Epigenetic control of dendritic cell development and function
Project type
Honours and/or PhD
| Supervisor(s) | Division | |
Dr Rhys Allan (Primary) |
Molecular Immunology | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) |
| (Co-supervisor) | Molecular Immunology | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) |
| (Co-supervisor) | Molecular Immunology | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) |
Details of project
Dendritic cells (DCs) drive immune responses by activating pathogen-specific T cells. There are many subsets of DCs that are functionally distinct; however, exactly what dictates their development and defines their function is still unclear. In this project we will examine how epigenetic modifications determine DC development and function.
Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that does not change the underlying DNA sequence. Using cells deficient in epigenetic factors and a range of cutting-edge technologies we will reveal the how these factors participate in DC development and function.
Project references
- Allan RS, CM Smith, GTB Belz, A L Van lint, L Wakim, WRH Heath, Carbone FR. Epidermal viral immunity induced by CD8alpha+ dendritic cells but not by Langerhans cells. Science. 2003 Sep 26;301(5641):1925-8.
- Jackson JT, Hu Y, Liu R, Masson F, D'Amico A, Carotta S, Xin A, Camilleri MJ, Mount AM, Kallies A, Wu L, Smyth GK, Nutt SL, Belz GT. Id2 expression delineates differential checkpoints in the genetic program of CD8α+ and CD103+ dendritic cell lineages. EMBO J. 2011 May 17;30(13):2690-704. PMID: 21587207
- Carotta S, Dakic A, D'Amico A, Pang SHM, Greig KT, Nutt SL, and Wu L. The transcription factor P.U.1 controls dendritic cell development and Flt3 expression in a dose dependent manner.
Immunity. 2010 32(5):628-641.
Research interests
Our research is focussed on understanding how leukocyte differentiation and function is controlled at a transcriptional level.
Selected publications
- Foster SL, Hargreaves DC and Medzhitov R. Gene-specific control of inflammation by TLR-induced chromatin modifications Nature. 2007 July 21; 447:972-978.
Research theme
Infectious diseases
Scientific discipline
- Epigenetics
- Immunology
Keywords
Dendritic cells, Epigenetics