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.
Cancer immunotherapy by “checkpoint blockade” boosts the immune response and leads to tumour rejection in some patients. To improve immunotherapy, information will be sought on the capacity of membrane vesicles prepared from dendritic cells (DC) to stimulate immune cells (T cells) in mice and elicit tumour rejection. Experiments are proposed to trace the fate of the vesicles after injection and improve tumour rejection by combination with checkpoint blockade and addition of cytokines.
Priming, Recruitment And Retention Of Influenza Virus Specific CD8 T Cells In The Upper Airways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$633,371.00
Summary
Influenza virus gains entry into the body by inhalation and initiates its replication cycle within the upper airways. This early stage of infection, when the amount of influenza virus is low, provides the ideal window of opportunity for an effective immune response to limit disease progression. In this proposal we will define the immunity that can be evoked within the upper airways and determine immune mechanisms left behind that can safeguard this region from this important respiratory pathogen
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.
We know that many parts of viruses are displayed to the immune system, but infection can also result in the display of fragments of our body's own proteins (self-peptides). We will apply cutting-edge technology to find all the virus- and self-peptides that are recognised by the immune system during infection with a vaccine virus and influenza virus. This will help us understand how the body fights infection and perhaps why infection can sometimes start autoimmune diseases.
The Role Of Long Peptide Epitopes In Antiviral CD8+ T Cell Recognition.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$434,652.00
Summary
The immune response to viral infection involves killer T cell recognition of small viral peptides presented by infected cells. Researchers have been attempting to identify the viral peptides that are recognised by T cells. Although these studies have been successful, the major aim of this project is to investigate if the role of unusually long peptides has been underestimated. This project should lead to enhanced monitoring of immune responses and improvements in vaccine design.