Project: Regulating macrophage 'eating' for cancer and pathogen control
Villadangos Group
The surface receptor SIRPα plays an important role in regulating phagocytosis by macrophages. This is an vital innate defence mechanism against pathogens and also tumors. We previously found that following sepsis in humans and mice, SIRPa surface levels decreased and this lead to reduced phagocytosis and loss of antimicrobial immunity. However, little is known about the molecular regulation of SIRPα and what causes it to go up or down.
This project will use whole-genome wide CRISPR screens to investigate the molecular mechanism of SIRPα modulation. It will define new targets for therapeutics to boost macrophage function against infectious diseases and cancer.
Further reading: A Roquilly… and JA Villadangos. 2020. Alveolar macrophages are epigenetically altered after inflammation, leading to long-term lung immunoparalysis. Nat Immunol 21:636-48. PMID 32581370.
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Villadangos Group
6 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 characterizing 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.
All our projects are open to Honours/Master of Biomedical Science students and PhD/MPhil graduate researchers
Villadangos Group Current Projects
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Improving the formation of protective immunity against human viruses
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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MR1 – a molecular alarm system for bacterial infection
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Regulation of Complement by Membrane Receptor Ubiquitination
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Harnessing the power of RNA technology for vaccines and therapeutics
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Investigating the role of dendritic cell O-GlcNAcylation in adipose tissue homeostasis and immune function
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Understanding the causes of immune paralysis and lethal secondary infections in sepsis and trauma patients
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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The immune signature of sepsis
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Regulating macrophage 'eating' for cancer and pathogen control
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 immune function: O-GlcNAc glycosylation
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours