Costimulatory mechanisms for enhancing CD8 T cell responses during an acute respiratory infection [ 2005 - 2007 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr Edward Bertram (Principal investigator) ,  The Australian National University (Managed by)

Brief description Following an infection, a person's immune system responds to fight the pathogen. One of the most important consequences of the immune response to an infectious disease is the establishment of memory to that particular disease so that a person is able to clear the same pathogen faster upon subsequent exposures. This memory is due to specific cells called memory lymphocytes. One subset of these cells are called CD8+ T cells and these are important for controlling and clearing viral infections. New vaccine strategies are aimed at improving CD8 T cell responses so that they are more effective at fighting diseases such as HIV which causes AIDS and Hepatitis C virus. The mechanisms which lead to long lived memory CD8 T cells are not well understood. This research will characterise the function of genes involved in activating CD8 T cells and producing more memory CD8 T cells. The influenza model will be used as it is a well characterised model for studying anti-viral immunity. This project involved studying the mechansims of known genes involved in CD8 T cell responses to influenza. Also the discovery of new genes which are involved in CD8 T cell memory will be identified and characterised using new novel technologies, such as ENU mutagenesis, that only now are able to be utilised since the mouse genome (DNA) has been sequenced. This research will provide a basis for design of new and more effective vaccines.

Funding Amount $AUD 438,750.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes New Investigator Grant