Functional Assays Of Immunity To Malaria In Pregnant Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,905.00
Summary
Pregnant women are highly susceptible to malaria due to the adhesion of infected erythrocytes to the placenta. Antibodies to these infected erythrocytes can block their placental adhesion and/or facilitate their clearance by immune cells, improving pregnancy outcomes. We aim at informing vaccine design by better understanding the placental adhesion mechanisms and identifying targets of protective immunity as well as antibody correlates of protection from placental malaria and its consequences.
Protective memory T cell immune responses defend our body against pathogens by the rapid induction of killer T cells. This protects us from severe or perhaps even fatal disease. Our work will provide insights to how the body makes these potent ‘footsoldiers’. This work will have important implications for identifying how these immune cells can be manipulated to prevent and treat pathogenic and autoimmune disease and for optimising approaches to vaccination.
Transcriptional Regulation Of Specialized Subsets Of Dendritic Cells In Control Of Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$616,912.00
Summary
Immune protection against viruses and bacteria depends on specialized cells called dendritic cells that display components of the invading organisms on their surface. There are multiple different types of dendritic cell and each population plays a specialized role in defending the body against infection. Our work will provide the framework for directly targeting these cells for novel vaccines to re-program the immune system for clinical conditions such as cancer, allergy and autoimmunity.
Understanding The Role Of Innate Immune Cells In Regulating Gut-associated Lymphoid Tissues At Steady-state And In Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,126.00
Summary
The intestine is the largest surface area forming a protective barrier between the external environment and the body. It represents the first line of defence against invading pathogens. The immune system of the intestine is critical to protect this tissue -any breakdown leads to profound and progressive inflammatory disease of the gut such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Our work will determine the critical the mechanisms that protect the gut opening the door to targeted intestinal immuno ....The intestine is the largest surface area forming a protective barrier between the external environment and the body. It represents the first line of defence against invading pathogens. The immune system of the intestine is critical to protect this tissue -any breakdown leads to profound and progressive inflammatory disease of the gut such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Our work will determine the critical the mechanisms that protect the gut opening the door to targeted intestinal immunotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Determining The Role Of DOCK8 In CD4+ T And B Cell Differentiation And Its Implications On Autosomal Recessive Hyper IgE Syndrome (AR-HIES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,600.00
Summary
Autosomal recessive hyper IgE (AR-HIES) syndrome due to mutations in DOCK8 is a rare primary immunodeficiency whereby patients present with susceptibility to severe and recurrent viral infections as well as an increased risk of developing cancer, severe food and environmental allergies, and atopic disease characterised by hyper IgE and extreme eosinophilia. This grant will investigate how abnormal DOCK8 function in CD4+ T cells and B cells contributes to disease pathogenesis in AR-HIES patients.
Mechanisms And Targets Of Antibody-complement Interactions That Neutralize Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,977.00
Summary
Our project aims to identify immune mechanisms that neutralize malaria from the moment of inoculation by a mosquito, before infection can become established to prevent the development of malaria disease. Furthermore, we will discover specific targets of protective immune responses. We expect this project will provide major new advances in our knowledge of human immunity to P. falciparum malaria, one of the world’s most significant causes of mortality and morbidity, and we will use this knowledge
An Investigation Into The Molecular Basis Of MAIT Cell Recognition Of Vitamin B Based Metabolites
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,762.00
Summary
Mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are an abundant T-cell population in humans, that is found mostly in the gastrointestinal mucosa. We have recently shown that MAIT cells can be activated by metabolites of vitamin B. This proposal will investigate how the MAIT cells "see" vitamin B metabolites. This research will pave the way for novel therapeutics that can modulate MAIT cell activity.
The Interplay Between Viperin, Peroxisomes And The Cellular Innate Antiviral Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,127.00
Summary
Infection with a virus initiates a cellular antiviral response that attempts to limit viral replication, however how this response is regulated is not well understood. In this proposal we will investigate a cellular protein (viperin) that can regulate this process by interaction with peroxisomes to amplify the antiviral response. This work will provide possible targets for therapeutic manipulation of the innate immune response that will be applicable to a wide range of viral infections.
Understanding The Role Of MAIT Cells In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,593.00
Summary
A specialised set of T lymphocytes called Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells protect us from bacteria and yeast at mucosal sites where the body's immune defences are most easily breached, e.g. gut, oral cavity, airways & reproductive tract. This study investigates the role of MAIT cells in health and in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulceration, periodontitis and tuberculosis. Controlling MAIT cells could help in treating these conditions.
Therapeutic Vaccine Against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Targeting The Immune Adjuvant Properties Of Natural Killer T Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,606.00
Summary
Patients with lymphoma cancers initially respond well to treatment, but later relapse with disease. The immune system can be effective at controlling cancer. A potential treatment option is to boost the natural immune response against cancer. This study investigates a vaccine that activates a certain immune cell, NKT cells, to fight lymphomas by delivering an NKT cell-activating molecule. Outcomes will allow assessment of combining an NKT-based vaccine with established treatments for lymphoma.