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Investigations Into The Architectural And Biophysical Features Of Optimal T Cell Receptor Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,877.00
Summary
Humans evolve slowly, pathogens and cancer evolve quickly. Unsurprisingly, our immune systems often lose this arms race and we irreversibly succumb to disease. Catastrophically, >26 million people are lost every year to the these causes. This project will use a new technology to rapidly advance the evolution of human immune receptors to construct a class of super-receptor. These super-receptors may prove decisive weapons in the fight against cancer and infectious disease.
The Role Of MHC In Immune Evasion: Insights From A Contagious Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,677.00
Summary
An aggressive, contagious cancer, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), has emerged in the Tasmanian devil population. We are using the devil tumour to study how cancer is recognized by the immune system and ways in which cancer can 'escape' from the immune system. This research will contribute to our understanding of human cancer and help save an iconic Australian species from extinction.
Structural And Functional Studies Of T-cell Mediated Recognition Of Microbial Lipids Presented By CD1c
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
The CD1c molecule plays an important role in the immune system by presenting lipid-based antigen of pathogens to the surface of an antigen presenting cell (APC) that is infected by the pathogen. Once a T cell receptor (TCR), which is expressed on the surface of a Killer T cell, recognises CD1c presenting pathogenic lipid, any infected cells will be destroyed. My research will look at the molecular mechanism of T cell recognising tuberculosis related lipids that is presented by CD1c.
Structural Investigation Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Peptide-loading Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,639.00
Summary
The identification and destruction of diseased cells by our immune system is essential to controlling the spread of infection. This proposal is aimed at the characterisation of the peptide-loading complex (PLC), a large molecular machine that facilitates a crucial step in the process of ‘flagging’ infected cells. Determining the 3D structures of its key components, as well the way in which they interact will help us understand how the PLC contributes to maintaining our body’s health.
Protecting The Efficacy Of Antimalarial Therapies With Novel Approaches To Suppress The Emergence Of Drug Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
The global campaign to eliminate malaria is under serious threat from the continuing emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs. However in acquiring resistance to one drug, the parasite can become more susceptible to other antimalarials. This project aims to 1) test the ability of drug pairs with opposing selection forces to suppress resistance in vitro and 2) define the physiological and molecular basis of these opposing evolutionary forces.
Investigating The Altered Landscape Of Enteric Viruses Causing Severe Gastroenteritis In Australian Children Following Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
The rotavirus vaccines were introduced in Australia in 2007, decreasing rotavirus disease. Rotavirus strains naturally evolve during replication, however, high vaccine coverage in the population creates a new environment with different evolutionary pressures where strains not protected by the vaccines may emerge and become dominant. The diminished circulation of rotavirus may create an environment where other viruses capable of causing childhood gastroenteritis may increase.