Understanding The Role Of Innate Immune Cells In Regulating Gut-associated Lymphoid Tissues At Steady-state And In Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,126.00
Summary
The intestine is the largest surface area forming a protective barrier between the external environment and the body. It represents the first line of defence against invading pathogens. The immune system of the intestine is critical to protect this tissue -any breakdown leads to profound and progressive inflammatory disease of the gut such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Our work will determine the critical the mechanisms that protect the gut opening the door to targeted intestinal immuno ....The intestine is the largest surface area forming a protective barrier between the external environment and the body. It represents the first line of defence against invading pathogens. The immune system of the intestine is critical to protect this tissue -any breakdown leads to profound and progressive inflammatory disease of the gut such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Our work will determine the critical the mechanisms that protect the gut opening the door to targeted intestinal immunotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Understanding the immune response is proving extremely complex and promising results for disease treatments from animal models are often difficult to translate to new clinical therapies. My research is unearthing weaknesses in our current knowledge of the immune system and seeking to replace them with a foundation that can exploit new developments in computer modelling and systems biology. In this way I aim to rationally manipulate the immune response.
Molecular And Functional Charcterization Of A Novel Population Of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,274.00
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the prevention of autoimmunity and death. We have identified a new population of effector or ïactiveÍ Tregs, and identified some of the proteins that are required for these cells to function. We now aim to examine the development of these cells in detail, illuminate their precise function, their distribution and mode of action. This has potentially huge implications in treatment and diagnosis of autoimmunity, cancer or transplantation.
Dissecting In Vivo Cellular Responses To Interferons In Pathogen-infected Hosts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,694.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by virulent bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a leading cause of death worldwide. Mechanisms underlying host resistance to the pathogen are poorly understood. Using a novel reporter mouse, the function of interferons in Mtb infection will be defined in vivo by tracking the cytokine-responsive cells. This will increase our understanding of the effects of these important cytokines in vivo, and could provide new candidate biomarkers for TB diagnosis.
Maintenance Of Regulatory T Cells During Inflammation And Tumor Development By IL-33
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$676,979.00
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are required for preventing inflammation in tissues such as lung, fat and skin. We found recently, that the signalling molecule IL-33 is required for tissue Tregs and up-regulated during inflammation and tumor development. We therefore aim to determine the role of IL-33 in maintenance and function of Tregs and to identify molecular targets of IL-33 that may allow therapeutic targeting of Tregs in patients with inflammatory conditions or cancer.
Regulation Of Metabolic Dysfunction And Exhaustion Of Virus-specific T Cells During Chronic Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$749,152.00
Summary
T cells control infections and cancer cells. During chronic infection or tumor development, however, loss of function of T cells prevents efficient clearing of pathogens or cancer cells, a phenomenon termed T cell ‘exhaustion’. We have found that the regulator protein IRF4 controls cellular nutrient usage, growth and function of T cells and that very amounts of IRF4 occur in T cells during chronic infection. We propose to examine the precise role of IRF4 in chronically stimulated T cells.