The regulation of antibody: A systems approach

Funded Activity Summary

This program brings together a team of researchers from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to study how the body regulates antibody production to fight disease. Antibodies are made by B-cells and are essential for a functional immune system. B cells circulate in the body, searching for signs of infection. When they encounter an invader, they mature, with the help of other immune cells, into antibody-producing cells. A small proportion of the cells are set aside as _memory� cells that can rapidly become antibodyproducing cells should the same infection occur again in the future. This is the basis of vaccination. This program aims to understand how a B cell changes into an antibody-producing cell, by studying the genes that are known to be required for the cells to form, or to do their work. We will study animals whose immune systems are under- or over-active, to find out what part of the antibody-producing process is faulty. Using this information, we hope eventually to be able to study diseases of antibody producing cells in humans (as occur in allergy, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and leukaemia), to be able to identify the precise cause of the problem, and to suggest a therapy. This information may also be used to improve the outcome of vaccination where an enhanced antibody response is desired.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2005

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: Programs

Funding Amount: $4,377,477.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Humoural Immunology and Immunochemistry

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

B lymphocyte | Cell differentiation | Cell signalling | Humoral immunity | Mathematical Modelling

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