Transport and innate immune properties of DNA in bacterial nano-sized vesicles. All types of living organisms release nano-sized membrane vesicles or “blebs” which they use for intercellular communication and transport of molecules. This project will determine how bacteria package DNA within these vesicles, how this DNA is transported into host cells and how it triggers immune responses in these cells.
The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic c ....The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic cell recirculation, and what consequences the recirculation has for immune cell function. This understanding will significantly advance our basic understanding of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Regulation of lung immune-epithelial networks sensing environmental change. This study aims to uncover how lung epithelial cells engage with immune cells and determine their cellular and molecular wiring to ensure homeostatic maintenance and essential repair processes of lung tissues. Maintenance of lung epithelial-immune networks is essential to maintain normal lung tissue structure and function, and to induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges or inhaled potentially toxic ....Regulation of lung immune-epithelial networks sensing environmental change. This study aims to uncover how lung epithelial cells engage with immune cells and determine their cellular and molecular wiring to ensure homeostatic maintenance and essential repair processes of lung tissues. Maintenance of lung epithelial-immune networks is essential to maintain normal lung tissue structure and function, and to induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges or inhaled potentially toxic substances. Understanding this molecular program of epithelial-immune cell-mediated sensing/repair will be essential to understand how tissue-repair processes can be driven in the lung, an organ critical for respiration and thus life.Read moreRead less
Understanding how RNA editing regulates RNA fate. This project aims to address how RNA editing mediated by ADAR1 alters the interactions of targeted RNA with the innate immune sensing system. ADAR1 editing converts adenosine to inosine within double stranded RNA. It is known that this is key to prevent activation of the innate immune sensor MDA5 by endogenous RNA. However, we do not understand why edited RNA is tolerated and unedited RNA is not. This project will generate new knowledge regarding ....Understanding how RNA editing regulates RNA fate. This project aims to address how RNA editing mediated by ADAR1 alters the interactions of targeted RNA with the innate immune sensing system. ADAR1 editing converts adenosine to inosine within double stranded RNA. It is known that this is key to prevent activation of the innate immune sensor MDA5 by endogenous RNA. However, we do not understand why edited RNA is tolerated and unedited RNA is not. This project will generate new knowledge regarding the effect of editing on how endogenous RNA is perceived by the innate immune system.Read moreRead less