Project: Discovery of malaria vaccine peptide targets
Heath Group
Using Plasmodium-specific transgenic T cells in a mouse model we demonstrated that tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells can fight malaria parasites in the liver with great efficacy. We then developed novel malaria vaccines aimed at the generation of these cells and achieved high levels of protection against infection. However, the lack of known parasite-derived protective epitopes that can be included as antigens in these vaccines is an important limitation for their future development and hinders translation into humans. We have recently defined multiple candidate parasite epitopes with high potential as vaccine antigens. This project will develop innovative methods to test the immunogenicity of these epitopes and to assess the protective capacity of specific liver-resident memory T cells against parasite infection in the mouse model. Promising epitopes will be included in our Trm-based malaria vaccines and the immunogenicity of ortholog antigens in human parasites will be tested. This project will involve several advanced immunological techniques with a strong focus on flow cytometry.
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Heath Group
8 vacancies
The Heath group is interested in the immune response to pathogens, particularly to malaria, which is still a major cause of mortality worldwide. We study T cell responses with the aim of improving vaccine strategies and focus on T cell responses in the skin, the liver and lymphoid organs including the spleen. Our lab recently discovered a population of resident memory T cells within the liver that are capable of protecting against malaria infection. These and other cells are currently being studied.
Heath Group Current Projects
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Discovery of malaria vaccine peptide targets
Honours
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Gamma delta T cells, crucial for malaria immunity
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Type 2 CD4 responses form better memory
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Development of a malaria-specific mRNA vaccine
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Investigating the role of memory T cell subsets in protection from malaria
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Determining the effector pathways used by memory T cell subsets to clear malaria parasites from the liver
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Imaging cellular interactions during immune priming
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Harnessing Trm immunity through vaccination
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.