Generating An Effective Vaccine Response Against The Intrinsically Unstructured Malaria Antigen Merozoite Surface Protein 2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$678,774.00
Summary
The malaria surface protein MSP2 is a promising candidate for inclusion in a malaria vaccine, having shown evidence of protection in phase IIb studies. Our goals are to identify the structural basis for the differential induction of human immune responses to native and recombinant MSP2 and to utilise this information to generate an MSP2 vaccine able to evoke a more effective anti-malarial response.
Identification And Characterisation Of HLA-E Restricted Influenza A Virus-specific CD8+ T Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,156.00
Summary
With seasonal epidemics and the continual threat of a pandemic, there is an urgent need for a one-shot universal vaccine that protects against different influenza strains. This can potentially be achieved by the activation of killer T cells. I will identify new virus targets presented by a highly conserved human protein. Killer T cell recognition of these targets may provide a unique opportunity to develop an improved vaccine.
Understanding Influenza-specific T Cell Immunity In The Indigenous Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,112.00
Summary
Hospitalisation and death rates from influenza are high in the Indigenous population. There is an urgent need for one-shot universal vaccine that protects against seasonal and pandemic strains. T cells recognising conserved viral regions can elicit such protection. As T cells are restricted by proteins called HLAs, variable between different ethnicities, we will define T cell regions and their HLA restrictions in the Indigenous population to propose strategies for universal T cell-based protecti ....Hospitalisation and death rates from influenza are high in the Indigenous population. There is an urgent need for one-shot universal vaccine that protects against seasonal and pandemic strains. T cells recognising conserved viral regions can elicit such protection. As T cells are restricted by proteins called HLAs, variable between different ethnicities, we will define T cell regions and their HLA restrictions in the Indigenous population to propose strategies for universal T cell-based protective immunity and vaccine design against influenza.Read moreRead less
Understanding Immunity To Influenza Viruses In The Indigenous Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,512.00
Summary
Hospitalization rates and mortality from influenza are greatly increased in the Indigenous Australian population. As current vaccines are highly strain-specific, there is an urgent need for a one-shot universal vaccine that protects this vulnerable group against seasonal and pandemic influenza. Immunity provided by T cells is long-lasting, cross-protective and can prevent severe disease. Our findings will inform the design of effective T cell-based influenza vaccines for Indigenous populations.