The Impact Of Micropolymorphism Within The T Cell Receptor Genes And Their Target Antigenic Peptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,126.00
Summary
T lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the immune system by recognising virus-infected tissue through the use of highly specific T cell receptors (TCRs). This project will investigate the importance of genetic variation in the TCR genes in influencing how we fight infections. Another aim is to examine how the immune system tolerates genetic variation in an infecting virus. Advances in these areas will aid in the development of new "intelligent" vaccines.
Evolution Of Adaptive Immunity To Gluten In Coeliac Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,034.00
Summary
Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 Australians and can cause significant health problems. Under-diagnosis and a difficult, costly treatment (lifelong gluten free diet) are serious clinical issues. The feasibility of simpler diagnostics and therapies in children and adults for coeliac disease depends on whether children and adults react in the same way to gluten. This proposal seeks to determine whether the immune response to gluten changes over time and establish the feasibility of peptide-based a ....Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 Australians and can cause significant health problems. Under-diagnosis and a difficult, costly treatment (lifelong gluten free diet) are serious clinical issues. The feasibility of simpler diagnostics and therapies in children and adults for coeliac disease depends on whether children and adults react in the same way to gluten. This proposal seeks to determine whether the immune response to gluten changes over time and establish the feasibility of peptide-based applications.Read moreRead less
Phase I/IIa Trials Of A Novel T-cell Epitope-based Peptide Therapy For Peanut Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,440,000.00
Summary
Peanut allergy affects ~2% of the population and is the major cause of food triggered deaths from anaphylaxis. Typically peanut allergy is lifelong. Currently there is no specific treatment. Our vast experience in immunology for house dust mite and grass immunotherapy allowed us to identify critical components of peanut proteins needed as a safe vaccine to build tolerance to peanut foods. Now we will progress this novel and revolutionary vaccine through early phase clinical trials.
Analysis Of Antigen Processing In Melanoma Cells, Its Influence On The Success Of Cancer Vaccination And Enhancement In A Combined-immunotherapy Xenograft Model Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,891.00
Summary
Cancer vaccines, an exciting new treatment option that aims to boost a patientÍs own immune system to fight a growing cancer, have shown great promise in developmental studies. Although these vaccines generate strong anti-cancer responses in the blood of treated patients, less than expected results have been observed in terms of increased patient survival. This project aims to understand how the cancer escapes recognition by the immune system and ways to enhance the effects of cancer vaccines.
The Molecular Basis Of Human CD4+ T-cell Responses In Autoimmune Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$656,498.00
Summary
Over 120,000 Australians currently suffer from type 1 diabetes. This incurable disease typically strikes in childhood or adolescence and is caused by the immune system destroying the cells which make insulin. This project aims to determine how and why the insulin producing cells are recognized by the immune system. Eventually this work will lead to new vacccines to prevent the immune system from destroying the insulin producing cells.
Regulation Of T Cell Effector Function In Peripheral Tissues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,550.00
Summary
Protection from infections relies on different types of immune cells. While some of these cells are found in the blood, others reside in peripheral tissues such as the skin. We will analyse the function of these peripheral immune cells to understand how they work to fight off infections. We will also investigate how so-called memory cells that permanently reside in peripheral tissues can protect from re-infection with similar bacteria or viruses.
Identifying The Ontogeny And Fate Of T Follicular Helper Cells By Two-photon Photoconversion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,070.00
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to investigate immune cells called T follicular helper cells using a novel microscopy-based method that we have developed. This method lets us ‘tag’ these cells in a way that enables us to distinguish them from all other cells and follow them as they migrate to different immunological compartments during the response. T follicular helper cells are important for protective immune responses against pathogens and a better understanding of this T cell subset will aid vacc ....The aim of this proposal is to investigate immune cells called T follicular helper cells using a novel microscopy-based method that we have developed. This method lets us ‘tag’ these cells in a way that enables us to distinguish them from all other cells and follow them as they migrate to different immunological compartments during the response. T follicular helper cells are important for protective immune responses against pathogens and a better understanding of this T cell subset will aid vaccine design.Read moreRead less
Characterisation And Development Of Type-2 NKT Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$853,885.00
Summary
Humans defend themselves from foreign pathogens by mounting a protective immune response. Type-2 NKT cells recognise foreign lipid molecules and play a key role in immunity. This project is designed to understand to how Type-2 NKT cells develop within the body, how they recognise lipid molecules and how they carry out their immune functions. This work will have important implications in understanding the role of NKT cells in human health and disease.
Molecular And Cellular Control Of Human Th9 Cell Differentiation In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,888.00
Summary
T helper 9 (Th9) cells are a recently defined population of CD4+ T cells that have been implicated in immunological disorders ranging from allergy, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer, to host defence against fungal and parasitic infections. As such, Th9 cells are extremely important to human health and disease. This project aims to define the mechanisms involved in the generation, regulation and function of human Th9 cells.
The Mezzanine T Cell Response: Intervening At The Coal Face
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$765,585.00
Summary
In an initial immune response, specialised cells in lymph nodes tell T cells to multiply; the stimulated T cells depart and enter target tissue (e.g. lung in the case of flu). We describe a new response whereby the target tissue itself can tell T cells to multiply further. This response in target tissues reveals a new way of altering immune responses. This is especially important as in many diseases, the primary lymph node response has already occurred, so cannot be therapeutically intervened.