Mycobacterial Research Progamme
Members
of the mycobacteria family cause major human diseases
such as tuberculosis and leprosy. The Mycobacterial
Research Group is investigating the responses of both the host and the bacteria
to understand how immunity is generated and maintained and to devise more
effective ways of vaccination and treatment of infection.
LRG-47
is an IFN- inducible small GTP-ase that
contributes to immunity to a variety of pathogens. Mice deficient in LRG-47 are
highly susceptible to mycobacterial infections,
displaying increased bacterial growth and mortality. We have developed a viral
vector system to overexpress LRG-47, and other
molecules of interest, under the control of a macrophage specific promoter. We
will use this system to generate and characterise macrophages that overexpress LRG-47.
The aim of this project is to determine if overexpression
of LRG-47 increases the killing capability of macrophages and enhances
clearance of mycobacteria
We will transduce macrophage cell lines, fresh macrophages with the
vector overexpressing the LRG-47 and examine the
response of the cells and their capacity to kill mycobacteria.
Further, through bone marrow transduction and reconstitution we will generate
mice that overexpress LRG-47 in their macrophages. We
will characterise these mice and examine their
response to mycobacterial infections.
This project will
give an honours student experience in both cellular
and molecular techniques. Including, animal handling, isolation and growth of
macrophages, analysis of cell activation through, FACS, ELISA, ELIspots, biological assays measuring macrophage activation
and changes in gene expression using real time quantitative PCR.
Contact:
Dr
Bernadette Saunders
Centenary Institute
Ph
9565-6114
Fax
9565-6103
Email: B.Saunders@centenary.usyd.edu.au