Determining The Structure Of A Soluble Cytokine Receptor Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,017.00
Summary
There is a pressing need to develop improved therapeutics to treat many forms of cancer and respiratory diseases. This proposal concerns the biochemical investigation of a group of protein hormones and their associated receptors that are implicated in blood cell cancers and for which current treatments are only partly effective . Our work will focus on determining the 3-dimensional shape and function of this group of proteins in complex with one another which will provide us with an understandin ....There is a pressing need to develop improved therapeutics to treat many forms of cancer and respiratory diseases. This proposal concerns the biochemical investigation of a group of protein hormones and their associated receptors that are implicated in blood cell cancers and for which current treatments are only partly effective . Our work will focus on determining the 3-dimensional shape and function of this group of proteins in complex with one another which will provide us with an understanding of how these proteins communicate with one another. This information may provide a basis for the design of new drugs that can specifically block the activity of these protein hormones, thereby providing new treatment possibilities for these blood cell cancers.Read moreRead less
A Structural Investigation Into The Adaptive Immune Response To A Persistent And Ubiquitous Human Virus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$574,890.00
Summary
This proposal is focussed on understanding the precise shape of proteins that control the immune response to Epstein Barr Virus. EBV is an ubiquitous human pathogen that has been linked to a number of cancers. This research proposal will further our understanding of the immune response to EBV, which will lay the foundations for developing therapeutics against this disease.
Follicular T Helper Cells: Critical Regulators Of Humoral Immune Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$272,591.00
Summary
B cells are important cells of the immune system that are responsible for producing antibodies in response to infection with pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses, or following vaccinations. In order for B cells to accomplish this task, they require help from a specialised popualtion of T cells, which are another type of immune cell - these are known as follicular T helper (TFH) cells. Under normal circumstances, T cells and B cells specifically interact with one another within lymphoid tissues ....B cells are important cells of the immune system that are responsible for producing antibodies in response to infection with pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses, or following vaccinations. In order for B cells to accomplish this task, they require help from a specialised popualtion of T cells, which are another type of immune cell - these are known as follicular T helper (TFH) cells. Under normal circumstances, T cells and B cells specifically interact with one another within lymphoid tissues such as tonsils, spleens and lymph nodes - here, they engage in a dialogue, the end result of which is the B cells being instructed to produce the appropriate type of antibodies by T cells. However, if tis process is not regulated, the T cells can deliver too little of too much help - this can result in several different types of diseases of the immune system, such as immunodeficiencies (ie insufficient production of antibodies, resulting in individuals becoming susceptible to infections) or autoimmunity (ie production of inappropriate types of antibodies that can recognise cells of the host, resulting in tissue damage and organ failure). The means by which TFH cells instruct B cells to produce antibodies is not completely understood. This project will seek to determine the mechanism whereby TFH cells carry out this important function by performing detailed examination of them follwoing their removal from tissues such as human tonsils and spleens. In doing so, we hope to design approaches that will allow the function of TFH cells to be improved in cases of immunodeficiencies, or suppressed in situations of autoimmune diseases.Read moreRead less