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Fast links Viral Immunology Unit Therapeutic & Molecular Mapping Research Unit Respiratory Virus Research Unit Herpesvrus Molecular Pathogenesis Research Unit |
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Honours projects 2007 The Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre (SASVRC) is the Clinical Medical Virology Centre of the Biological and Chemical Sciences (BACS) Faculty, within the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences. It also has close ties with the Health Sciences Faculty. SASVRC provides a vibrant 'biosciences milieu', and operates within the interactive research environment of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Royal Brisbane and Women's and Royal Children's Hospitals and the Medical School on the Herston campus. SASVC currently comprises approximately 35 scientists, medical doctors and students. Six research units headed by internationally acclaimed scientist conduct research in a wide range of infectious diseases (articularly viral diseases) related to human health. Research is ongoing in a range of respiratory viruses, cytomegalovirus and papillomavirus, with particular areas of excellence in viral pathogenesis, identification of new and emerging viruses, new diagnostics and therapeutics, viral immune escape mechanisms, immune response, and new viral vaccine strategies and clinical trials. Very many BACS graduates have carried out their Honours or PhD studies at SASVRC, and a good number have subsequently progressed on to high« profile postdoctoral positions internationally and nationally. Grades obtained from students in recent years have been of the highest order. SASVRC offer two Honours and one PhD scholarship. The following Honours projects are available at SASVRC for the academic year 2007-8. |
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Viral Immunology Unit Unit Head: Professsor Robert TindleTel: 3636-8716 or e-mail E-mail: r.tindle@uq.edu.au Development of a novel vaccine delivery system for infectious diseases and some cancers. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) small envelope protein (HBsAg) assembles with host-derived lipids into empty envelope virus-like particles (VLPs). VLPs generally induce potent immune responses when used for vaccination because of their particulate nature and repeated sub-unit structure. Our laboratory has developed a novel strategy for the derivation of HBsAg vectors by incorporation of restriction endonuclease (RE) cloning sites into the HBsAg backbone for insertion of foreign epitopes. The proposed honours project involves working as part of our HBsAg team, and is a systematic approach to the development of HBsAg as a generic vector for the delivery of multiple foreign B- and CTL epitopes. The project will provide practical training in molecular cloning and in vitro and in vivo immunology. |
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Therapeutic & Molecular Mapping Research Unit Unit Head: A/Prof Allan Gould Cloning and expression of a number of important diagnostic and research antigens/proteins from a number of respiratory viruses. The Therapeutics and Molecular Mapping Unit is involved with the cloning and expression of a number of important diagnostic and research antigens/proteins from a number of respiratory viruses. These recombinant antigens are then administered to animals to generate recombinant antibodies or probed with a library of phage particles expressing recombinant antibodies to generate a set of reagents which can then be used for diagnostic tests or for research purposes i.e. analyzing antigenic epitopes or mapping antibody binding sites. The proposed Honours project will involve the cloning and expression of viral proteins in a variety of expression systems. The purification of the proteins and the generation or raising of recombinant antibodies to these antigens. The student will learn and become proficient in a number of molecular biology procedures including cloning, expression and transfection methodologies. |
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Respiratory Virus Research Unit Unit Head Dr. Kirsten Spann Regulation of the cellular immune response by Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus HRSV regulates the cellular immune response by suppressing both the induction and signaling of type I interferon. It does this by blocking the activation of cellular immunoregulatory proteins such as IRF3 and STAT2. We aim to identify the exact host-viral proteins interactions which are responsible for these interactions. The proposed honours project involves working as part of a small team in this newly established research unit. The project will provide practical training in growing viruses, infecting cells, and immunodetection of viral and cellular proteins. |
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Herpesvirus Molecular Pathogenesis Research Unit Unit Head Dr. Nick Davis-Poynter. Characterisation of a herpesvirus immune subversion protein. Herpesviruses establish lifelong persistence within their hosts and are noted for expression of a diverse array of proteins which counteract or exploit host immune responses. Our group is determining the function of such proteins from the cell through to the whole animal level. A number of herpesviruses, including cytomegaloviruses, encode homologues of seven transmembrane receptors (7TMR), which constitute a large protein family that signal via coupling and uncoupling to intracellular G proteins. A wide range of signalling pathways are stimulated as a consequence of 7TMR-G protein interactions, resulting in cellular activation that has pleiotropic biological effects. Studies of herpesvirus 7TMR homologues has shown that the majority are most closely conserved with receptors for chemokines. As chemokines are responsible for cellular trafficking in normal and diseased states, it has been hypothesized that the herpesvirus 7TMR may facilitate the dissemination of virus-infected cells in the infected host. This project will focus on a viral 7TMR (M33), homologues of which are expressed by all cytomegaloviruses, which has been found to be essential for normal virus dissemination in the host. Using site-directed mutagenesis, specific mutations of M33 will be studied in transfected cells and incorporated into genetically modified murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). The effects of the mutations upon cell surface expression of M33 and ability of the recombinant MCMV to replicate in tissue culture and disseminate in vivo will be studied. |
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