CD1C-LIPID-REACTIVE T CELLS. The immune system patrols our body examining molecules such as proteins and lipids that signal whether or not everything is ok. While protein recognition by the immune system is well understood, our knowledge of the fundamental features of lipid detection is poor. This project will investigate the detection of lipid molecules that are presented to the immune system in association with a molecule known as CD1c. The aims are to understand: 1. The cells that respond to ....CD1C-LIPID-REACTIVE T CELLS. The immune system patrols our body examining molecules such as proteins and lipids that signal whether or not everything is ok. While protein recognition by the immune system is well understood, our knowledge of the fundamental features of lipid detection is poor. This project will investigate the detection of lipid molecules that are presented to the immune system in association with a molecule known as CD1c. The aims are to understand: 1. The cells that respond to these lipids; 2. The cellular receptors that bind to these lipids; 3. The types of lipids involved in this process. This work is essential for us to understand lipid-based immunology which is critical if we ultimately wish to harness this to improve human health.Read moreRead less
Antigen selection mechanisms control T cell immunity against bacteria. CD4+ T (T helper) cells are required to control many important bacterial infections. This Project aims to identify the key targets of CD4+ T cells responding to a model bacterial infection, and to correlate potential antigen effectiveness with native expression, antigen presentation, and the function of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells over time. Our validated experimental 'pipeline' has unprecedented potential to define potent ....Antigen selection mechanisms control T cell immunity against bacteria. CD4+ T (T helper) cells are required to control many important bacterial infections. This Project aims to identify the key targets of CD4+ T cells responding to a model bacterial infection, and to correlate potential antigen effectiveness with native expression, antigen presentation, and the function of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells over time. Our validated experimental 'pipeline' has unprecedented potential to define potent CD4+ T cell antigens within the thousands of proteins expressed by a bacterial pathogen. Our unbiased analysis may help establish the rules that define effective antigenicity. Our work will improve the understanding of bacterial immunity, and inform future design of T-cell based vaccines in the agricultural sector.Read moreRead less
Deciphering novel cross-talk between innate cytokine receptors. Understanding the basic functions of interferons, how they signal to cells, is central to understanding fundamental immunity. Interferons are crucial molecules of the immune system that are important for normal cell development and they protect the body from viral infection and cancer but can be deleterious in different autoimmune diseases and trauma settings. Preliminary Data shows there is a pathway of interferon signalling that h ....Deciphering novel cross-talk between innate cytokine receptors. Understanding the basic functions of interferons, how they signal to cells, is central to understanding fundamental immunity. Interferons are crucial molecules of the immune system that are important for normal cell development and they protect the body from viral infection and cancer but can be deleterious in different autoimmune diseases and trauma settings. Preliminary Data shows there is a pathway of interferon signalling that has previously been overlooked. This project aims to understand how this pathway works and how it contributes to the normal workings of cells. This fundamental science has future consequences for the design of vaccines and for the design of therapeutics to treat diseases that show defective interferon signalling.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100292
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,018.00
Summary
Defining the basis of unconventional immune cell development. This project aims to undertake discovery research to characterise the transcriptional programs that underpin the development of unconventional immune cells. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of developmental immunology by using cutting-edge molecular and cellular techniques to examine the seeding of immune cells. It is expected that this project will advance our understanding of immune cell biology and the pro ....Defining the basis of unconventional immune cell development. This project aims to undertake discovery research to characterise the transcriptional programs that underpin the development of unconventional immune cells. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of developmental immunology by using cutting-edge molecular and cellular techniques to examine the seeding of immune cells. It is expected that this project will advance our understanding of immune cell biology and the programs that control them. Significantly strengthening national excellence in unconventional immune cell research and providing innovative methodology. This should provide significant benefits, such as a comprehensive open-access transcriptional map of developing unconventional immune cells.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,900.00
Summary
Engineering T cells to promote peripheral immunity. Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are key for immune protection against infections and cancer. This has led to much interest in understanding how these immune cells develop, although elucidation of molecules that regulate TRM are still scarce. This project aims to (i) identify genetic drivers of TRM in peripheral organs and (ii) modulate TRM generation utilising state-of-the-art genetic engineering techniques. Expected outcomes include gener ....Engineering T cells to promote peripheral immunity. Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are key for immune protection against infections and cancer. This has led to much interest in understanding how these immune cells develop, although elucidation of molecules that regulate TRM are still scarce. This project aims to (i) identify genetic drivers of TRM in peripheral organs and (ii) modulate TRM generation utilising state-of-the-art genetic engineering techniques. Expected outcomes include generating new knowledge that will contribute to the development of novel therapeutics against infectious disease and cancer, together with the benefit of promoting national and international collaboration with the ultimate goal of improving health.Read moreRead less
Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites. This project aims to study immune recognition of microbial metabolites and develop reagents to control immune responses. Chemical synthesis will be used to develop new antigens for unconventional T cells and the first soluble agonists and antagonists of a glycolipid-sensing immune receptor. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new immune effectors, broadening our knowledge of the repertoire of small molecules that can be ....Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites. This project aims to study immune recognition of microbial metabolites and develop reagents to control immune responses. Chemical synthesis will be used to develop new antigens for unconventional T cells and the first soluble agonists and antagonists of a glycolipid-sensing immune receptor. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new immune effectors, broadening our knowledge of the repertoire of small molecules that can be sensed by the immune system, and developing chemical approaches to promote or dampen immune responses. Major benefits include research training in chemical biology, strengthened international linkages and fundamental insights into the chemical basis of immune recognition and response.Read moreRead less
Early stress experiences and stress resilience in pigs. Animal stress has substantial implications on animal productivity, health and welfare of farm animals and thus farm profitability. This project aims to examine the stress resilience in pigs. Modern pig farming is a major source of food, providing substantial nutritional, social and economic benefits in Australia and worldwide. Animal welfare is of increasing concern to the public, consumers and pork producers, and stress vulnerability is an ....Early stress experiences and stress resilience in pigs. Animal stress has substantial implications on animal productivity, health and welfare of farm animals and thus farm profitability. This project aims to examine the stress resilience in pigs. Modern pig farming is a major source of food, providing substantial nutritional, social and economic benefits in Australia and worldwide. Animal welfare is of increasing concern to the public, consumers and pork producers, and stress vulnerability is an animal health and production problem in the life of the commercial pig. This project will generate new knowledge on early life management to endow stress resilience in pigs, with expected benefits for animal welfare, farm productivity and profitability.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101031
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,120.00
Summary
Defining the structural basis of lipid mediated T cell immunity. This project aims to undertake discovery research to investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the role of lipids in T cell immunity: an emerging area of immense biological significance. The anticipated goal is to generate new knowledge in the areas of the life sciences, by using a multidisciplinary approach that includes structural biology, mass spectrometry, biophysics, and cellular immunology, to gain fundamental insight ....Defining the structural basis of lipid mediated T cell immunity. This project aims to undertake discovery research to investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the role of lipids in T cell immunity: an emerging area of immense biological significance. The anticipated goal is to generate new knowledge in the areas of the life sciences, by using a multidisciplinary approach that includes structural biology, mass spectrometry, biophysics, and cellular immunology, to gain fundamental insight into molecular determinants that govern lipid mediated immunity. Expected outcomes and benefits of this project include building international and interdisciplinary collaborations to enhance national research capacity, and provide marked advancement of core knowledge in the biological sciences.Read moreRead less
Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Used Water. The project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in hydrogen production by developing an innovative approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. The project will result in an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and develop guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade ....Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Used Water. The project aims to address the pressing challenge of water scarcity in hydrogen production by developing an innovative approach of using used water as the feed for water electrolysis. The project will result in an in-depth understanding of the impacts of water impurities in used water on the performance and durability of water electrolysers, and develop guidelines for the design of highly durable water electrolysers and the operation and upgrade of existing wastewater treatment plants. The project will advance the practical applications of water electrolysis for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production and help Australia secure a leading position in the global emerging hydrogen economy.Read moreRead less
Differentiation of effector and tissue regulatory T cells . Regulatory T cells (Tregs) populate almost every organ of the body and play a central role in preventing inflammation and maintaining health. To exercise these functions, Tregs undergo a developmental program, the details of which are poorly known. This project will utilize newly developed biological tools and state-of-the-art technology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern Treg development and function. The project will gene ....Differentiation of effector and tissue regulatory T cells . Regulatory T cells (Tregs) populate almost every organ of the body and play a central role in preventing inflammation and maintaining health. To exercise these functions, Tregs undergo a developmental program, the details of which are poorly known. This project will utilize newly developed biological tools and state-of-the-art technology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern Treg development and function. The project will generate basic scientific knowledge and new intellectual property that will afford new opportunities for research and development. The outcomes of this project will help to devise strategies to treat diseases such as autoimmunity, cancer and metabolic syndrome, and will thus benefit veterinary and human health.Read moreRead less