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 vital innate defence mechanism is vital against pathogens and tumours. We previously found that following sepsis in humans and mice, SIRPα surface levels decreased and this led 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.
Supervisors:
Dr Hamish McWilliam
Professor Jose Villadangos
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.
Contact project supervisor for further
information and application enquiries
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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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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Improving the formation of protective immunity against human viruses
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
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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 causes of immune paralysis and secondary infections in sepsis and trauma patients
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Harnessing the power of RNA vaccines and therapeutics
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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MR1 – a molecular detection system for bacteria
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.