Understanding The Complexity Of Antigen Presentation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,540.00
Summary
I have developed and established the use of mass spectrometry to identify and quantitate ligands of antigen presenting molecules to understand the breadth of immune responses in a variety of human disease states including autoimmunity, cancer, infection and allergy. By embedding the technology in disease focussed research programs I will define the molecular bases of these diseases and the important immunological targets that will provide new avenues for therapeutic development and vaccines.
A Proteome-wide Approach To Anti-viral Immunity And Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,655.00
Summary
We know that many parts of viruses are displayed to the immune system, but at present the exact fragments are difficult to predict, we do not know all the genes in our bodies that control this process and we also need better methods to study the way some viruses (e.g. the cold sore virus) avoid detection. This project will study these problems with the overall goal of improving vaccine design, understanding immune deficiency and how viruses fight back against our immune system.
T cells play a pivotal role in the immune system by recognising viral peptides presented by "HLA" molecules on infected cells through the use of T cell receptors (TCRs). I will investigate the variables that influence T lymphocyte recognition of human herpesvirus infection, including variability in TCR, HLA, and viral genes. Understanding the impact of these variables on how we fight infections will aid in the development of new "intelligent" vaccines and immune-based therapies.
Understanding Determinant Selection In Autoimmune Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$686,656.00
Summary
Understanding what the immune system perceives during infection or in autoimmunity is key to the development of improved vaccines and therapies for a variety of human diseases. This proposal builds on leading research into the definition of targets of immunity in autoimmune diseases using cutting edge proteomic technologies. The proposal focuses on type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and will delineate candidate therapeutic molecules.