Project: Understanding the evolution of influenza viruses by herd and host immunity
Kedzierska group
Influenza viruses evolve to escape herd immunity. For over four decades we have been developing monoclonal antibodies to influenza viruses. Examination of these antibodies with drifted H3N2 strains demonstrated, for the first time, the recurrence of specific epitopes. The project will provide the opportunity to conduct experiments to determine whether individuals pre and post infection have developed antibodies to these recurrent epitopes. With the use of human purified immunoglobulin, viruses will be stressed to escape and these escape mutants will be mapped and compared to natural viral evolution. Work will be conducted at both the Doherty Institute and Seqirus.
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Kedzierska group
2 vacancies
The Kedzierska group has a strong international profile in human immunology, with a major focus on universal broadly-protective T cell immunity to seasonal, pandemic and avian influenza viruses. The main goals are to identify key correlates of severe and fatal influenza disease in high-risk groups, and to understand mechanisms underlying generation of optimal immunity to influenza viruses in young children, adults, the elderly, pregnant women, hospitalised patients and Indigenous Australians. Our studies intend to improve vaccine and therapeutic designs to protect against severe influenza, with possible applications to other infectious diseases and tumours.
Kedzierska group Current Projects
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Generation of protective immunity against severe influenza disease in Indigenous populations
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Understanding immunity towards seasonal influenza vaccines
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Defining the reactogenic properties of influenza vaccines
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Understanding the evolution of influenza viruses by herd and host immunity
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.