Antigen Selection In The MHC-restricted Cellular Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,570.00
Summary
The body's white cells eliminate microorganisms through the actions of immune lymphocytes and other cells which conspire to kill and neutralise these unwanted guests. When microorganisms hide inside the cells of the body they are still detected by a set of T lymphocytes which have specific receptors for scrutinising the surface of cells for any changes which might signal an intracellular infection. The immune system is ever vigilant in its search for signs of infection which are generally appare ....The body's white cells eliminate microorganisms through the actions of immune lymphocytes and other cells which conspire to kill and neutralise these unwanted guests. When microorganisms hide inside the cells of the body they are still detected by a set of T lymphocytes which have specific receptors for scrutinising the surface of cells for any changes which might signal an intracellular infection. The immune system is ever vigilant in its search for signs of infection which are generally apparent when molecules called antigens are released by microorganisms and captured by the body's cells. This activates lymphocytes resulting in an immune response capable of eliminating the microorganisms. Scrutiny of the body's cells by lymphocytes occurs continuously even when there is no infection present in the body. Following infection of a cell, microbial antigens reveal the infection by their appearance on the cell surface where they are detected by the immune system's lymphocytes. This occurs through a mechanism called antigen presentation. During antigen presentation the proteins inside the cell, including those of any invading microorganism, are first degraded into shorter molecules called peptides. This event is called antigen processing. A fraction of the peptides created by antigen processing are captured by specialised receptors present on all cells. These receptors are called HLA or histocompatibility molecules. This project examines the molecular events which mediate the capture of peptide antigens by HLA molecules. The main focus is on those peptide antigens which elicit killer T cell responses by the immune system. A knowledge of how these peptides are selected for presentation and how they are captured and carried to the cell surface is fundamental to understanding immune responses to microorganisms, tumours, allergens, transplants and self tissues as in autoimmunity. Therefore the study is of great general relevance.Read moreRead less
CCC method: new applications to electron scattering from atoms and molecules. Achievement of the stated aims will be of enormous benefit to industry
and laboratory research because at the present time no reliably accurate
models exist for the range of the required scattering parameters. The
modelling work will result in development of new software packages for
supercomputers and will provide training for research associates, PhD
and Honours students in an area where Australian theorists are ....CCC method: new applications to electron scattering from atoms and molecules. Achievement of the stated aims will be of enormous benefit to industry
and laboratory research because at the present time no reliably accurate
models exist for the range of the required scattering parameters. The
modelling work will result in development of new software packages for
supercomputers and will provide training for research associates, PhD
and Honours students in an area where Australian theorists are
preeminent.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238631
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Ultra High Resolution Electron Recycling Spectrometer. Electron collisions with atoms and molecules provide enormous versatility through the transfer of large amounts of angular momentum and the ability to excite dipole forbidden states. However a lack of energy resolution severely restricts the processes that can be studied.
We propose to construct a unique, ultra-high resolution, electron recycling spectrometer using a radical new design. State-of-the-art spectroscopic studies of ato ....Ultra High Resolution Electron Recycling Spectrometer. Electron collisions with atoms and molecules provide enormous versatility through the transfer of large amounts of angular momentum and the ability to excite dipole forbidden states. However a lack of energy resolution severely restricts the processes that can be studied.
We propose to construct a unique, ultra-high resolution, electron recycling spectrometer using a radical new design. State-of-the-art spectroscopic studies of atoms and molecules will be enabled, including the dynamics of near-threshold processes, the formation of transient states and the examination of processes such as rotational excitation and dissociative attachment in molecules - important in a number of gas-discharge based devices.
