The impact of Hyaluronic Acid on growth factor signalling and angiogenesis. Blood vessel development is controlled by growth factor signalling. Vessels are attracted by and migrate along growth factor gradients, and this is controlled by the extracellular matrix (ECM). From the zebrafish model, we have identified a novel gene that modulates the ECM, impacting growth factor signalling and vessel development. The project will explore by what mechanism this gene impacts signalling. It will comprehe ....The impact of Hyaluronic Acid on growth factor signalling and angiogenesis. Blood vessel development is controlled by growth factor signalling. Vessels are attracted by and migrate along growth factor gradients, and this is controlled by the extracellular matrix (ECM). From the zebrafish model, we have identified a novel gene that modulates the ECM, impacting growth factor signalling and vessel development. The project will explore by what mechanism this gene impacts signalling. It will comprehensively define where in the embryo it is required and investigate what cofactors it interacts with to perform its function. Using genetic zebrafish and mouse models as well as cell culture models we will investigate the fundamental biology of this gene.Read moreRead less
New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based intervent ....New guardians of the mucosa: Molecular characterisation of M cell biology. We aim to completely define the cellular and molecular biology of gut and lung M cells for the first time. We will elucidate how they develop, are regulated and function at a molecular level, and how M cells maintain normal gut and lung tissues and induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges. In the future, the new insights will be essential pre-requisites for the development of mucosal-based interventions and vaccines that protect the gut and lung from infectious and inflammatory issues. The harnessing of effective immune responses to control such challenges, are of enormous fundamental and long-standing biological interest, and are amongst the most important areas of current scientific research.Read moreRead less