptive Arms Of The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,418.00
Summary
The immune system protects us from a wide range of pathogens and foreign invaders. Natural killer (NK) cells and T cells are an critical component of the immune system due to their ability to detect and kill virally infected and malignant cells. Our work will endeavor to understand the molecular steps essential for these cells to develop and become armed to ensure immune protection.
In Vivo Imaging Of Virus-specific T Cell Responses In The Skin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,258.00
Summary
Effective vaccination against many viral infections such as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) may be achieved by directing the cells of the immune system to specific sites in the body where they can lie in wait against the disease. To direct the immune system in this way, we must first understand how immune cells orchestrate themselves in tissues. This project will utilise advanced imaging techniques to study immune cells in real time to understand how they protect against viral infections in the skin.
Extracellular Cues Compete With TCR Signalling To Alter Lymphocyte Polarity, Fate And Function.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,954.00
Summary
Following an infection, our immune system generates a large and diverse repertoire of cells required to mount and regulate an appropriate immune response. The signals that control the different types of immune cells that develop, and how bacteria and viruses influence immune cell development, are not fully understood. This project will investigate the regulation of immune cell development, and how competing signals from infectious agents influence this process.
STAT3-mediated Regulation Of Human Antibody Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,249.00
Summary
The immune system rapidly responds to infectious pathogens to eradicate such microbes and limit the damage they can inflict upon the host. Individuals with primary immunodeficiencies have defects in the development and/or function of the cells of their immune system and are more susceptible to infectious diseases. This study will investigate such individuals to identify functions for specific genes and immune cells in order to understand the requirements for generating effective immune responses ....The immune system rapidly responds to infectious pathogens to eradicate such microbes and limit the damage they can inflict upon the host. Individuals with primary immunodeficiencies have defects in the development and/or function of the cells of their immune system and are more susceptible to infectious diseases. This study will investigate such individuals to identify functions for specific genes and immune cells in order to understand the requirements for generating effective immune responses.Read moreRead less
A New Approach To The Design And Evaluation Of T Cell Vaccines For Cancer And Infectious Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,137.00
Summary
Special white blood cells called dendritic cells teach the immune system to fight cancer and are a key component of therapeutic cancer vaccines. We identified a subtype of human dendritic cell that is predicted to be the most effective at mounting anti-cancer immune responses. We developed a novel antibody specific for these dendritic cells that can be used to deliver the vaccine directly to them and will use this to construct and validate a novel vaccine for cancer and viral infections.