Defining the mechanisms of LNP adjuvant activity

• Honours

Vaccines are one of the most important advances in modern medicine. Despite revolutionary successes, considerable challenges remain for the development of vaccines that consistently induce broad and durable immunity against emerging and highly mutagenic respiratory viral infections. Thus, Influenza and Coronavirus infections remain a major public health concern due to their ability to cause annual epidemics and instigate global pandemics.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are essential for the efficient delivery of mRNA vaccines. LNPs also provide an adjuvant effect that stimulates the immune system leading to the induction of protective immunity. Despite their wide use for mRNA vaccines, the mechanisms that underlie the LNP adjuvant effect remains unknown. This information is critical to rationally optimise LNP formulation to enhance vaccine efficacy and optimise long-lived immunity.

This project will test different molecular mechanisms to understand how they impact the LNP adjuvant effect, alter vaccine uptake and the initiation of vaccine-induced immunity.

Techniques to be used: Mouse vaccination models, flow cytometry, imaging, ELISA.

Vaccines and immunotherapies against viral infections and cancer depend upon effective T cell responses, the promotion of antibody-producing B cells, and the establishment of immunological memory.

The vision of the Groom lab is to understand lymphoid positioning and cellular interactions as key leverage points that direct the outcomes if immune responses.

Our aim is to continuously apply these fundamental insights to drive the generation of new therapies for the prevention and treatment of immunological and infectious disease and cancer.

In achieving these impacts, the Groom lab will continue to build rich collaborative networks and mentor the next generation of curious, creative immunologists to take on new challenges to improve human health.