NK Cell Subsets And Their Role In Immune Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$173,522.00
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells are 5-10% of white blood cells of the immune system that represent one of our first lines of defense against microbes and cancer development. Recent evidence strongly suggests that NK cells are major cells of importance in the immune system, not only in acting as killers of cancer cells or virus-infected cells, but also in regulating the adaptive memory components of the immune response. Despite our greater knowledge of NK cell biology, we still know very little about t ....Natural killer (NK) cells are 5-10% of white blood cells of the immune system that represent one of our first lines of defense against microbes and cancer development. Recent evidence strongly suggests that NK cells are major cells of importance in the immune system, not only in acting as killers of cancer cells or virus-infected cells, but also in regulating the adaptive memory components of the immune response. Despite our greater knowledge of NK cell biology, we still know very little about the diversity that exists within the NK cell population. The development and maturation of NK cells requires far greater study and this proposal aims to examine this question in the best experimental model, the mouse. We have recently made an important breakthrough concerning the distinct functional behavior of newly discovered NK cell subsets. We now aim to develop a more integrated model of NK cell development, such that vaccines and adjuvants designed to prevent and ameliorate lethal and chronic infectious diseases and cancer can be more rationally designed.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Interleukin (IL)-27 In The Germinal Centre Reaction During Normal And Autoimmune Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,226.00
Summary
Protective immune responses depend on supportive interactions between different white blood cell types. Signalling proteins called _cytokines� are a key means of communication between cells. Abnormal cytokine production can lead to poor protection against infection or immune attack against the tissues (ie. autoimmune disease). This project aims to determine the importance of one such cytokine, called IL-27, in the production of antibodies in normal immune responses as well as in autoimmune disea ....Protective immune responses depend on supportive interactions between different white blood cell types. Signalling proteins called _cytokines� are a key means of communication between cells. Abnormal cytokine production can lead to poor protection against infection or immune attack against the tissues (ie. autoimmune disease). This project aims to determine the importance of one such cytokine, called IL-27, in the production of antibodies in normal immune responses as well as in autoimmune diseases like Lupus.Read moreRead less
Memory CD4 T Cells That Harbour The Reservoir Of Latent HIV Infection: Their Antigen Specificity, Function And Frequency Of Antigen-driven Reactivation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,782.00
Summary
Current antiretroviral therapy for HIV successfully suppresses virus production, but does not completely eliminate the virus from the body. This project will provide essential information on memory CD4 T cells that retain HIV in a latent DNA form. Memory CD4 T cells can be very long-lived, and these latently infected memory cells can give rise to virus during treatment interruption. We will use a novel method to identify which memory CD4 T cells contain latent HIV DNA.