Project: Can resident memory B cells in the lung protect against COVID19 and other respiratory viruses?
Kent group
A protective role for memory T lymphocytes localised outside of traditional immune sites has been comprehensively established. However, recent studies have shown memory B cells can similarly take up tissue residence, although the immune benefit for doing so remains unclear. SARS-CoV2, Influenza and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause acute respiratory infections associated with significant morbidity, and effective vaccines are currently lacking. This project will assess if immunisation to establish antiviral memory B cells in the lung can combat respiratory infectiona. It will involve: engineering novel influenza-based viral vectors to deliver vaccine antigens, testing in animal models and characterising B cell immunity using a variety of advanced microscopy and flow cytometry-based techniques.
Contact project supervisor for further
information and application enquiries
Kent group
7 vacancies
Research Projects 2019 | 25 The Kent group has an interest in understanding how the immune response can be harnessed in the control of infectious pathogens including HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and influenza. This includes understanding non-conventional T cells and how they are impacted by HIV infection despite the fact that they are not target cells for HIV replication. We use animal models to investigate ways to manipulate these cells and to understand how they are regulated during viral infection. We also examine how antibodies can instruct the innate immune system to attack invading pathogens through their Fc regions. Our research aims to understand the mechanisms behind these antibodies in order to guide the development of more effective antibody therapeutics and vaccines.
Kent group Current Projects
-
Interrogating B cell immunity to COVID19 and influenza vaccines
PhD/MPhil
-
Helping make the best antibodies to combat COVID-19 and Influenza
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
-
Can resident memory B cells in the lung protect against COVID19 and other respiratory viruses?
PhD/MPhil
-
Elimination of Influenza B: Understanding broadly cross-reactive antibody and B cell responses to influenza B viruses
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
-
Dissecting humoral immune responses to human coronaviruses
PhD/MPhil
-
Understanding T cell help for antiviral vaccines
PhD/MPhil
-
Host-pathogen interactions of influenza B viruses
PhD/MPhil
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.