Understanding the role of MAIT cells in protection from microbial infections
- 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 Zhenjun Chen | zhenjun@unimelb.edu.au | (03) 8344 9910 | Personal web page |
Dr Alexandra Corbett | corbetta@unimelb.edu.au | (03) 8344 9914 | Personal web page |
Summary In collaboration with microbiologists and clinicians we have set up a number of infection models in mice relevant to human diseases. By comparing the pathogen burden in Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell deficient versus competent mice we determine in each model whether MAIT cells are protective.
Project Details
There are very few studies that have investigated the role of MAIT cells in protection to microbial infections. In collaboration with microbiologists and clinicians we have set up a number of infection models in mice relevant to human diseases. By comparing the pathogen burden in MAIT cell deficient versus competent mice we determine in each model whether MAIT cells are protective. Using MAIT cell specific tetramers, developed originally in our laboratory, we characterise the frequency and function of MAIT cells by a range of flow cytometry-based techniques. Pathogenesis is assessed by histology. Such analysis provides an insight in the underlying mechanisms of protection, which are also determined in protection experiments with mice knocked-out for specific immune mediators. Microbial infection models include viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens. They are also complemented with human in vitro models of infection and where possible with experiments on samples from patients. As part of this project it is possible to focus only on human in vitro models of infection (and patient samples) or mouse work.
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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