Project: Immuno-paralysis following severe infections or trauma
Villadangos Group
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is a common condition associated with severe infections such as COVID-19. It is characterised by inflammation accompanied with immunosuppression, and the latter can last for several weeks. The immunosuppressed patients are at risk of suffering secondary or opportunistic infections, a major contributor to morbidity and death in intensive care units. Impairment of macrophages and 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 to characterise the mechanisms that cause immune cell paralysis and to develop therapies to prevent immunosuppression. Further reading: NS Wilson et al (2006), Nat. Immunol. 7: 165-172; LJ Young et al (2007), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 17753-17758; A. Roquilly et al (2017), Immunity 47:135-147; J Vega-Ramos et al (2014) Curr. Opin. Pharmacol. 17: 64-70. Roquilly et al (2020) Nat Immunol.
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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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Understanding the mechanisms that impair anti-tumour Adoptive Cell Therapy
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Regulation of immune receptor expression and turn-over by ubiquitin ligases
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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The amyloidogenic protease inhibitor Cystatin C in health and disease
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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The immune signature of COVID-19 patients
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
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Trogocytosis: a novel communication system between cells of the immune system
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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A novel link between metabolism and host defence: O-GlcNAc glycosylation
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Improving the formation of protective immunity against human viruses
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.