Project: Immuno-paralysis following severe infections or trauma
Villadangos Group
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is a common condition associated with severe infections and trauma. It is characterised by inflammation followed by a period of immunosuppression that can last for several weeks. Immunosuppressed patients are at risk of suffering secondary or opportunistic infections, a major cause of death in intensive care units. Impairment of dendritic cells (DC), the primary initiators of T cell immunity, plays a prominent role in this immunosuppression post-SIRS. In this project we will use models of infection and trauma to characterise the mechanisms that cause DC paralysis and to develop therapies to prevent immunosuppression.
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Villadangos Group
3 vacancies
The Villadangos group studies the first event that triggers adaptive immune responses: the presentation of pathogen or tumour antigens to T cells by dendritic cells, B cells and macrophages. We are characterising the development, regulation and impairment of antigen presenting cells by pathogens, inflammatory mediators and tumours. We are also dissecting the biochemical machinery involved in antigen capture, processing and presentation. We use this knowledge to understand how T cell-dependent immunity is initiated and maintained, and apply it to design better vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious agents and cancer.
Villadangos Group Current Projects
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MR1 – a molecular alarm system for intracellular bacterial infection
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Immunoregulatory functions of the MARCH family of ubiquitin ligases
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Understanding the mechanisms that impair anti-tumour Adoptive Cell Therapy
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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The role of glucose metabolism in the regulation of immunity
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Immuno-paralysis following severe infections or trauma
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.