Cytokine Structure And Mechanisms Of A Superagonist Antibody
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,590.00
Summary
Monoclonal antibodies are widely used in diagnosis and therapy due to their outstanding specificity and safety. The monoclonal antibodies recognizing cytokines with enhancing functions are an emerging class of novel reagents in immunotherapy. This project is to investigate how a newly indentified monoclonal antibody enhances the activity of a cytokine and use this immunostimulatory function to design new strategies for better vaccination and treatment for cancer and infection.
Harnessing Lipid-reactive Immunity To Combat Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,458.00
Summary
Critcial to the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) is its unique waxy (lipid)-rich cell wall. This proposal aims to target components of its cell wall to devlop novel therapeutic strategies. Specifically, the Australian-Singapore alliance will examine how the immune system "sees" lipid based antigens from M. tuberculosis, and then will ultimately use this information towards the devlopment of novel lipid-based vaccines.
Recognition Of Lipid Antigens By CD1d-restricted Type-2 NKT Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,684.00
Summary
Protection against infection depends on T cells, which recognise and target foreign molecules called antigens via a specialized antigen receptor known as a T cell receptor (TCR). This project focuses on a specialised population of T cells called Natural Killer T (NKT) cells that recognise lipid antigens. The work outlined in this grant will increase our understanding of how different TCRs can recognise diverse lipid antigens thus providing insight into the role of NKT cells in the immune system.
The Mechanism And Application Of A Superagonistic Antibody For Human IL-21.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,313.00
Summary
Monoclonal antibodies are widely used in diagnosis and therapy due to their outstanding specificity and safety. The monoclonal antibodies recognizing cytokines with enhancing functions are an emerging class of novel reagents in immunotherapy. This project is to investigate how a newly indentified monoclonal antibody enhances the activity of a cytokine and use this immunostimulatory function to design new strategies for better vaccination and treatment for cancer and infection.
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.
Control Of Immunoreceptor Assembly And Function By Intramembrane Sequence Elements
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,121.00
Summary
The cells of the immune system constantly survey their environment for changes that indicate damage. To sense their surroundings cells employ a host of receptors that are associated with signalling adapter proteins that initiate signalling cascades inside the cell when receptors bind ligands. This project seeks to determine the structural mechanisms of signal propagation across the plasma membrane of immune cells.
An investigation into the basis of the T-cell mediated adaptive immune response. Understanding the adaptive immune response to human pathogens is critically important to develop strategies to combat infection. This project will provide a better understanding of how T cells combat viral infection, and will lead to fundamental advances in our understanding of viral immunity and the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies.
I am an immunologist determining how the immune system is regulated, with the aim of preventing diseases such as asthma, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis caused by dysregulated immune responses.
Unrestricted antigen recognition by T lymphocytes. This project aims to investigate the unrestricted T cell repertoire; the molecular and structural basis of antigen recognition by unrestricted T cells; and the development of unrestricted T cells. T lymphocytes typically are restricted to detecting foreign molecules (antigens) on the cell membrane in association with specialised antigen-presenting molecules encoded within the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility (MHC) locus (MHC restricti ....Unrestricted antigen recognition by T lymphocytes. This project aims to investigate the unrestricted T cell repertoire; the molecular and structural basis of antigen recognition by unrestricted T cells; and the development of unrestricted T cells. T lymphocytes typically are restricted to detecting foreign molecules (antigens) on the cell membrane in association with specialised antigen-presenting molecules encoded within the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility (MHC) locus (MHC restriction). T lymphocytes that can recognise antigens in the absence of MHC or MHC like molecules challenges a major paradigm in the field of immunology. As T cell based therapy underpins treatments for cancer and infection, new mechanisms of T cell activation that are independent of patient genotype should ultimately create opportunities for therapeutic and commercial development, leading to both health and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
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