Project: MR1 – a molecular alarm system for intracellular bacterial infection
Villadangos Group
MR1 functions as a molecular alarm system to alert the immune system that a bacterial infection is taking place. It does this by capturing metabolite by-products from bacteria and presenting them at the cell surface to activate a highly abundant T cell subset, called mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. MR1 is a highly conserved piece of the mammalian immune repertoire to detect bacterial pathogens, yet basic aspects of its cell biology are not well understood. This project will investigate the molecular machinery underpinning the biology of MR1 molecules, using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and cutting-edge cell biology and biochemistry techniques.
Further reading: McWilliam et al (2020) PNAS, McWilliam et al (2016), Nat. Immunol. 17: 531-537; HEG McWilliam et al (2017), Trends Immunol 38: 679-689.
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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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How to harness the immune system to cure cancer: adoptive cell immunotherapy
Honours
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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
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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How infection and trauma cause dendritic cell paralysis and lethal immunosuppression
Honours
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Immuno-paralysis following severe infections or trauma
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
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The immune signature of COVID-19 patients
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
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.