Imaging effector and memory T cell responses in the skin following Herpes Simplex Virus-1 infection
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Project Leader
Professor William (Bill) Heath+61 3 8344 5682
Project Details
Our project entails investigation of the cellular interactions between immune cells in the secondary lymphoid organs following peripheral viral infection. By employing a cutaneous herpes simplex virus infection model, where the antigen-presenting cells from the skin are vital to the induction of immunity, and combined with state-of-the-art multiphoton microscopy as well as transgenic mouse models, we are now able to visualise the dynamic interaction in vivo between antigen-presenting cells and helper CD4 as well as killer CD8 T cells in the skin-draining lymph node. This project attempts to further our understanding of the priming of adaptive immune system crucial for developing vaccination and therapeutic strategies.
Movie
Dynamic interactions between helper CD4 T cells (green) and migratory dendritic cells (red) in the skin-draining lymph node during the priming phase of T cell response after skin HSV-1 challenge.
NB: this is a collaborative project with the Mueller group.
Researchers
Jyh Liang Hor
Dr Scott Mueller