Understanding the role of MAIT cells in immune-mediated pathology
- Research Opportunity
- PhD students, Masters by Research, Honours students
- Department / Centre
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Location
- Doherty Institute
| Primary Supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Sidonia Eckle | seckle@unimelb.edu.au | (03) 8344 0775 | Personal web page |
| Co-supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Lars Kjer-Nielsen | lars.kjer@unimelb.edu.au | 8344 9910 | |
| Dr Alexandra Corbett | corbetta@unimelb.edu.au | (03) 8344 9914 | Personal web page |
Summary Based on in vitro stimulation assays with the relevant metabolites in healthy donors and patient samples, we seek to establish if mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells can mediate allergic reactions.
Project Details
There are very few studies that have definitively determined a role for MAIT cells in immune pathologies, such as allergies and inflammatory diseases. We have previously identified drug metabolites that stimulate MAIT cells and now want to understand if drug and other metabolites cause hypersensitivities, allergies or inflammatory conditions. In collaboration with clinicians we have access to samples from several cohorts of patients. Based on in vitro stimulation assays with the relevant metabolites in healthy donors and patient samples, we seek to establish if MAIT cells can mediate allergic reactions. This also builds on the lab’s previous work in drug hypersensitivities mediated by conventional T cells. Human clinical data will be complemented with in vitro human cell line model systems and potentially characterisation of the TCR recognition event at a molecular level using surface plasmon resonance and X-ray crystallography, together with collaborators.
Faculty Research Themes
School Research Themes
Research Opportunities
PhD students, Masters by Research, Honours students
Students who are interested in joining this project will need to consider their elegibility as well as other requirements before contacting the supervisor of this research
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact a supervisor.
Department / Centre
Research Group / Unit / Centre
McCluskey laboratory: Role of MAIT cells in health and disease
Research Node
Doherty InstituteMDHS Research library
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