Investigating The Role Of TGF-beta In Resident Memory T Cell Induction And Maintenance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,495.00
Summary
I am a research scientist interested in the immune system. Specifically, I intend to investigate immunological memory, which is the basis of vaccination. This refers to the ability of certain immune cells such as T and B cells to ‘remember’ a pathogen, so that a rapid and enhanced response can be generated upon re-infection with the same pathogen. This can be investigated by experimental techniques such as flow cytometry, histology and confocal microscopy on cells from infected mouse tissue.
Identifying The Ontogeny And Fate Of T Follicular Helper Cells By Two-photon Photoconversion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,070.00
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to investigate immune cells called T follicular helper cells using a novel microscopy-based method that we have developed. This method lets us ‘tag’ these cells in a way that enables us to distinguish them from all other cells and follow them as they migrate to different immunological compartments during the response. T follicular helper cells are important for protective immune responses against pathogens and a better understanding of this T cell subset will aid vacc ....The aim of this proposal is to investigate immune cells called T follicular helper cells using a novel microscopy-based method that we have developed. This method lets us ‘tag’ these cells in a way that enables us to distinguish them from all other cells and follow them as they migrate to different immunological compartments during the response. T follicular helper cells are important for protective immune responses against pathogens and a better understanding of this T cell subset will aid vaccine design.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of T Cell Effector Function In Peripheral Tissues
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,550.00
Summary
Protection from infections relies on different types of immune cells. While some of these cells are found in the blood, others reside in peripheral tissues such as the skin. We will analyse the function of these peripheral immune cells to understand how they work to fight off infections. We will also investigate how so-called memory cells that permanently reside in peripheral tissues can protect from re-infection with similar bacteria or viruses.
The Generation Of HSV-1 Specific Effector And Memory CD4+ T Cell Responses.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,509.00
Summary
This proposal aims to determine the mechanisms underpinning the generation of helper T cell responses following HSV-1 infection. It will determine the factors that allow T cells to access sites of viral replication and the mechanisms by which they provide protection from skin infections.
Epigenetic Regulation Of CD8+ T Cell Function And Memory.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,171.00
Summary
Upon virus infection, a subset of white blood cells, called killer T cells, are recruited to fight the infection. This proposal aims to examine molecular changes that occur within killer T cells and impart their specific function. We also aim to understand how killer T cells are _programmed� as they establish immunological memory. This proposal will provide insights important for the design and improvement of vaccine strategies to fight pathogens such as influenza, HIV and even tumors.
We have identified a population of immune cells called ‘resident memory T cells’ that reside in tissues of the body. These resident memory T cells play an important role in controlling infections, but it is also apparent that they can lead to aberrant immune reactions, causing autoimmune diseases. This project aims to further our understanding of these immune cells, including how they can be identified and generated, and how they can be controlled to prevent disease.
Subset Determination Of Tissue-Resident T Cell Memory
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,394.00
Summary
Immunity relies on white blood cells called T cells that circulate around the body and which are also found permanently lodged at body surfaces. It is non-circulating T cells that are the most important in protecting against infection. In this application we propose to show that only a subset of T cells can form the resident population and to identify the molecules that determine T cell residency. This information can then be used for the efficient construction of disease preventing vaccines.
Immune Surveillance Of The CNS During Malaria Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,857.00
Summary
Infections in the central nervous system (CNS) can have profound neurological complications. Neurological disease caused by cerebral malaria (CM) is a lethal complication in humans. We have established a new model of longitudinal imaging of T cell responses in the brain during experimental CM in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. This project will investigate the mechanisms of CNS injury and provide fundamental information about T cell responses in the CNS during infection.
Defining The Coordination Of Immune Responses To Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Understanding how immune responses are coordinated is critical for the design of new therapies and vaccines to target infectious diseases and cancers. This project will utilise advanced imaging combined with novel tools to dissect the complex interactions that occur between immune cells as they are activated and patrol the body to eliminate infectious pathogens.
Using Single-cell Genomics To Resolve Functional Diversification By CD4+ T Cells In Vivo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,048,096.00
Summary
During immune responses, individual CD4+ T cells multiply and produce hundreds of descendants, with close relatives within a family often developing very different skills. How such differences emerge from one ancestor remains unclear. We use new methods to look at individual CD4+ T cells in unprecedented detail, allowing us to see how close relatives begin to grow apart. Using this, we hope to find novel ways of educating CD4+ T cells to prevent infectious and immune-mediated diseases.