Quantifying the adaptive immune response. The aim of this project is to develop mathematical models and computer software capable of predicting immune responses in infection and disease. The ability to predict immune responses should allow better vaccine design and better understanding of what causes the immune system to attack its own body, causing autoimmune disease, or fail to respond, causing immunodeficiency. The models and software will also be applicable to other areas of cell biology, ....Quantifying the adaptive immune response. The aim of this project is to develop mathematical models and computer software capable of predicting immune responses in infection and disease. The ability to predict immune responses should allow better vaccine design and better understanding of what causes the immune system to attack its own body, causing autoimmune disease, or fail to respond, causing immunodeficiency. The models and software will also be applicable to other areas of cell biology, such as describing growth and development. Thus, this project will lead to advances in understanding of fundamental biology, as well as potential improvements in treatments for a range of diseases.Read moreRead less
Understanding immune mechanisms induced by pulmonary vaccination. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms of immune induction of a novel lung vaccination strategy. The ability to deliver vaccines that induce potent lung and body wide immune responses in a safe and efficient manner has wide implications for both human and animal health. Ultimately, the vaccine will be delivered to the lung as stable dry powders in an attempt to negate the need for a transport cold chain and therefor ....Understanding immune mechanisms induced by pulmonary vaccination. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms of immune induction of a novel lung vaccination strategy. The ability to deliver vaccines that induce potent lung and body wide immune responses in a safe and efficient manner has wide implications for both human and animal health. Ultimately, the vaccine will be delivered to the lung as stable dry powders in an attempt to negate the need for a transport cold chain and therefore facilitate the distribution of the vaccines to remote areas. The project will not only benefit the Australian biotechnology industry but also the community at large and in particular those in remote areas without access to modern medical facilities.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100185
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,712.00
Summary
Decoding the evolution of killer T cell immunity across human lifetime. The immune system is a potent weapon for protection against pathogens. T cells have a central role as their receptors monitor the body for threats. The thymus (organ) educates receptors to discriminate between healthy and infected cells. Receptor diversity and T cell strength change throughout human life. This project aims to unravel how T cells gain and lose optimal receptors and strength. The aims are to understand 1) The ....Decoding the evolution of killer T cell immunity across human lifetime. The immune system is a potent weapon for protection against pathogens. T cells have a central role as their receptors monitor the body for threats. The thymus (organ) educates receptors to discriminate between healthy and infected cells. Receptor diversity and T cell strength change throughout human life. This project aims to unravel how T cells gain and lose optimal receptors and strength. The aims are to understand 1) The role of thymic education in diversifying receptors 2) Whether gradual loss of thymic education affects receptor diversity 3) The molecular mechanisms underlying T cell strength. The project is essential for understanding how optimal T cell immunity is formed, critical if we wish to harness this to improve healthy aging.Read moreRead less
How the immune system recognises vitamin B-based allergies. This project aims to evaluate the range of molecules that can stimulate vitamin B-reactive T cells in mammals and amphibians, and the degree of conservation or variation in these molecules among diverse microorganisms. T cells are immune cells that recognise foreign molecules, including peptides, lipids and vitamin B metabolites, bound to specialised antigen-presenting molecules. In mammals, Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells, still p ....How the immune system recognises vitamin B-based allergies. This project aims to evaluate the range of molecules that can stimulate vitamin B-reactive T cells in mammals and amphibians, and the degree of conservation or variation in these molecules among diverse microorganisms. T cells are immune cells that recognise foreign molecules, including peptides, lipids and vitamin B metabolites, bound to specialised antigen-presenting molecules. In mammals, Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells, still poorly understood, recognise Vitamin B-based molecules. Combining immunology with structural biology and chemistry, this project aims to understand how the immune system detects molecules produced by diverse microorganisms.Read moreRead less
Whole-body analysis of human tissue-resident memory T cells. T cells provide critical immune protection against infection and cancer, and dysfunctional T cells cause autoimmune disease. Much of our understanding of T cells comes from studies of mice and how these immune cells work in humans is not fully understood. This project aims to determine how human T cells persist and function using a unique organ donor tissue resource. The expected outcomes are to generate fundamental new knowledge about ....Whole-body analysis of human tissue-resident memory T cells. T cells provide critical immune protection against infection and cancer, and dysfunctional T cells cause autoimmune disease. Much of our understanding of T cells comes from studies of mice and how these immune cells work in humans is not fully understood. This project aims to determine how human T cells persist and function using a unique organ donor tissue resource. The expected outcomes are to generate fundamental new knowledge about the regulation of the human immune response. This knowledge is critical for the development of vaccines and immunotherapies designed to harness T cell immunity.Read moreRead less
