Conventional And Unconventional T Cells In Interstitial Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,531.00
Summary
Acute damage to the kidney is a common life-threatening condition. Recent studies have shown that less well-studied types of immune cells contribute to kidney damage. However, how these cells enter and injure the kidney is unknown. In this project we will use a special microscope to look into the blood vessels of the kidney and visualise the cells inside kidney blood vessels in order to uncover their behaviour as they respond to acute inflammatory insult to the kidney.
Monocytes On Patrol – Key Mediators Of Renal Injury In Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,888.00
Summary
The glomerulus is the filtering component of the kidney. In many diseases, it can be the target of an inappropriate inflammatory response. As part of this response, white blood cells accumulate in the glomerulus where they cause damage. In this project, we make use of special microscopes to examine the glomerulus during an inflammatory response, with the aim of understanding the actions of white blood cells present in glomeruli and how they cause inflammation and damage the glomerulus.
The glomerulus is the filtering component of the kidney. In many diseases, it can be the target of an inappropriate inflammatory response. As part of this response, white blood cells accumulate in the glomerulus where they cause damage. In this project, we make use of special microscopes to examine the glomerulus during an inflammatory response, with the aim of understanding the actions of leukocytes present in glomeruli and how they cause inflammation and damage the glomerulus.
Antigen Presentation During HLA B27 Associated Auotimmune Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$715,365.00
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating arthritic disease, susceptibility to which is conferred by genes of the immune system, particularly HLA-B27, and following gastrointestinal infection. Using mass spectrometry we will identify bacterial peptides bound to HLA-B27 on infected cells that may trigger an autoimmune response. Defining the self peptides that remain the targets of autoimmunity will unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms if disease and identify peptides for immunotherapy.
Investigating The Aetiopathogenic Role Of Autoantibodies Against The M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor In Patients With First Episode Of Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$830,986.00
Summary
Previously we have found that a proportion of patients with schizophrenia have elevated levels of antibodies that target one of the neurotransmitter receptors, the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, and that those patients who have the highest levels of antibodies tend to have more severe manifestations of some of the symptoms of schizophrenia. In this project, we will try to confirm this relationship, and also investigate further how this antibodies might be able to worsen specific symptoms.
The Molecular Basis Of HLA-linked Drug Hypersensitivity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,536.00
Summary
Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in hospitalised patients. We discovered a new mechanism that links these reactions to recognition of drug induced changes in immunological self, resulting from interactions of drugs with immune receptors. This project continues to probe the mechanisms of immune mediated drug reactions by examining the basis of life threatening reactions to drugs used to treat epilepsy, gout and commonly used drugs such as penicillin and aspirin.
Regulation Of Natural Killer Cell Activation By MHC Class I Molecules
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,084.00
Summary
Natural killer cells are important components of innate responses to viral infection and cancer. This project aims to better understand how these immune cells discriminate between healthy cells and those that have been infected with viruses or become cancerous.
Tissue Specific T Cells Mediate Drug Hypersensitivity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,253,980.00
Summary
T cells are immune cells that create dangerous and fatal drug allergies affecting the skin. An individual’s genetic makeup only partially explains predisposition to these reactions, we believe the missing link is contained in immune signatures specific to the skin. We aim to identify drug-specific T cells in the skin and develop a sensitive test to screen for rare, dangerous T cells in the blood. This will enable prediction and prevention of severe drug allergy and development of safer drugs.
The Molecular Basis Of HLA-linked Drug Hypersensivity Reactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,040.00
Summary
Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in hospitalised patients. We have discovered a new mechanism that links these reactions to recognition of drug induced changes in immunological self, resulting from interactions of drugs with immune receptors. This project probes the generality of this mechanism by examining the basis of life threatening reactions to drugs used to treat epilepsy (carbamazepine), gout (allopurinol), HIV (Nevirapine) and towards aspirin a commonly used ....Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in hospitalised patients. We have discovered a new mechanism that links these reactions to recognition of drug induced changes in immunological self, resulting from interactions of drugs with immune receptors. This project probes the generality of this mechanism by examining the basis of life threatening reactions to drugs used to treat epilepsy (carbamazepine), gout (allopurinol), HIV (Nevirapine) and towards aspirin a commonly used pharmaceutical.Read moreRead less
Defining The Molecular And Functional Features Of Protective HIV-specific T Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$591,966.00
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) directly attacks our immune system, impairing our natural defense against infection and disease. HIV has claimed over 39 million lives worldwide since its discovery, and no vaccine is currently available. Despite this, there are some individuals with a particular genetic advantage able to control HIV infection who never get sick. Understanding how these individuals control HIV so efficiently may lead to novel treatments or potential vaccines against HIV.