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A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to nanotechnology research. The research project will further enha ....A complete computational approach to electron-atom collisions. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce the toxicity of lighting systems, which has far-reaching implications for environmental sustainability. It will also facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy of astrophysical and artificial plasma modelling, as well as providing insight into many processes fundamental to nanotechnology research. The research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where Australian theorists are preeminent, and the research training will produce PhD graduates with a high-level ability in numerical modelling using supercomputers. Such skills are essential in many defense, mining and technological applications of national priority.Read moreRead less
Electronic and atomic collision theory. Recently there has been rapid progress in the field of electronic and atomic collisions. Consequently, many new problems have emerged of interest to science and industry. The proposed collaboration will determine the most promising theoretical techniques for their solution. The problems include, for example, electron
collisions with noble gases, cesium and mercury, of interest to the laser, lighting and plasma processing industries. Time-dependent and tim ....Electronic and atomic collision theory. Recently there has been rapid progress in the field of electronic and atomic collisions. Consequently, many new problems have emerged of interest to science and industry. The proposed collaboration will determine the most promising theoretical techniques for their solution. The problems include, for example, electron
collisions with noble gases, cesium and mercury, of interest to the laser, lighting and plasma processing industries. Time-dependent and time independent, relativistic and non-relativistic approaches will be considered, thereby determining the direction of the field for the foreseeable future.Read moreRead less
Atomic Collision Theory. Collisions between atomic particles are ever-present in astrophysical and man-made plasmas. Their understanding is vital for both fundamental science and industrial applications. The project will develop underlying scattering theory to solve new and outstanding problems in the field. These range from the fundamental problems of electron- or proton-impact ionisation of hydrogen through to collisions involving targets of interest to astrophysics, fusion, X-ray lasers and t ....Atomic Collision Theory. Collisions between atomic particles are ever-present in astrophysical and man-made plasmas. Their understanding is vital for both fundamental science and industrial applications. The project will develop underlying scattering theory to solve new and outstanding problems in the field. These range from the fundamental problems of electron- or proton-impact ionisation of hydrogen through to collisions involving targets of interest to astrophysics, fusion, X-ray lasers and the lighting industry. The theory will also be extended to atom-surface interactions. The understanding of collisions between atomic particles and surfaces will support emerging fields of nanoscience and quantum computing.
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Complete calculation of positron- and electron-impact scattering of atoms. This research will facilitate a deeper understanding of the interaction of positrons (antimatter) with matter. These interactions are fundamental to Positron Emission Tomography used for medical imaging and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy used for characterisation of materials. This project will provide a fundamental theoretical description of positronium formation that combined with other multidisciplinary re ....Complete calculation of positron- and electron-impact scattering of atoms. This research will facilitate a deeper understanding of the interaction of positrons (antimatter) with matter. These interactions are fundamental to Positron Emission Tomography used for medical imaging and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy used for characterisation of materials. This project will provide a fundamental theoretical description of positronium formation that combined with other multidisciplinary research within the ARC Centre of Antimatter-Matter Studies will improve our knowledge of, and efficacy, of these techniques.Read moreRead less
Matter-antimatter interactions. Much of the light that we see is either due to or is influenced by collisions between particles on the atomic scale. The understanding of astronomical observations, the Sun, or our atmosphere is underpinned by the knowledge of atomic collisions. They are also critical in the development of fusion, lasers and lighting sources generally. Interactions with antimatter have additional applications in the medical and material sciences. For example, positron collisions w ....Matter-antimatter interactions. Much of the light that we see is either due to or is influenced by collisions between particles on the atomic scale. The understanding of astronomical observations, the Sun, or our atmosphere is underpinned by the knowledge of atomic collisions. They are also critical in the development of fusion, lasers and lighting sources generally. Interactions with antimatter have additional applications in the medical and material sciences. For example, positron collisions with matter are used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans and in surface analysis.Read moreRead less
Rearrangement collisions in atomic physics. Atomic collisions are ubiquitous and form the basis of many sciences and technologies including the emerging nano-, quantum computing and bio-technologies. We are responsible for a major breakthrough in the treatment of such collisions, and are increasing their complexity and scale to meet the demand of practical applications. The most common collisions in many physical and life sciences are of the rearrangement type. We propose to study the prototype ....Rearrangement collisions in atomic physics. Atomic collisions are ubiquitous and form the basis of many sciences and technologies including the emerging nano-, quantum computing and bio-technologies. We are responsible for a major breakthrough in the treatment of such collisions, and are increasing their complexity and scale to meet the demand of practical applications. The most common collisions in many physical and life sciences are of the rearrangement type. We propose to study the prototype positron-atom collision system followed by the ion-atom and molecule systems which are the building blocks of the emerging and many existing sciences and technologies.Read moreRead less
Uncovering highly excited states of quantum three body systems using new technological approaches. Experimental studies of the fundamental structure of quantum three body systems are proposed to uncover long-lived highly-excited states. Ultra-fast timing technology applied to a variant of electron time-of-flight studies will form the basis of the measurement system to be used at a world-class synchrotron light source.