Project: Molecular basis for growth factor immune-surveillance in plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Barrow group
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are rare cells that secrete large quantities of type-I interferon (IFN-I) in response to viral infections. Some viruses encode growth factors (GFs) to induce proliferative lesions that are required for host infectivity. We have found that some GFs can enhance IFN-I production by pDCs. These results suggest that GFs can synergise with toll-like receptors (TLRs) to enhance IFN-I secretion by pDCs. The Barrow group is interested in identifying how the GF and TLR signalling pathways intersect to enhance IFN-I secretion by pDCs to evoke effective anti-viral immunity
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Barrow group
3 vacancies
The Barrow group is interested in a new avenue of immunological research termed growth factor surveillance. Growth factors (GFs) are over-expressed by tumours to promote angiogenesis, stromal reaction and tumour growth. Moreover, many viruses encode GFs that are required for viral infectivity in vivo. The goal of our lab is to understand how GF surveillance receptors control immune responses to tumours and pathogens with the ultimate aim of identifying critical nodes in these pathways that can be exploited for cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development.
Barrow group Current Projects
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Immunosurveillance pathways in brain cancer
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Molecular basis for growth factor surveillance in natural killer cells
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Molecular basis for growth factor immune-surveillance in plasmacytoid dendritic cells
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.