Recognition of lipid antigens by the immune system. T cells are a critical component of the immune system, protecting against a range of pathogens by detecting and responding to foreign molecules. Despite their importance, there is still much to learn about how T cells function. New types of T cells that respond to bacteria-derived lipid molecules, have recently been identified. This project aims to undertake a molecular and functional investigation into lipid-reactive T cells. This will provide ....Recognition of lipid antigens by the immune system. T cells are a critical component of the immune system, protecting against a range of pathogens by detecting and responding to foreign molecules. Despite their importance, there is still much to learn about how T cells function. New types of T cells that respond to bacteria-derived lipid molecules, have recently been identified. This project aims to undertake a molecular and functional investigation into lipid-reactive T cells. This will provide basic fundamental insight into a poorly understood, but crucial, component of the immune system as well as an opportunity to ultimately develop novel lipid-based vaccines.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100705
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
Decoding the enigmatic biology of human gamma-delta T cells. The immune system surveys our body examining molecules that signal whether or not everything is ok. T cells are a central to this and use their receptors to monitor these molecular signals. A specialised subset of T cells known as gamma-delta T cells are critical to detecting infection and cancer, yet their fundamental biology is poorly understood. This project aims to unravel this elusive biology. The aims are to understand 1. The div ....Decoding the enigmatic biology of human gamma-delta T cells. The immune system surveys our body examining molecules that signal whether or not everything is ok. T cells are a central to this and use their receptors to monitor these molecular signals. A specialised subset of T cells known as gamma-delta T cells are critical to detecting infection and cancer, yet their fundamental biology is poorly understood. This project aims to unravel this elusive biology. The aims are to understand 1. The diversity in function between gamma-delta T cell subsets, and 2. The diversity in gamma-delta T cell receptors and the molecules that these receptors detect. This work is essential for understanding gamma-delta T cell immunology which is critical if we ultimately wish to harness this to improve human health.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100407
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Biology of immune cells. This project aims to study immune cells that target harmful microbes by recognising by-products of their metabolism, and develop methods modulating their function. In particular, it aims to determine the immune recognition of the full range of microbial metabolites that activate these cells and unravel the mechanisms behind tolerance to nutrition-derived metabolites. This project is a potential opportunity for Australia to maximise its competitive edge in this field and ....Biology of immune cells. This project aims to study immune cells that target harmful microbes by recognising by-products of their metabolism, and develop methods modulating their function. In particular, it aims to determine the immune recognition of the full range of microbial metabolites that activate these cells and unravel the mechanisms behind tolerance to nutrition-derived metabolites. This project is a potential opportunity for Australia to maximise its competitive edge in this field and develop immune-modulatory agents ultimately leading to socioeconomic benefit.Read moreRead less
Cellular and molecular networks controlling protective immunity. This research aims to understand how a handful of master-regulator genes act to program immune cells required for immune responses to microbes, vaccination and to prevent cancer. It will provide a fundamental advance in our understanding of immune cell development and impact strategies aimed at the prevention and treatment of pathogen infections.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100432
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,308.00
Summary
Defining the mechanisms of tissue-resident memory T cell development. We have recently identified a subset of T cells that reside at points of pathogen entry where they can effectively control infection. The ability of these T cells to offer local immunity has caused a paradigm shift in our view of how T cells protect against infection, drastically changing the way we think about designing T cell vaccines. This project aims to characterise this novel T cell subset, defining the fundamental requi ....Defining the mechanisms of tissue-resident memory T cell development. We have recently identified a subset of T cells that reside at points of pathogen entry where they can effectively control infection. The ability of these T cells to offer local immunity has caused a paradigm shift in our view of how T cells protect against infection, drastically changing the way we think about designing T cell vaccines. This project aims to characterise this novel T cell subset, defining the fundamental requirements for their formation and maintenance. This will lead to a greater understanding of their biology, which will be of significance for the development of novel vaccination strategies.Read moreRead less