Project: The role of glucose metabolism in the regulation of immunity
Villadangos Group
O-GlcNAc glycosylation involves addition of a single sugar, β-N-acetylglucosamine, to serine or threonine residues of proteins. It is a unique type of glycosylation found on nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. The addition and removal of O-GlcNAc is catalysed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAse (OGA) respectively. It is a reversible modification akin to phosphorylation. Indeed, O-GlcNAc glycosylation occurs in dynamic interplay with phosphorylation, either on the same or adjacent residues. The cross-talk between these two modifications in turn regulates various cellular processes. We are characterising the function of O-GlcNAc glycosylation in immune cells by identifying changes in patterns of glycosylation in different metabolic states and upon encounter of pathogens. The function of glycosylated proteins will be further studied to understand the relevance of their O-GlcNAc status in various immune cell activities.
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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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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
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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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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The role of glucose metabolism in the regulation of immunity
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
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.