Precursor exhausted T cells in chronic infection and tumors

Project Details

Cytotoxic T cells are essential for tumour control and immunotherapy. However, T cells persistently exposed to antigen during chronic viral infections and in tumours undergo dramatic changes resulting in impaired effector function, a state known as ‘exhaustion’. Recent work by us and others has identified that a subset of these cells (precursor exhausted cells, TPEX) maintain high proliferative potential and respond to checkpoint inhibition. This project examines how TPEX develop and how they can be targeted to advance therapy for chronic infections and cancer.

Research Group

Kallies laboratory: Molecular immunology


Faculty Research Themes

Infection and Immunology, Cancer

School Research Themes

Cancer in Biomedicine, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease


Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.

Department / Centre

Microbiology and Immunology

MDHS Research library
Explore by researcher, school, project or topic.