Project: Elimination of Influenza B: Understanding broadly cross-reactive antibody and B cell responses to influenza B viruses
Kent group
Influenza A and B viruses circulate annually during seasonal epidemics. Although influenza B viruses have a significant clinical and socio-economic impact, they have been overlooked compared to influenza A viruses. Because influenza B viruses don’t have an established animal reservoir, it may be possible to eradicate these viruses with highly efficient universal vaccines that induce broadly cross-protective antibodies. To design such universal vaccines, a deeper understanding of the underlying B cell and antibody responses is required. This project with utilise a combination of molecular virology, cellular immunology and serology techniques to understand the breadth of humoral immune responses and to influenza B viruses to dissect immune responses in relevant animal models and human samples.
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Kent group
3 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
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Interrogating B cell immunity to COVID19 and influenza vaccines
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science
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Helping make the best antibodies to combat COVID-19 and Influenza
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Can resident memory B cells in the lung protect against COVID19 and other respiratory viruses?
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science
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Elimination of Influenza B: Understanding broadly cross-reactive antibody and B cell responses to influenza B viruses
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Dissecting humoral immune responses to human coronaviruses
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.